Therese Kanai, Ph.D.

Senior Core Faculty,
Department of Teaching and Learning

Dr. Therese Kanai has been involved in the field of education for over twenty years. Upon graduation from the University of Hawaii in Manoa, she moved to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, and worked as a substitute teacher where she discovered that working with children was her passion.

Today, teaching online is Dr. Kanai’s passion. She presents at a number of conferences each year focusing on strategies that ensure success in online teaching. She is dedicated to providing her students with quality instruction that maintains the highest academic and programmatic standards.

Dr. Kanai’s philosophy regarding education is simple: make the learning process enjoyable. This works for all learners regardless of their age or the content area. In order to ensure that learning is enjoyable, she strives to eliminate any frustration or confusion that can arise in an online format and seeks to make herself available to students so they get the most from their experience. She believes collaboration, communication, and cooperation are the keys for success.

Dr. Kanai resides in Hawaii.

Education

  • Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction
    Walden University
  • Master's in Professional Development
    Heritage College
  • Bachelor's in Mathematics
    University of Hawaii, Manoa
  • Degree in Unofficial - Communications
    National University

Research Interests

  • Mathematics education
  • Online learning

Program Affiliations

Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction Doctor of Education

This customizable degree is designed to help you advance your understanding of a wide range of curriculum development and instructional methods that can improve teaching and learning in diverse educational settings.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Instructional Technology Doctor of Education

This customizable degree is designed to help you advance your understanding of methods of instructional technology for a wide range of educational settings. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Leadership Doctor of Education

The Doctor of Education in Leadership program is designed to help you advance your leadership and research skills within your chosen discipline, whatever that may be. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Nursing Education Doctor of Education

The Doctorate in Nursing Education is for master’s degree nurses who want to help address the growing need for more RNs in today’s ever-expanding healthcare system. The American College of Education Ed.D in Nursing Education program is a fully online curriculum to prepare nurses as educators in either an academic or professional development setting. The program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to focus on the science of teaching and learning. Students will engage in scholarly research to support their dissertation while developing the competencies to create and evaluate curriculum, develop effective teaching strategies, use innovative technology to promote learning and much more as they prepare to educate the next generation of nurses.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Public Health Education Doctor of Education

The customizable Doctorate in Public Health Education is designed for healthcare educators and professionals who wish to address public health issues through education in local, national and international communities at the post-master’s level.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.D. in Second Language Instruction Doctor of Education

The Doctorate of Education in Second Language Instruction is designed for professionals with a master’s degree who wish to advance their second language instruction skills and knowledge at the post-master’s level. Through a tailored approach to the dissertation process, you can complete the program in as little as three years.

64

Semester Credits

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Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction Educational Specialist

The Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction degree is for leaders who wish to advance their skills in curriculum development and instructional methods at the post-master’s level without having to complete a dissertation.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction Master of Education

This program provides PreK-12 educators with a thorough background of current scientific research and pedagogy to help them learn how students learn. It is designed around the “learn, apply, assess” model to maximize gains in student performance.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction for Graduates of the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership Master of Education

16

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction for Graduates of the M.Ed. in Elementary Education Master of Education

19

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Educational Technology Master of Education

The Master of Education in Educational Technology program prepares educators and other professionals to serve as technology leaders by teaching them to track trends and leverage technology as an effective tool to support learning and meet the needs of school staff, teachers, and students.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Elementary Education Master of Education

Specifically designed for elementary teachers who wish to advance their expertise and skills, the Master of Education in Elementary Education degree will build on their current understanding of young students’ learning needs and introduce them to new ways of incorporating technology into the classroom.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Master of Education

The Master of Education in English as a Second Language and Bilingual program addresses the needs of teachers who are interested in working with linguistically and culturally diverse non-native English speakers. It is aligned to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards: English as a New Language.

34

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum Master of Education

This program will help K-12 educators enhance their curriculum in order to improve student performance, close achievement gaps, and prepare students for the future workplace. You will learn how to utilize technology, collaborative environments, and other integrated resources to foster high levels of student achievement and performance.

31

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum for Graduates of the M.Ed. in STEM Leadership Master of Education

2018 Catalog Release

22

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in STEM Education Master of Education

This program will help you empower students to think like scientists. It was designed in conjunction with The National Institute for STEM Education (NISE) and Accelerate Learning and offers a holistic overview of historical and current issues impacting integrated science education while cultivating research-based strategies to improve student learning.

31

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership Master of Education

This degree is designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to help other teachers reach their full potential. You’ll learn to interpret research on leadership models, teacher evaluation, and motivation, and use it to develop professional learning opportunities that promote continuous improvement

31

Semester Credits

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M.Ed. in Teaching English Learners Master of Education

English language learners are the fastest growing student population and educators need specialized training to work with them effectively. This program is built to help teachers reach these students, bridge cultural gaps, and differentiate their curriculum according to individual student needs.

31

Semester Credits

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M.A. in Elementary Teaching Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Elementary Teaching degree is designed for those who want to be elementary teachers but have bachelor’s degrees in non-education fields. By building a solid foundation in elementary education, you’ll earn a master’s degree and be prepared for a career of working with young learners.

34

Semester Credits

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M.A. in Secondary Teaching Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in Secondary Teaching is designed for students who have bachelor’s degrees in non-education fields but want to be teachers at the secondary level. By building a solid foundation in secondary education, you’ll earn a master’s degree and be prepared for a career in teaching at the secondary level.

34

Semester Credits

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Certificate in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education Certificate

This certificate was designed for current K-12 teachers who are interested in working with English language learners. Throughout your coursework, you will get strategies for supporting students as they learn English.

18

Semester Credits

K-12

Grade Level

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Micro-Credential Differentiated Instruction Micro-Credential

Building on classic concepts, the Differentiated Instruction micro-credential recognizes how the mental landscape of current learners has been shaped by multimedia, changing how they think and reason when learning. Key components of differentiated instruction are revisited in relation to how new literacies have influenced changes in learner needs. Integrating theory and practice, students create professional learning communities, establish approaches for learner collaboration, and explore current frameworks to deliver content and concepts to meet the wide range of learning needs. Throughout the coursework, students shift perspectives to view differentiation as a scholarly practitioner and academic leaders, shaping instruction to create educational opportunities for 21st century learners.

9

Semester Credits

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Micro-Credential in Curriculum and Instruction Micro-Credential

The Curriculum and Instruction micro-credential prepares students for a broad range of educational environments. Today’s learning environments require an understanding of critical aspects of curriculum design and instructional methods to support diverse learning needs. This micro-credential examines how learning standards, educational best practices and educational theory to support modern educational settings.

9

Semester Credits

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