Dr. Swain's research focuses on the acquisition of instructional expertise by preservice and inservice teachers. She examines how this expertise influences individual educators, as well as the schools in which they enact their practice. Recently, she has been investigating how coaching, as a form of professional development, changes the beliefs and practices of preservice and inservice teachers and how these changes influence teaching practices and advance the learning of all students.

Dr. Swain’s research encompasses three subthemes. The first subtheme explores the notion of preservice teachers developing into proficient teachers who are prepared to meet the needs of all the students they teach.

The second subtheme centers on the effectiveness of professional development strategies, such as coaching, for inservice teachers as they deepen their understanding of instructional methods, content, and the context of their students’ lives.  The third subtheme is the exploration of how the use of coaching and other forms of job-embedded professional development for principals transforms the teaching and learning environment of schools.