Digital Commons Network^™

More Than Just Plain Old Technology Adoption: Understanding Variations In Teachers' Use Of An Online Planning Tool, Heather Leary, Victor R. Lee, Mimi Recker

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper examines variability in teachers’ usage patterns as they interacted with an online teacher support tool, the Curriculum Customization Service (CCS), as part of their professional work. The CCS is a web application that supports teachers in planning, adapting, sequencing, and enacting differentiated instruction in Earth science education. By mining the usage log files of over 40 teachers who used the CCS over a yearlong period, we analyzed for variability using a framework developed in marketing research to characterize appropriation of technology. This analysis helped reveal different kinds of teachers’ patterns along two dimensions: frequency and variability of use. …

A Systematic Review Of Speech Recognition Technology In Health Care, Maree Johnson, Samuel Lapkin, Vanessa Long, Paula Sanchez, H Suominen, J Basilakis, Linda Dawson

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Background To undertake a systematic review of existing literature relating to speech recognition technology and its application within health care. Methods A systematic review of existing literature from 2000 was undertaken. Inclusion criteria were: all papers that referred to speech recognition (SR) in health care settings, used by health professionals (allied health, medicine, nursing, technical or support staff), with an evaluation or patient or staff outcomes. Experimental and non-experimental designs were considered. Six databases (Ebscohost including CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE including the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, OVID Technologies, PreMED-LINE, PsycINFO) were searched by a qualified health librarian trained in systematic …

Understanding Students' Use And Value Of Technology For Learning, Karley Beckman, Sue Bennett, Lori Lockyer

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Despite significant research in the field of educational technology, there is still much we do not fully understand about students' experiences with technology. This article proposes that research in the field of educational technology would benefit from a sociological framing that pays attention to the understandings and lives of learners. Within a broader study that aimed to investigate students' use and value of technologies guided by Bourdieu's sociological theory, this article reports on qualitative embedded case study data of 12 students in years 9 and 10 from two Australian secondary schools. The article provides detailed accounts of students' experiences with …

The Power Of Parody And Satire In The 21st Century English Classroom, Ashley N. Shelton

Honors Projects

A frequent question in today’s high school English classroom is how "the classics" fit into our 21st century curriculum. Students ask, "How is this relevant to me?" and complain that the literature they are reading in class is outdated and difficult to understand. Therefore, my project embraces a few canonical texts that are most frequently used in America's schools and presents them in an innovative way that students will not only understand, but engage on a critical level. Based on emerging research in the education field, my project explains how modern technology and the techniques of parody and satire can …

Technology And Engineering Education Doctoral Students' Perceptions Of Their Profession, Gene Martin, John Ritz, Michael Kosloski

STEMPS Faculty Publications

The growth and vitality of both technology and engineering education professions rely on the quality of contributions of its new and emerging leaders. Many of these leaders are currently enrolled students in doctoral programs. These students will be challenged to assume leadership roles in which they are not currently engaged (Ehrenberg, Jakubson, Groen, So, & Price, 2007). Some students may choose to focus their careers in developing new curricula; some will become active in grant writing and grant procurement some will choose to serve as officers in their professional organizations; and others will contribute to the body of literature in …

Integrating Technology And Engineering In A Stem Context, Barry N. Burke, Philip A. Reed, John G. Wells, Robert E. Yager (Ed.), Herbert Brunkhorst (Ed.)

STEMPS Faculty Publications

(First paragraph) Imagine students entering the classroom with an enthusiasm that cannot be contained. They come from all walks of life and with different experiences and backgrounds and are eager to engage in learning. Inspiration and innovation are on their mind. What they learned in their science and math classes is now being applied in another class they take called Technology and Engineering. Opportunity is what they see for their future. Something about connecting all the dots from all their classes propels them to change their outlook, to get involved, to get excited about school and to envision their future.

Integration Of Technology Into A Nursing Curriculum Using A Mixed Method Approach, Susan Ramnarine-Singh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine and 2010 Affordable Care Act addressed the need to use technology in nursing programs. The purpose of this study was to understand faculty perceptions of technology use and integration into the nursing curriculum at a college located in Texas. Lewin’s change theory acted as the theoretical framework to explore organizational dynamics involved in effective strategies. The guiding research questions explored faculty perceptions of technology use, types of technology used, and correlation to teaching experience using a convergent mixed-method approach. Thirty faculty members completed the Teacher’s Intention to Use Technology survey and 15 faculty members …

Teaching And Learning With Smart Board Technology In Middle School Classrooms, Elizabeth Lewis Pourciau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Millions have been spent in the Southern Gulf Coast states on equipping classrooms with Smart Board/interactive whiteboard (IWB) technology without an implementation plan for effective usage in lesson design and without teachers knowing how to best use these boards. The purpose of this project study was to explore the challenges and barriers that teachers face while using their IWB. Framed by the theories of adoption of technology within the K-12 classroom and self-efficacy of teachers regarding technology, the guiding research questions identified the challenges related to integrating IWB technology into lessons, as well the needs of teachers who are trying …

Teaching Laboratory Courses Using Distance Learning Technologies, Steve C. Hsiung, John Ritz

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

Conducting laboratory activities is essential for teaching and learning in engineering and technology subjects. This article discusses explorations made by a research team to find solutions to enable the distance-learning delivery of laboratory courses on embedded microcontroller technology topics. In addition, this article includes a review of videoconferencing and course management tools, uniquely designed laboratory equipment and supporting curriculum materials, and statistical evidence showing students can learn technical laboratory content in distance-learning environments.

Illuminating Change: Technology, Feedback, And Revision In Writing, Sarah Hunt-Barron, Jaime Colwell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Using the method of a formative experiment, this investigation examines how the use of peer revision and collaboration in an online environment, specifically a social network, could be implemented in a middle school classroom to increase revision over multiple drafts and improve the quality of student expository writing. Thirty-six students in two sections of a seventh-grade English language arts class participated in the study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected prior to, during, and after the intervention to establish baseline data, as well as determine progress toward the pedagogical goal. Analyses reveal improvement in the amount of student revision and …

Ascension, Megan Hopkins, Jeremy Wilburn, Sandra Bennett

Ascension: Elevating Research and Scholarship (2012-2015)

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Personal Responders In The Elementary Reading Classroom, Mitzi B. Helms

Instructional Technology Education Specialist Research Papers

This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design to determine if personal responders increased students’ comprehension level in a first grade classroom. The control group was the group that was taught reading comprehension strategies using traditional teaching methods. The experimental group was taught reading comprehension strategies using personal responders. This group was instructed using the same strategies as the control group except the experimental group used personal responders in the place of pencils and worksheets. The researcher was the instructor for the experimental group, and another first grade teacher at the school was the instructor for the control group. Each group …

Parent-Child Interaction In Shared-Computer Activities: An Exploratory Study Examining Parent-Child Interaction With A Mobile Device, Marjan Petkovski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The present exploratory study examined the shared-computer behaviours of parent-child dyads in order to examine how (and if) parents interact with their children when using mobile digital devices and parents’ perceptions of their child’s technology use. Little is known about how technologies are used with young children and how to maximize and support young children’s learning when they are introduced to these technologies. In total, ­­104 parents (­­n = 72 mothers and n = 32 fathers; one parent per child) participated in an observation session where parent-child interactions using a mobile device (Apple iPad™) were recorded in order to observe …

A Survey Of The Practices And Perceptions Of Students In One Catholic High School On The Use Of The Internet In Relation To Safety, Cyberbullying, And Sexting, Diana Lynn Murray

Doctoral Dissertations

Digital technology holds a powerful and ubiquitous place in society. The Internet provides today's students with unprecedented access to information. Its use in education has transformed educational paradigms, yet it also provides new challenges. While students do use the technology for schoolwork, they also use it in inappropriate ways. The Internet has provided a powerful and invasive weapon for cyberbullies and predators to prey on the vulnerable and the unsuspecting. The Pontifical Council for Social Communications (2002) affirmed that "[Y]oung people need to learn how to function well in the world of cyberspace, make discerning judgments according to sound moral …

A Case Study Analysis Of Web 2.0 Technology Use In Higher Education: Effects Of Using A Wiki On Outcomes And Attitudes In Legal Education, Patrick Allan Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Using a case study methodology with descriptive and qualitative techniques at a major law school in the South, this research study explored factors that contribute to the perceived pedagogical value of wiki technology in legal education, as well as attitudes and perceptions of law faculty and students regarding the effectiveness of using wikis as a productivity tool for improving outcomes in authentic group activities in a collaborative environment in legal education. This study also explored the dynamics of the interactions that occurred among users while utilizing wiki technology over a 6-week period. The results suggest that law students exhibit a …

Introduction To Parallel Computation, Clinton Mckay

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Introduction to Parallel Computing is a course designed to educate students on how to use the parallel libraries and tools provided by modern operating systems and massively parallel computer graphics hardware.

Using a series of lectures and hands-on exercises. Students will learn about parallel algorithms and concepts that will aid them in analyzing a problem and constructing a parallel solution, if possible, using the tools available to their disposal.

The course consists of lectures, projects, quizzes, and homework. The combination of these components will deliver the necessary domain knowledge to students, test them, and in the process train them to …

Virtual Coaching In Guatemala: Can It Be Effective For Changing Targeted Teacher Behaviors?, Ruby Owiny

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The education system in Guatemala struggles to meet the needs of students with disabilities. There are often not enough trained special educators to meet the demand. In addition, general educators are often not trained to adequately meet diverse needs in their classrooms. Thus, schools are often unable to fully meet the needs of students with disabilities. This study sought to identify a method by which teachers could be virtually trained on a teacher behavior (i.e., specific praise) that could help meet diverse student needs. A multiple probe design across participants was used to determine if virtual training could be effective …

Toward A Closer Integration Of Law And Computer Science, Christopher S. Yoo

All Faculty Scholarship

Legal issues increasingly arise in increasingly complex technological contexts. Prominent recent examples include the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), network neutrality, the increasing availability of location information, and the NSA’s surveillance program. Other emerging issues include data privacy, online video distribution, patent policy, and spectrum policy. In short, the rapid rate of technological change has increasingly shown that law and engineering can no longer remain compartmentalized into separate spheres. The logical response would be to embed the interaction between law and policy deeper into the fabric of both fields. An essential step would …

Moocology 1.0, Glenna Decker

deckerg@gvsu.edu

MOOCology 1.0 is the opening essay for Invasion of the MOOCs: The Promises and Perils of Massive Open Online Courses, a collection written by academics from their own insights and experiences. This chapter offers a brief overview of the history and some of the issues surrounding this disruptive technology. Important questions are raised to keep the focus on that which is most important - the learner.

Using Digital Resources To Support Personalized Learning Experiences In K-12 Classrooms: The Evolution Of Mobile Devices As Innovations In Schools In Northwest Ohio, Savilla Banister, Rachel Reinhart

Savilla I Banister

The challenges facing the United States in educating its youth have been widely documented. The dropout rate in the past decades has been staggering, hovering around the 20% mark, with students of color and in lower socio-economic circumstances posting an even higher rate (Barton, 2005). Perhaps more troubling are the indicators that students who are staying in school until high school graduation are largely disengaged and disenfranchised with their experiences (Balfanz, Herzog, & MacIver, 2007; Henry, Knight, & Thornberry, 2012). However, educators are now beginning to embrace the promise of ubiquitous digital technologies in the classroom. This study examines the …