Education Commons^™

Preparing In-Service Elementary Teachers To Support English Language Learners: A Qualitative Case Study Of A Job-Embedded Professional Development Using Tpack, Rachel Theresa Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Nation-wide, the number of English Language Learners (ELL) in our classrooms continues to increase. Twenty percent of students enrolled in California public schools are ELLs, the highest percentage in the nation. With the continuously growing number of ELLs in our classrooms, our mainstream teachers must be prepared to teach content and meet the unique linguistic needs of these students. At Sotomayor Elementary School in the Central Valley of California, 38% of the students enrolled are ELLs. Despite high numbers of ELLs, the district sees minimal evidence of intentional planning for Designated English Language Development (D-ELD), or instruction specifically targeted to …

Exploring Technology Integration At A Public Middle School: A Descriptive Research Study On Integration Perceptions, Factors, And Barriers, Charlene Jeffreys

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to explore mathematics teachers’ current instructional practices and perceptions of technology integration, as well as the perceived barriers that influence their technology integration in the classroom. Teacher perceptions of technology integration at this public middle school. Across the country, states have partnered with federal efforts, taking an active role in building a technology-rich learning environment in their states (Education Superhighway 2017). Teachers have access to a wide range of tools and practices that involve using and creating appropriate technological processes and resources to facilitate teaching, engage students, and improve learning outcomes (Richey & …

Classdojo And The Effects Of Gamification On Student Engagement Within The Third-Grade Art Classroom: An Action Research Study, Amanda Wrenn Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of technology integrated gamification strategies on third-grade students’ engagement in an art classroom at an elementary school with a Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) based curriculum. To increase student engagement, educators and evaluators not only need to understand how engagement has been defined, but also how to assess the options for measuring it. Appropriate use of technology and gamification in classrooms may increase aspects of student engagement, evidenced by taking initiative and responsibility for learning, using resources wisely, and having an interest and desire to pursue information …

Factors To Integrate Technology For Student Collaboration In The Elementary School: An Action Research Study, Lisa Roseanne Goldey

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of practice in this research study focused on the inconsistent use of Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals (formerly G Suite for Education) for student collaboration. The purpose of this action research was to investigate how elementary teachers used Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals for student collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal was to make recommendations for technology integration in Grades 3 through 5 in a school in central New Jersey.

The focus of this study was on three overarching research questions: 1. How do elementary teachers at a school in central New Jersey integrate technology using Google …

Increasing Relevance And Impact: Using Action Research With Middle Level Teachers’ Insights And Perceptions Of Technology Professional Development, Janet Dedmon

Theses and Dissertations

To move beyond technology use and realize the full benefits of technology integration, school districts need to provide effective technology professional development experiences. The purpose of this action research was to describe middle level teacher attitudes and perceptions regarding technology training and professional development in Woodcreek School District in order to recommend more effective technology professional development offerings. The research questions of this study focused on (1) the attitudes middle level teachers have toward technology professional development and (2) factors that may influence those attitudes. Going deeper into the influences on attitudes toward technology professional development, this study also explored …

The Impact Of Technology Integration On The Engagement Levels Of Ten Second Grade Students In An English Language Arts Classroom, Octavia J. Hamilton-Hankins

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examined the way in which integrating technology into a second grade ELA classroom impacted levels of student engagement. Research investigated utilizing various technological tools to meet learning goals and objectives in the classroom, and determined the impact on student engagement as perceived by the students and classroom teacher. The study employed a mixed-methods approach of data collecting. The researcher collected and recorded data twice a week for six weeks. In order to identify and validate the study‘s findings, the researcher used field notes, interviews, questionnaires, and checklists as the data collection sources to measure student engagement. …

Determining Worth: Cell Phones And Their Perceived Place In Secondary Education Classrooms, Alex J. Hollis

Theses and Dissertations

Determining Worth: Cell Phones and their Perceived Place in Secondary Education Classrooms is an action research study that describes and evaluates educators’ perceptions of Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs), primarily smartphones, in secondary education classrooms at Jackson High School in Upstate South Carolina. The identified problem of practice that undergirds the present study involves a lack of consistency among secondary educators at this school as to how, when, and why PEDs are allowed for classroom use. The study explores these teacher-participants’ interests in and aversions to using PEDs as instructional tools and communication devices, and concurrently examines current instructional practices, school-level …

Teacher Use O One-To-One Ipads In The Classroom: Technology Integration, School Level Support, And Teacher Beliefs, Patricia Barfield Boatwright

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate teacher perceptions of the implementation of one-to-one iPad use in the classroom to include technology integration, school level support, and teacher beliefs. The study explored the beliefs, attitudes and perspectives of eight elementary school teachers. Focus group interviews, single interviews, and classroom observations were utilized to gather qualitative data for this study. In the research findings, I presented participant descriptions and analyzed the data. The major findings that emerged from this study are organized according to the themes: technology integration, school level support, and teacher beliefs. Within technology integration, the categories that …