Education Commons^™

Living And Leading In A Digital Age: A Narrative Study Of The Attitudes And Perceptions Of School Leaders About Media Literacy, Kerrigan R. Mahoney, Tehmina Khwaja

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Students graduating from K-12 education need media literacy skills to engage, participate, and learn in a world in which literacy must keep pace with rapidly changing technologies. Given the significant roles school administrators play in providing leadership and vision to their schools, this narrative study addresses the research question: What are school administrators’ perceptions of, and attitudes about, media literacy? Through the stories of six K-12 school administrators, we highlight the connections of their experiences and attitudes to the actions they take to support media literacy learning, and their visions for technology, instruction, and learning in their schools.

Enhancing The New Esl Student Orientation At Umass Boston: Applying Udl Principles And Educational Technology Tools, Karol Victoria Castaneda Guzman

Instructional Design Capstones Collection

New English as a Second Language (ESL) students often display confusion during their transition to UMass Boston (UMB). Despite the administrative staff’s best effort to provide students with information about the university, students still lack the relevant information about services, academic resources, the individuals, and offices of interest available to assist them in their success. Additionally, the majority of new ESL students do not adequately understand the information presented in the orientation due to their limited English proficiency. This evidence-based practice project describes the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a blended orientation for new ESL students. It details …

The Qualities, Practices, And Theories Held By Award-Winning Second Language College Teachers, Leendert Van Beek

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

It is important for second language college teachers to know what kinds of teaching and learning approaches are most effective for their students. This basic qualitative study presents the perspectives exceptional second language teachers have regarding their own qualities of excellence, practices, philosophies of teaching, and theories of learning. The purpose of the study was to identify, describe, and understand these perspectives. Sixteen of such teachers, all of whom had won one or more awards of excellence from professional organizations, were interviewed, and the collected data were analyzed through three levels of coding. The main research question regarding the perspectives …

The Impact Of A Student Device Technology Integration Professional Development Program On K-6 Performance Data, Peter Grostic

Masters Theses

When schools choose to secure devices for their students to integrate into class, they are engaging in a student device technology integration initiative. Results of such initiatives so far have been inconsistent (Bebell & Kay, 2010, Gulek & Demirtas, 2005). These inconsistencies may be, in part, due to poor professional development and/or incomplete data collection. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a professional development program for teachers on the effectiveness of a student device technology integration initiative. “Effectiveness” will be defined by standardized test data as well as student attendance data and student behavior referral …

Online Graduate Educational Technology Program: An Illuminative Evaluation, Andrew Topper, Sean Lancaster

Funded Articles

With continued growth in online courses and programs in higher education a pressing need exists to evaluate their perceived quality and effectiveness. Evaluation criteria – course evaluations, student surveys and retention data – from previous online program evaluations were used in this study. An illuminative evaluation using descriptive and scientific analysis was undertaken for a graduate degree program in educational technology. Course and program-level data were analyzed to compare quality for two programs – an existing hybrid and new online. Analysis of student enrollments, course evaluations, survey results, retention, and time to completion reveal similar experiences reported from students in …

Video-Mediated Opportunities For Self-Directed Learning In Undergraduate Research Methodology Courses, Debra T. Bourdeau, Donna Roberts, Thomas E. Sieland, Beverly Wood

Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Impact Of Cad Simulations On Student Design Thinking, Manaz R. Taleyarkhan

Open Access Theses

Facilitating students to become informed designers is a goal in engineering education that has been proposed by multiple studies. The use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software has been used as a learning tool to promote design thinking in practical settings for undergraduate students. However, very little is known about the informed design process undertaken by these students while using the interactive and learning focused CAD tool to solve design challenges. This paper analyzes the nature of design thinking that happens when students use a particular CAD tool. In this study, I have adapted Crismond and Adams' Informed Design Teaching and …

Educational Technology And Innovation Capacity In Arkansas Public Schools, Allie Nicole Taylor

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

We all have high hopes for our educational system. As they stress the need for 21st century learning, governments recognize the importance of innovation and creativity in schools and invest resources to develop learning environments that foster these qualities. This thesis adapts Crosling, Nair, and Vaithilingam’s (2015) model to provide a framework for studying factors that contribute to a creative learning ecosystem (intellectual capital development, 21st century literacies, climate for innovation, and integrity of the system), the quality of the educational system, and the system’s innovation capacity. A survey of 126 Arkansas high school teachers, indicates that two variables, student’s …

Emotional Regulation And Technology In Various Educational Environments, Aimee Boyle

EDL Sixth Year Theses

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of technology in various educational environments. Specifically, it looked at the ways in which technology is integrated into special education classrooms, and how it impacts learning. Two self-contained special education high school classrooms were studied, using qualitative methods of data. These included field notes based on observations and a semi-structured interview. In addition, a review of the literature on this topic was conducted to better place the study within the context of wider work done in this area. The data from the two classrooms were analyzed using the constant comparative …

Using Transaction-Level Data In Online Assessment, Robert Scott Nyland

Theses and Dissertations

This article format dissertation explores the benefits of using detailed forms of assessment to enable feedback in educational contexts, and includes three separate, yet related articles. In the first article, I reviewed the current state of educational research in using online learning tools that collect detailed data regarding student learning. The article examined the type of data being collected, the way that these data are processed, and how the results are presented to instructors and students as feedback. In the second article, I describe a special case of these detailed forms of assessment in an Introduction to Microsoft Excel class, …

Connected Classroom: A Program Evaluation Of The Professional Development Program Of A One-To-One Educational Technology Initiative In South Carolina, Kelly James Grant

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the first year of a multi-year, district-wide professional development program for teachers that accompanied a one-toone Apple device rollout for all students. A mixed-method research design was used to perform a logic model of program evaluation. Teacher self-reported proficiency in basic device usage, student productivity, student multimedia usage, and academic communication were gathered before the professional development program began and collected again at the 1-year mark. Data from both administrations were analyzed to determine the impact of professional development on teacher self-reported proficiency of technology integration. The researcher collected …

Learning By Design: Teachers And Students As Co-Creators Of Knowledge [Book Chapter], Nathan Balasubramanian, Brent Wilson

Brent Wilson

About this book: Numerous educational technology programs and strategies have been developed on all continents to ensure that technology is used effectively for the benefit of student learning and achievement. The impact of technology on learning and instruction is still not clear. This book addresses several concerns of educators who rub elbows with a new technology. The book offers global research-based data on educational technology. The book consists of nine independent blind peer-reviewed scientific articles written by thirteen authors, four from Europe and nine from the USA. The authors present diverse views on social technologies and integration of ICT (information …

The Effect Of New Literacies And Technology On Student Engagement And Transforming The Literacy Block, Allison M. Schlupp

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate, track, and measure the effect of technology and new literacies on student engagement and the language arts block. Data was kept over a four-week period and tracked through student interviews, informal observations, and student work samples. Throughout the study, students showed growth in their ability to interact with technology and one another through the repeated use of technology and the use of new literacies. Data also showed increased student engagement through the independent work time of the literacy block.

Effective Instruction In The Blended Learning Classroom, Stepan Mekhitarian

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

With the growing prevalence of blended learning in classrooms across the country, the need for teacher training for effective blended learning implementation is critical. This research study focuses on the skills and training required to implement blended learning effectively. Observations of classroom instruction and professional development, surveys, and interviews with teachers and administrators added to an extensive literature review to inform training recommendations for school sites and teacher education programs. The results show that professional development is effective when it includes peer observations and collaboration, modeling of best practices, and the integration of blended learning programs with instructional practice. Individualized …

Computers: Will Their Magic Survive Schooling?, Barbara Dubitsky

Thought and Practice: (1987-1991) the Journal of the Graduate School of Bank Street College of Education

Looks at computers as a tool in classroom learning.

"Ok Can We Try Now?" One Student's Communications On A Classroom Computer Network, Shelly V. Goldman, Carol Reich, Alison Matthews

Thought and Practice: (1987-1991) the Journal of the Graduate School of Bank Street College of Education

A case study describing one of fifteen students at The Lexington School for the Deaf who participated in a pilot program called the Literacy Network.

The Myth Of Mobile Learners, Matt Farrell

Faculty & Staff Publications - Language & Liberal Studies

An emerging body of literature suggests that there are benefits to incorporating mobile learning into higher education (Jacob & Issac, 2007; Mehdipour & Zerehkafi, 2013). Moreover, teaching and learning resources implore faculty to incorporate mobile learning into their classrooms (Baran, 2014). Despite the apparent momentum, mobile learning is far from being widely adopted. This presentation will discuss a recent research project at Fanshawe College that explored student and faculty attitudes about mobile learning. The project found little appetite for an expanded use of mobile learning approaches. While mobile learning could provide more creative opportunities for engaging with course material, significant …

Education All A'Twitter: Twitter's Role In Educational Technology, Rikki Elaine Mccormick Lowe

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine whether current uses of Twitter by educators correlate with the literature on the uses and advantages of using Twitter in education through an examination of United States educators and West Virginia educators. Data was obtained from responses to the online survey, Education All A’Twitter: Twitter’s Role in Educational Technology, content analysis of public Twitter feeds, and semi-structured interviews that were sorted, coded, organized, and analyzed to identify emergent themes. The study had a population that included 97 survey responses, 78 Twitter feeds, and 8 semi-structured interviews. There were survey respondents …

Effective Teaching Practices In Online Higher Education, Kim Mcmurtry

CCE Theses and Dissertations

In the context of continuing growth in online higher education in the United States, students are struggling to succeed, as evidenced by lower course outcomes and lower retention rates in online courses in comparison with face-to-face courses. The problem identified for investigation is how university instructors can ensure that effective teaching and learning is happening in their online courses. The research questions were:

1. What are the best practices of effective online teaching in higher education according to current research?
2. How do exemplary online instructors enact teaching presence in higher education?
3. What are the best practices of effective online teaching in …

Community College Faculty Dispositions Towards Blended Learning, Robin A. Hill

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Community colleges are being encouraged to find and provide access to higher education by offering more flexible course delivery methods to meet the needs of their diverse student body. At the same time, these institutions must retain their quality of instruction, accountability for learning outcomes, and institutional obligations. Blended learning, where students attend class both on campus and online, is promoted as one solution for attaining such goals. Among the four-year undergraduate population, blended learning has been shown to support student success, meet diverse learning styles, and meet institutional obligations; however, research within the community college population is limited. In …

Teaching Presence And Intellectual Climate In A Structured Online Learning Environment, Janice Marie Orcutt

CCE Theses and Dissertations

Teaching presence and its implications for the intellectual climate of an online classroom cannot be fully understood unless explored from the perspective of the instructors who experience it. Framed in the theoretical perspective of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) model, this collective case study investigated the actions, intentions and perceptions of instructors with the intent of developing an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon of teaching presence as it was established in a structured online learning environment.

The experiences of selected successful instructors in this specific online context were explored to gain insight on how pedagogical choices influenced the establishment of …

Pre-Service Teachers And Technology Integration: International Cases And Generational Attitudes Toward Technology In Education, David J. Mulder

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The current generation of young teachers entering the profession is often presumed to have an easy comfort with and seemingly innate understanding of technology. Prensky (2001) has gone so far as to name them “digital natives” and has claimed that members of the millennial generation “think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors” (p. 1). However, recent studies in several English-speaking western nations call the millennial generation’s innately skillful use of technology into question, and some studies of millennial teachers indicate that they are, in fact, no better at integrating technology into their teaching than their colleagues from other …

The Effects Of Time-Compression And Learner-Control In Multimedia Instruction, Jason Alan Pittman

CCE Theses and Dissertations

There is a significant gap in the body of knowledge concerning time-compressed multimedia instruction. Although research indicates that there is no loss in learning through well-designed multimedia instruction compressed at 25%, research is lacking that analyzes the effects of time-compression with learner-control included in the multimedia instruction. The aim of the study was to address this gap in the research by integrating learner-control into the interface of a time-compressed multimedia instructional lesson using similar methodologies from previous research.

Effects were analyzed of time-compressed learner-controlled multimedia instruction on learning and perceived cognitive load. Additionally, the researcher employed a participant population from …

A Detailed Rubric For Assessing The Quality Of Teacher Resource Apps, Todd Cherner, Cheng-Yuan Lee, Alex Fegely, Lauren Santaniello

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications and Presentations

Since the advent of the iPhone and rise of mobile technologies, educational apps represent one of the fastest growing markets, and both the mobile technology and educational app markets are predicted to continue experiencing growth into the foreseeable future. The irony, however, is that even with a booming market for educational apps, very little research regarding the quality of them has been conducted. Though some instruments have been developed to evaluate apps geared towards student learning, no such instrument has been created for teacher resource apps, which are designed to assist teachers in completing common tasks (e.g., taking attendance, communicating …

Faculty And Student Perceptions Of Effective Online Learning Environments, Kayla L. Westra

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This quantitative and qualitative study was designed to review alignment of student and faculty perceptions of effective online learning environments. The purpose of this study was to review statistical survey data to determine if alignment of perceptions existed. The student research sample included data from three years of archival survey data at Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Over 10,000 survey results were part of this sample. Additionally, Minnesota West Community and Technical College faculty who taught during this timeframe were surveyed. Qualitative data from one year of student responses was analyzed to add depth to the results. The results …

Investigating It Leadership Models In Schools, Patrick Michael Mcgrath

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The influence of technology in the school setting has grown dramatically in recent decades. It is critical that school leaders manage the influx of technology effectively and leverage it appropriately to benefit the operational and instructional aspects of the school.

Examining U.S. Middle School Students' Achievement In A Blended Learning Environment, Bernadette Ortiz-Brewster

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

U.S. middle schools are increasing offering blended learning curricula that integrates virtual and face-to-face instruction, but the effectiveness of this mode of instruction at the middle school level has not been adequately explored. This investigation provides additional data to the current body of knowledge related to blended learning as a viable option for middle school students. The theoretical framework for this investigation derives from Lev Vygotsky's social development theory and Jean Piaget's constructivist theory of knowledge. The central research question focused on the difference in achievement scores between 6th grade students participating in a virtual course as compared to …

A Study Of The Application Of A Bring Your Own Device Strategy In An Elementary School, Carol Louise Scholz

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Numerous studies have been published on the efficacy of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at the U.S. secondary and postsecondary school levels to increase student access to technology. However, there is a lack of data on the efficacy of a BYOD AUP to increase elementary student technology access. The purpose of this descriptive case study was to determine if a BYOD AUP at the U.S. K-5 level would increase students' access to technology as necessitated by the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This study was grounded in social transmission and transformative theories. …

K-12 Educational Technology Implementations: A Delphi Study, Jennie L. Vandykgibson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of educational technologies is a key component of education reform. In its current national technology plan, Future Ready Learning: Reimagining the Role of Technology in Education, the U.S. Department of Education asserts that educational technologies can transform student learning. Successful integration of educational technology could increase student achievement and transform the setting to bring about positive social change. The purpose of this study was to provide a group of expert panelists an opportunity to identify strategies and guidelines to create an effective educational technology plan. Data were gathered using a modified Delphi technique from 7 teachers, 8 administrators, …

Adult Literacy Program Evaluation For First Year Traditional College Students, Yvette Joyce Mccauley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

First year traditional college students required to register in a sequence of remedial courses prior to enrollment in credit-bearing courses often get discouraged by the financial burden and time commitments of this additional work and, subsequently, decide to drop out. The purpose of this qualitative program evaluation was to examine the effectiveness of the remedial adult literacy program being used at a 4-year urban college in the northeast and assess the curriculum alignment with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) standards. Knowles theory of andragogy, which suggests that adults are self-directed and expect to take responsibility for their own …