Education Commons^™

The Digital Divide Through The Lens Of Critical Race Theory: The Digitally Denied, Stacy Gee Hollins

Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine African American community college students’ availability to technological resources and how that availability affects their success. In this study, technological resources include access to the internet, software, hardware, technology training, technology support, and community resources. This study included six community college professors and six African American community college students enrolled in a Midwest community college. A major tenet of Critical Race Theory, storytelling, was used to give voice to students who lack sufficient access to technological resources referred to as the digitally denied. Data from this study can create an …

Comparison Of Beginning Teachers' And Experienced Teachers' Readiness To Integratetechnology As Measured By Tpack Scores, Heather S. Fontanilla

Dissertations

Despite a growing awareness of the importance of technology in education, increased investment and attention to preparing teachers to integrate technology into the classroom, research shows that technology continues to fail to live up to its potential for transforming education. As schools move from standards based testing to implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), an expectation exists that teachers will be using technology to transform their teaching practices. There is also an expectation that schools are providing students with 21st century skills, including the use of technology. In exploring the reasons teachers are not using technology effectively, much …

Administrators Using Technology To Increase Family Engagement, Ashley P. Beasley

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate what happens when Title 1 administrators implement emerging technologies to facilitate school-home communications. This study explored the affordances and constraints to using technology tools to promote family engagement, determined which characteristics of the tools allowed parents to feel the most informed, measured how many parents attended school events, and evaluated parents’ perceptions of invitations to involvement when administration used technology tools to communicate. Epstein’s Parental Involvement Framework (2002), Epstein’s Overlapping Spheres of Influence (1995), and the Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler Model (1997) served as the theoretical framework. This mixed methods study …

Effects Of A Software Program Vs. Constant Time Delay In The Acquisition Of Sight Words For A Student With Significant Disabilities, Turkie Ali Algharbie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of sight words is essential for individuals with significant disability. There is a plethora of research highlighting the acquisition of sight words for this population but to date, most focus on teacher led interventions (Browder, Algrim-Delzell, Spooner, Mims, & Baker, 2009). This study investigated the use of computer technology vs. one-on-one instruction targeting sight words acquisition for a student with a significant disability. Results showed the participant indicated improved performance using the computer based intervention versus the constant time delay instructor led intervention.

Using Audiobooks To Promote Comprehension Of Cause-Effect Relationships In Social Studies Texts, Eric John Vernon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

There are many challenges for secondary ELs in their mainstream classes. Social studies texts in particular can be very difficult for students to comprehend. The cause-effect relationships play a key role in students understanding the connection of historical events. This study looks at the use of audiobooks as a scaffolding tool to improve students’ comprehension of the cause-effect relationships in social studies texts. Specifically the concurrent reading of the text along with listening to the audiobook. It was conducted in a high school intermediate ESL class, students read sections of a text without the use of the audiobook, then with …

Investigating The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (Tpack) And Technology Leadership Capacities Of K-12 Public School Principals, Randall Depew

Dissertations

It is understood that principals play a key role the integration of computer technology their schools, however there have been limited studies exploring the level of technology knowledge and technology leadership skills possessed by school principals and how these measures relate to each other. Technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) is a popular framework for understanding the teacher knowledge required for effective technology integration. This framework has been used to study a number of different populations including pre-service and in-service teachers in a variety of grade levels, subject areas, and pedagogical contexts. This is the first time this framework has been …

An Analysis Of Technology Integration Within A Play-Based Learning Environment At The Preschool Level, Dana M. Anderkin

Master of Education Research Theses

The purpose of this study was to research this question, “Is technology use appropriate for preschool instruction within a play-based pedagogy and philosophy of education?” The definition of the play-based preschool learning environment is provided, the technology debate outlined, along with a qualitative research study, illustrating the opinions and beliefs regarding technology use of teachers within a play- based learning environment. This study relates research findings to the literature review and suggests that technology use within a play-based learning environment is possible when technology is used appropriately and with balance, to enhance and extend the curriculum. A balanced approach to …

The Use Of One-To-One Ipad Technology And Its Impact On Students Receiving Special Education Services Work Completion And Grades, Angela Jean Brumbaugh

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how does the use of one-to-one iPad technology impact students who receive special education services grades and work completion? It examines and compares the work completion rates and grades of students receiving special education services in the general education setting, both before and after the implementation of the one-to-one iPad initiative. This mixed methods study examines fifteen secondary students’ grades in English, mathematics and social studies the trimester before the iPads introduction and follows the students for the full school year after the introduction to compare their grades and work completion rates. …

Literacy And Social Skill Development: A Technology-Focused Curriculum Design, Karissa Sue Wentzel

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The curriculum design created in this project was centered around the concept that the integration of technology into a 6th grade classroom can facilitate the advancement of both literacy and social skill development. It documents one teacher’s use of various technological applications and reading related activities to cultivate academic conversations and see growth amongst five pre-selected and targeted social skills. The author documents the details of the unit and provides researched literature to support the foundation for the curriculum design. The key influence for the study was the author’s personal experience at a one-to-one iPad school. The author concludes the …

Graduate Students’ Perceptions Of Sense Of Community And Contributing Factors, Amy Lynn Watters

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that a strong sense of community has many benefits for the learner, including increased engagement, persistence, satisfaction, and perceived learning. The growth of online learning requires that effective strategies be identified to establish a strong sense of community in a virtual environment. This mixed method study investigated the following primary and secondary question: What are graduate students’ perceptions regarding sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? What contributes to graduate students’ sense of community in the online graduate programs at a small, private college? A quantitative survey using Likert-type questions was sent …

How Can Personalized Learning Devices Be Used To Best Support English Learners In The Middle School Classroom?, Laura Jolin Franke

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed was, how can personalized learning devices be used to best support English Language Learners in the middle school classroom? The motivation was interest in 1:1 computing and its potential for ELLs. The project involved surveying, interviewing, and observing ELLs and their teachers, in a public middle school, regarding their experiences during the initial three years of implementation of a 1:1 computing environment in which iPads were distributed to each student. The project found little quantitative data on ESL students specifically, but could confirm much of the research on computing and education. Overall quality of teachers, support …

Using Technology And Phenology To Increase Students’ Observation Skills, Sondra Tokarczyk

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was, will the use of technology and phenology increase students’ observation skills? The catalysts for this capstone were research using observation as an everyday skill fundamental to all scientific disciplines, and the importance of teaching children how to observe and document their observations. The capstone describes the process of integrating phenology, knowledge of the five senses, and iPad technology to teach students the importance of observation and its relevance to their everyday lives. The author concludes that: 1) although the collected data did not show a significant increase in observations, students’ observations became …

Principals' Perceptions Of Technology Implementation In High Schools And Their Effects On Leadership, Mary Valerie Perkins-Jacobs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

School administrators who are able to implement technology in their schools must see themselves as technology leaders; they are enthusiastic when it comes to using technology in professional development. This research study investigated how high school principals’ attitudes and perceptions of effectively organizing, utilizing, and implementing technology in order to support the mission and vision of the school by using the National Educational Technology Standards for Administrators (NETS-A) and Performance Indicators for Administrators (ISTE/NETS-A). For school administrators to provide effective leadership in their schools in the 21st century, they must possess knowledge and understanding of the issues and the capabilities …

User Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Virtual University, Charles J. Rabeno

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The use of online learning as a medium to deliver education has seen exponential growth over the past decade. Online learning environments have become a major part of education pedagogies; and as technology improves, evidence indicates that this trend will continue. Organizations and institutions have embraced this movement and are leveraging the benefits of using today’s computer and communications technology as a tool to impart learning to students. The federal government is no exception and has used the online model as a material component in its training and education strategy.

The purpose of this study was to explore the online …

Developing The 21st Century Skills Of Creativity, Collaboration And Information Fluency In A Kindergarten Classroom, Corrine Marie Schmidt

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, how can kindergarten students develop the 21st Century Skills of creativity, collaboration and information fluency through technology integration? It documents one teacher’s creation of a literacy based curriculum unit that gives kindergarten students opportunities to grow their 21st Century Skills, using the iPad as the learning tool. Key influences for this capstone include the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s new standards for technology integration in early education classrooms, as well as the International Literacy Association’s new standards for literacy education. Richardson’s research on the change in learning and teacher’s …

The Impact Of Computer Assisted Language Learning On Language Proficiency, Shelley Lyn Sorenson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This research study seeks to explore the effectiveness of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) for young English Learners (ELs) who are beginning to acquire English. The study looks at the role of CALL in a standards based educational environment in which students must make regular progress towards state English language proficiency and academic achievement goals. Key influences included peers, current and former students and my quest to find practical teaching tools. The positive effects of using CALL with students as demonstrated by White, Keengwe and Hussein proved to be important sources for this research. This qualitative study utilized existing standardized …

Differentiation In The Classroom Using Chromebooks And Google Applications, Allison Carney

Honors Projects

The purpose of this research was to differentiate using Chromebook and Google technology to improve engagement and grades in the classroom. Chromebooks have been implemented into classrooms all over the country, but the use of Google applications in order to differentiate instruction and assessment is not as prominent in schools. I created four assignments on the Chromebooks that differentiated instruction and assessment based on interest and ability levels. I used a total of six applications and differentiated for forty-four students in a sixth grade math and science classroom. I found that differentiating using Chromebooks and Google applications boosted student engagement, …

The Use Of Technology In Secondary Mathematics Classrooms: The Case Of One School District, Cononiah Latrece Watson

Master's Theses

Integration of technology into secondary education mathematics classes has been shown to increase student motivation and performance. In order for technology to be a component of students’ education, teachers must have training on various technologies available for their subjects of study. This research study surveys thirty-one 6-12^th grade teachers in the Lamar County School District in southern Mississippi regarding availability of technologies, use of technologies, and professional development needs concerning technology use.

Communicating Effectively With Parents In The Montessori Environment, Lindsey A. Seril

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this action research was to examine the most effective ways of communicating with parents in the Montessori environment, and to see if incorporating technology and communication skills into the classroom would improve parent-teacher communication and relationships. This study was conducted with the parents of children ages two and a half to six years old in a private Montessori classroom. Classroom management and communication technology in the form of Montessori Compass was introduced into the classroom in order to see the impact on parent-teacher communication. Techniques for improved communication with parents were also used during parent-teacher interactions to …

The Effects Of Technology On Engagement And Retention Among Upper Elementary Montessori Students., Justin E. Tosco

Masters of Arts in Education Action Research Papers

The purpose of this paper is to describe the findings of a study on the effects of integrating technology into lessons in a Montessori upper elementary classroom in Raleigh, North Carolina. The research looked at both the student engagement and the retention of information when technology was included in Montessori lessons. This study spanned a six-week period and was conducted with 25 fourth through sixth grade students. Data collection included a pre-lesson questionnaire, a teacher engagement report form, a teacher observation form, a post-lesson feedback form, and a short answer lesson response form. The results of this data analysis showed …

Technology-Based Support For Early Readers, Jennifer Manion

Culminating Projects in Special Education

No abstract provided.

Perceptions Of Cyberbullying Within Higher Education, Julie Marie Luker

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Two methods of qualitative research informed three dissertation research questions: What are faculty and academic administrators’ perceptions of cyberbullying within higher education? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive themselves to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? How prepared do faculty and academic administrators perceive their institutions to be with regard to addressing situations involving cyberbullying? First, 384 (N = 384) participants completed a 28-item, adapted online survey (Cyberbullying Survey). Second, six (N = 6) participants participated in a semistructured interview process. Results from both methods were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Participants are reporting that cyberbullying is …

Technology Use Of Online Instructors With High Self-Efficacy: A Multiple Case Study, Barbara L. Albee

Open Access Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to understand how online instructors with perceived high self-efficacy for online teaching use technology in the online class and how their use compares to a common list of best practices for use of technology with online instruction. One-on-one interviews with four case study participants were the main source of data collection along with direct observations of the participants' online courses. The case study participants were selected based on results from a Sense of Efficacy for Online Teaching Scale and willingness to move forward with the case study. Conventional data analysis was …

Integration Of Technology Into The Classroom Environment: A Study Of Student Perceptions As Related To Skill Attainment, Richard M. Sullivan

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to contribute to available literature by ascertaining student perceptions of benefits of student access to technology as correlated to students’ standardized test scores. Students and teachers were surveyed for perceptions of technology benefits. Survey results were analyzed and Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated comparing student perceptions to standardized Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) grade-level assessment results. As described in specific detail in this paper, it was found student standardized MAP testing data were positively correlated to the introduction of technology-integrated instruction in the classroom setting. Student perceptions indicated a more positive linear association to …

Teaching With Technology: An Exploration Of Techno Stress, Angie F. Johnson

Culminating Projects in Information Media

No abstract provided.

The Perceived Effectiveness Of Mixed Reality Experiences In A Master Of Arts In Teaching (Mat) Program For Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics Degreed Individuals, Chana Speir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of mixed reality experiences on resident teachers who successfully completed an undergraduate Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree and were enrolled in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program as part of RTP3 at a large research university in Orlando, Florida. The population for this study consisted of those selected to be in the RTP3, which included being in the Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT) and becoming a middle or high school science, mathematics, or engineering teacher. The resident teachers experienced mixed reality as …

Exploring Catholic Education In The Twenty-First Century: Teaching Practices, Technology Integration, And Educational Goals, Meredith Swallow

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

Although Catholic schools are the largest sector of the national private and faith-based educational market, the overall student enrollment in Catholic K-12 schools has steadily declined. In order for Catholic schools to remain sustainable and competitive among the many different educational options in the twenty-first century, they must set themselves apart from other schools by offering unique learning opportunities that support twenty-first century education while promoting Catholic educational values. Recognizing the need for updated teaching practices, balanced pedagogy with Catholic educational values, and focused research on Catholic education, this two-year multiple-case study explored the instructional practices of eight middle level …

The Impact Of 1:1 Ipad Devices On Student Engagement In The High School Classroom, Jennifer L. Middendorf

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A technology initiative was adopted in a Minnesota suburban school district integrating 1:1 iPad devices into the elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to determine the impact 1:1 iPad devices had on student engagement within the high school classrooms. The research questions focused on how educators are using the 1:1 iPad adoption to impact student engagement, the most and least effective iPad engagement strategies found within the 1:1 adoption, and the perceptions of students and teachers regarding the engagement strategies employed when using iPads in a 1:1 adoption. Through quantitative student …

Bringing The Outside In: Connecting Literacy Practices In A Layered, Technologically-Driven Seventh Grade Honors English Curriculum, Geneva L. Scully

Wayne State University Dissertations

As technology consumes our society today, it was one intention of this study to examine whether purposeful curriculum design that both scaffolded and layered technological tools into a unit of study in a seventh grade honors English classroom would lead to more critical and creative thinking. Through a qualitative design, case study analysis of three students whose experiences demonstrated how students were able to achieve increased levels of critical thinking was described. Another intention of this study was to examine whether or not students connected their in-school and out-of-school literacies through this experience in a more meaningful way as contributors …

First Year Teachers' Use Of Technology In Literacy Instruction: A Case Study, Emily Kearns Burke

Educational Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this case study is to determine how first year teachers describe their teacher preparation and use of technology to teach literacy. This is achieved by considering how teachers’ descriptions demonstrate self-efficacy, identify challenges and obstacles, and distinguish benefits of technology integration in literacy instruction. As the understanding of literacy broadens to include alternative forms of print and technology, school districts are investing significantly in technology and yet teachers are often not using technology in their practices. For these reasons it is necessary to examine first year teachers’ perceptions of their own prior training, their current technology use …