Educational Technology Commons^™

Fostering Active Learning In Asynchronous Oer Courses: Student-Generated Test Banks And Peer Review With Feedbackfruits, Chelsea M. Slack

All Things Open

This presentation explores a dynamic approach to enhancing the quality of Open Educational Resource (OER) textbooks in asynchronous undergraduate and graduate courses. Students are actively involved in the generation of multiple-choice test questions, tasked with creating both factual and applied questions. What sets this method apart is the integration of the peer review platform FeedbackFruits, available free through their World Educator's Initiative.

Through asynchronous collaboration, students engage in peer review, refining and evaluating each other's questions. This innovative process not only promotes a deeper understanding of course content but also cultivates critical thinking skills. The presentation will discuss the integration …

Comparing Cognitive Theories Of Learning Transfer To Advance Cybersecurity Instruction, Assessment, And Testing, Daniel T. Hickey Ph.D., Ronald J. Kantor

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The cybersecurity threat landscape evolves quickly, continually, and consequentially. This means that the transfer of cybersecurity learning is crucial. We compared how different recognized “cognitive” transfer theories might help explain and synergize three aspects of cybersecurity education. These include teaching and training in diverse settings, assessing learning formatively & summatively, and testing & measuring achievement, proficiency, & readiness. We excluded newer sociocultural theories and their implications for inclusion as we explore those theories elsewhere. We first summarized the history of cybersecurity education and proficiency standards considering transfer theories. We then explored each theory and reviewed the most relevant cybersecurity education …

Digital Bridges: How Art Educators Build Professional Learning Networks On Twitter, Jennifer Heyser

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

This qualitative case study explores the experiences of K-12 art teachers in the United States who participate in the #K12ArtChat, as a form of professional learning. Grounded in social constructivist learning, connectivism, and informal learning, this study addressed how and why art educators use Twitter Chats for professional growth and the potential impact of participation on their teaching practices. Five themes emerged from this study: Twitter's role as a professional development art education platform, the fostering of personal relationships and support, active community participation and advocacy, continuous professional development, and any perceived pedagogical shifts. With a significant emphasis on combatting …

Cm-Ii Meditation As An Intervention To Reduce Stress And Improve Attention: A Study Of Ml Detection, Spectral Analysis, And Hrv Metrics, Sreekanth Gopi

Master of Science in Computer Science Theses

Students frequently face heightened stress due to academic and social pressures, particularly in de- manding fields like computer science and engineering. These challenges are often associated with serious mental health issues, including ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, and an increased risk of suicide. The average student attention span has notably decreased from 21⁄2 minutes to just 47 seconds, and now it typically takes about 25 minutes to switch attention to a new task (Mark, 2023). Research findings suggest that over 95% of individuals who die by suicide have been diagnosed with depression (Shahtahmasebi, 2013), and almost 20% of students …

Integrity, Confidentiality, And Equity: Using Inquiry-Based Labs To Help Students Understand Ai And Cybersecurity, Richard C. Alexander, Liran Ma, Ze-Li Dou, Zhipeng Cai, Yan Huang

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have brought society closer to the long-held dream of creating machines to help with both common and complex tasks and functions. From recommending movies to detecting disease in its earliest stages, AI has become an aspect of daily life many people accept without scrutiny. Despite its functionality and promise, AI has inherent security risks that users should understand and programmers must be trained to address. The ICE (integrity, confidentiality, and equity) cybersecurity labs developed by a team of cybersecurity researchers addresses these vulnerabilities to AI models through a series of hands-on, inquiry-based labs. Through …

Leading Online Professional Development For Instructional Technology Coaches With Effective Design Elements, Janet Cowart

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

Online professional development became a necessity during the pandemic for educators, including Instructional Technology Coaches, to continue to gain knowledge to improve instruction. In this study, Instructional Technology Coaches participated in an online professional development series of synchronous and asynchronous sessions called Pathways. Two theoretical frameworks were used to support the research: Adult Learning Theory with an emphasis on the Theory of Computer-based Instruction for Adults, and TPACK. The seven characteristics of effective professional development created by Darling-Hammond et al. (2017) provided a foundation on which design elements to include in Pathways. There were 10 design elements that were implemented …

A Framework For Teaching Computational Thinking In Primary Schools: A Namibian Case Study, Maria M. Ausiku, Machdel C. Matthee

The African Journal of Information Systems

Several professional development programs have been designed to train in-service teachers on a computational thinking (CT) curriculum, but few researchers have examined how these affect primary school teachers' self-efficacy and knowledge of CT in emerging economies. This study's objective was to create a framework for the professional development of primary school in-service teachers for the teaching of CT (referred to as professional development for primary computational thinking - PD4PCT) to be integrated into teachers' professional development programs. An initial framework was refined after implementing it at a Namibian school with a group of 14 teachers from five different disciplines (social …

Upper Elementary Teacher, Instructional Technology Coach, And Administrator Experiences With Technology Integration During Covid-19 Related School Closures: A Phenomenography, Amber Gravitt

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenographic research was to qualitatively examine the experiences of teachers, instructional technology coaches, and administrators of technology integration during the emergency remote teaching (ERT) phase of the COVID-19 related school closures. Twelve participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview approach to gather information about their experiences of ERT using Moorhouse and Wong’s Phases to Innovation in Response to Crisis framework. An adapted phenomenographic data analysis approach was used to analyze the unique experiences of each participant group. Initially, teachers only used the technologies they were comfortable with and had used prior to school closures, but as …

Understanding How To Diversify The Cybersecurity Workforce: A Qualitative Analysis, Maria Chaparro Osman Dr., Maureen Namukasa, Cherrise Ficke, Isabella Piasecki, Tj Oconnor Dr., Meredith Carroll Dr.

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

A robust cybersecurity workforce is critical for protection against a range of malicious attacks. However, it has been noted that there are many vacancies and a shortage of individuals entering the cybersecurity workforce. This workforce shortage has partly been attributed to the lack of diversity in the cybersecurity field, with women, African Americans, and Hispanics remaining underrepresented in educational and professional settings. Using a qualitative approach, this work sought to investigate what led underrepresented minorities currently involved in cybersecurity to the industry, with the goal of determining methods to attract and diversify the workforce. A thematic analysis was conducted using …

A Mixed-Method Study Exploring Cyber Ranges And Educator Motivation, Cheryl Beauchamp, Holly M. Matusovich

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

A growing number of academic institutions have invested resources to integrate cyber ranges for applying and developing cybersecurity-related knowledge and skills. Cyber range developers and administrators provided much of what is known about cyber range resources and possible educational applications; however, the educator provides valuable understanding of the cyber range resources they use, how they use them, what they value, and what they do not value. This study provides the cyber range user perspective of cyber ranges in cybersecurity education by describing how K-12 educators are motivated using cyber ranges. Using mixed methods, this study explored educator motivation associated with …

Cybersecurity Challenges And Awareness Of The Multi-Generational Learners In Nepal, Raj Kumar Dhungana, Lina Gurung Dr, Hem Poudyal

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Increased exposure to technologies has lately emerged as one of the everyday realities of digital natives, especially K-12 students, and teachers, the digital immigrants. Protection from cybersecurity risks in digital learning spaces is a human right, but students are increasingly exposed to high-risk cyberspace without time to cope with cybersecurity risks. This study, using a survey (N-891 students and 157 teachers) and in-depth interviews (27 students and 14 teachers), described the students' cybersecurity-related experiences and challenges in Nepal. This study revealed that the school’s cybersecurity support system is poor and teachers has very low awareness and competencies to protect students …

Cue The Paralinguistics: A Qualitative Case Study Of Teacher Social Presence, Molly R. Bowden

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand teachers’ rationale and practices as they establish a social presence in a 100% online learning environment in a high school setting, with a specific emphasis on paralinguistic cues and symbols, such as emoji, emoticons, and Bitmoji. This case study focused on the meaning and understanding of teacher social presence in the virtual setting, utilizing a variety of data collection methods. In-depth interviews were conducted, followed by digital document collection and a focus group interview; transcripts of both interviews and the focus group were analyzed in order to establish the specific …

The Impact Of Digital Transformation On Institutional Growth. A Case Of Zimbabwean Universities, Vusumuzi Maphosa

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The pressure for institutions to digitally transform has been building, and COVID-19 accelerated the transition in developing countries. The study evaluated the impact of digital transformation on Zimbabwean universities. The Microsoft digital transformation framework guided the study. Thematic analysis was used to extract meaning and generate themes from qualitative data from university ICT Directors. Results show that digital transformation positively impacted institutional growth and efficiency. Most universities invest in digital technology to increase service reliability and availability. Digital transformation teams were bolstered to support student processes and create personalised learning journeys. The digital transformation led to the adoption of several …

Digital Transformation Of Smes Through Social Media, Georgette Eugenia Otoo, Raphael Amponsah, Eric Afful-Dadzie, Emmanuel Awuni Kolog

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

This research paper explores the strategic integration of social media platforms by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) beyond marketing. Drawing from Resource-Based View and Dynamic Capabilities theories, the study investigates how social media enhances management, coordination, and control functions. Through five diverse case studies from Ghana, findings reveal SMEs’ innovative use of platforms like Instagram, WhatsApp, Slack, and Trello. These platforms foster efficient internal communication, customer engagement, project management, and talent acquisition. Challenges such as technical expertise and dynamic digital landscapes are identified.

Ap Statistics Students’ Conceptions Of Engagement And Technology In A Flipped Classroom: A Phenomenographical Study, Kimberly Gile

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to study student engagement and disengagement within an AP Statistics course using flipped classroom strategies. Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding, Dewey’s Active Learning Theory, the Microsystem of Student Engagement in a Flipped Classroom, and the Framework for Engagement with Mathematics were the theoretical foundation for this study. A phenomenographical methodology was followed to answer the question: How do AP Statistics students experience engagement in the flipped classroom? as well as the sub questions: Which learning experiences help to engage students and why? And which learning experiences contribute to student disengagement and why? …

Case Study: The Impact Of Emerging Technologies On Cybersecurity Education And Workforces, Austin Cusak

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

A qualitative case study focused on understanding what steps are needed to prepare the cybersecurity workforces of 2026-2028 to work with and against emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Conducted through a workshop held in two parts at a cybersecurity education conference, findings came both from a semi-structured interview with a panel of experts as well as small workgroups of professionals answering seven scenario-based questions. Data was thematically analyzed, with major findings emerging about the need to refocus cybersecurity STEM at the middle school level with problem-based learning, the disconnects between workforce operations and cybersecurity operators, the …

Becoming An Effective Digital Educator: A Case Study Of Technology Preparation In A Novel Preservice Teacher Internship Program, Stephanie Milner

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this case study was to explore one teacher preparation program's internship model as implemented in one school district and discover the extent to which training for teaching with technology was integrated into the process. It also aimed to understand how former intern teachers felt the entire preparation program equipped them for technology-rich instruction during their first year of full-time teaching. Internship program documents and lesson plans were analyzed, and early career teachers, mentor teachers, school administrators, and internship program coordinators were interviewed individually. Classroom observations were conducted for the lesson plans analyzed. Findings spotlighted the district’s technology-friendly …

Role Of Industry Technologies In Information Systems Education, Shaloam Mutetwa, Gwamaka Mwalemba

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Determining the appropriate industry technology or software products1 to use for practical teaching or demonstration purposes is a well-known challenge in technology-related education. As industry technologies continue to evolve and considering the vast number of existing proprietary as well as extant open source technologies, the task of selecting the best one for a particular competence, lesson, or course is also becoming more complicated. This research explores the selection and implementation of industry technologies in an Information Systems educational context. Data was collected through interviews with lecturers and students as well as analysis of course documents in an Information Systems Department …

Adapting An Online Learning Quality Assurance Framework In A Developing Country Setting: The Case Of A Hei In Malawi, Bennett Kankuzi, Menard Phiri, Robert Chanunkha, Jonathan Makuwira, Paul Makocho

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Covid-19 prompted many higher education institutions (HEIs), even in developing countries like Malawi, to abruptly shift from their traditional face-to-face mode of delivery to online learning. However, quality issues with online learning remain one of the greatest challenges to acceptance of online learning by many students and stakeholders. This paper presents an action research based study at the Malawi University of Science and Technology, in which an online learning quality assurance framework is adapted to a developed country setting. The adapted framework builds on the Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Quality Scorecard for the Administration of Online Programs. The contextualization and …

A Theoretical Framework For M-Learning, Osman Sadeck, Moses Moyo, Nyarai Tunjera, Agnes Chigona

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The proliferation of mobile technologies in all spheres of society necessitates looking at their beneficial use for education. Many parts of South Africa (SA), Africa and the world experience social-exclusion and marginalisation in education. Education is a human right, and this paper looks at using mobile devices as a means to counter E-exclusion. Emphasis is currently on the adoption and use of mobile technologies, available in many communities, for offsetting E-inclusion. This paper presents an evaluation of mobile learning (M-learning) and M-learning models towards a theoretical framework for M-learning for marginalised contexts. The model offered is applicable to a range …

Using Design Science Research To Create A Virtual Environment For Nursing Students, Benjamin Botha, Lizette De Wet

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

This paper aims to provide insight into the design science research approach followed during a transdisciplinary research study between computer scientists and professional nurses. The researchers used a design science research approach to create a virtual environment where nursing students could practice managing a patient with a foreign object in the right lung. The virtual environment underwent multiple changes as it progressed through the different cycles of design science research. Within these cycles, namely the relevance, design, and rigor cycle, various iterations of each of the cycles took place. Presented in this paper the design science approach followed will be …

Towards More Inclusive Electronic Tutoring: Tutors’ Experiences Of Using A Data-Free Mobile Instant Messenger In A First-Year Accounting Class, Fazlyn Petersen, Ronald Arendse

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The use of data-intensive synchronous tutoring options, such as Zoom, can be exclusionary in South Africa where there is limited access to the internet in homes. The literature indicates the following challenges for electronic tutoring in South Africa: a lack of devices, high data costs, network connectivity issues, inadequate digital skills and competencies. To address the challenge of high data costs, a South African data-free mobile instant messenger was tested for electronic tutoring. The research model used the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge Framework (TPACK) as the theoretical basis. This research used a case study in a large, first-year accounting course …

Students’ Acceptance And Use Of A Mobile Instant Messenger For Remote Learning During Covid-19: Large Information Systems Class In South Africa, Fazlyn Petersen, Nathan Anthony Davids

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

During Covid, Higher Education Institutions were forced to move from face-to-face learning to emergency remote learning. The social exclusion of students may occur due to various factors relating to the prevalent digital divide and inequality in South Africa. To address the identified gap, this study assessed the student acceptance and use of a low data cost mobile instant messenger during remote learning in a large Information Systems class at a historically disadvantaged institution in the Western Cape, South Africa. The study used a positivistic paradigm. Data was collected from students registered for the third-year information systems module within the Economic …

Covid-19 Pandemic: Digital Technology Innovations And Resilience In South African Higher Education Institutions, Vusumzi Funda

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

The centrality of education in socio-economic development has since been recognized and considerable efforts have been made towards safeguarding the objectives of inclusive education. The covid-19 pandemic has disrupted learning and teaching in tertiary institutes which resulted in sudden adoption of online innovations meant to ensure continuity in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the face of restrictions and social distancing. The sudden adoption of digital technologies as a desperate stop-gap measure to ensure continuity and revenue inflows against a background of high overheads has been met with challenges. This study explores literature on inroads made towards harnessing digital technologies for …

Maker Math: Exploring Mathematics Through Digitally Fabricated Tools With K–12 In-Service Teachers, Jason R. Harron, Yi Jin, Amy F. Hillen, Lindsey Mason, Lauren Siegel

Faculty Open Access Publishing Fund Collection

This paper reports on nine elementary, middle, and high school in-service teachers who participated in a series of workshops aimed at exploring the wonder, joy, and beauty of mathematics through the creation and application of digitally fabricated tools (i.e., laser-cut and 3D printed). Using the Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework to investigate technological, pedagogical, contextual, and content knowledge, researchers applied qualitative methods to uncover the affordances and constraints of teaching and learning math concepts with digitally fabricated tools and examined how the workshops supported broadening participation in mathematics by focusing on the connections between mathematical inquiry, nature, and …

The Evolving Roles Of School Librarians In Diverse Instructional Settings, Kay Wright

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

In 2020 and 2021, K-12 instructional settings diversified worldwide due to COVID-19 pandemic-response. During the 2021-2022 school year, a new instructional setting of K-12 remote-synchronous learning launched in a progressive, southeastern U.S. public school district. Substantial school district realignment occurred to serve this new setting; bypassed, however, was a dedicated school librarian position. Despite positive national impact data and the school library profession’s demonstrated ability since the mid-twentieth century to evolve, newly created positions have been funded nationally in schools to evolve with the times, often at the expense of school library positions. Role tensions may emerge between school librarians …

"I Have Not Been In School For Over Ten Years? Can You Help Me? Understanding And Developing Information Literacy Skills For Non-Traditional Graduate Students, Amy Dye-Reeves

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Studies by the United States Department of Education have shown that non-traditional students steadily grow within college campuses' enrollment rates. The National Center for Education Statistics defines that "most often age, especially over the age of 24 has been the defining characteristic for this population. The direct impact of social class (Bambe & Tett, 1999; Quinn, 2010), gender and age (Merrill, 2014), and ethnicity (Bron et al., 2014) on the individual academic lives of the students. The presenter used Tinto's (1987) interactionist quantitative theory to look at value-added to variables such as socioeconomic background, academic preparation, and achievement level based …

Toward A Student-Ready Cybersecurity Program: Findings From A Survey Of Stem-Students, Lora Pitman, Brian K. Payne, Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Lenora Thorbjornsen

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

As the number of available cybersecurity jobs continues to grow, colleges strive to offer to their cybersecurity students an environment which will make them sufficiently prepared to enter the workforce after graduation. This paper explores the academic and professional needs of STEM-students in various higher education institutions across Virginia and how cybersecurity programs can cater to these needs. It also seeks to propose an evidence-based approach for improving the existing cybersecurity programs so that they can become more inclusive and student-ready. A survey of 251 college students in four higher-education institutions in Virginia showed that while there are common patterns …

The Impact Of A Gencyber Camp On In-Service Teachers’ Tpack, Kevin M. Thomas, Jessica Ivy, Kristin Cook, Robert R. Kelley

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a GenCyber camp curriculum on teachers’ technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge (TPACK). The camp was designed to engage participants in developing the knowledge and skills to incorporate GenCyber Cybersecurity First Principles and GenCyber Cybersecurity Concepts (GenCyber, 2019) into their curriculums. Participants (37 middle and high school teachers from a variety of disciplines) attended one of two weeklong camps held at a Midwestern liberal arts university. Using the TPACK Self-Reflection and TPACK Self-Assessment Surveys, pre- and post-camp data were collected from participants. Findings indicate that participants demonstrated an increase in …

The Parent Role In Teen Digital Citizenship, Christi Harp

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

This research presents a case study on the parent role in adolescent digital citizenship in the Southeastern United States. This study involved ten parents of middle school students who are exemplars of involvement in their children’s digital lives. Research shows that teens are using technology at a rapid rate and there is a need for positive digital citizenship among youth. Research studies have been conducted on adolescents, teachers, media specialists, and administrators regarding digital citizenship. There is a need for research to be conducted involving parents and what role they play in the development of their child’s digital citizenship skills. …