Educational Technology Commons^™

The Power Of Presence: Body Image In Disney's The Little Mermaid, Megan Chatelain

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how body image is represented in Disney’s The Little Mermaid across its 1989 animated film and the 2019 and 2023 adaptations. Grounded in Gerbner’s Cultivation Theory, the research examines how repeated media exposure shapes audience perceptions of morality, beauty, and identity—particularly through the portrayal of body size. Using a triangulated qualitative approach—reflexive journaling, content analysis, and survey responses—the study reveals consistent patterns: thin characters are depicted as virtuous, desirable, and heroic, while larger-bodied characters are often cast as villainous, comedic, or morally flawed. These associations were recognized by participants across all methods and confirmed through both reflective …

Socially Shared Regulation Of Learning And Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities To Support Socially Shared Regulation, Jinhee Kim, Rita Detrick, Seongryeong Yu, Yukyeong Song, Linda Bol, Na Li

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Supporting learners in achieving high-level socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL) in the online collaborative learning (OCL) context presents challenges that the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies may help solve. However, the effective uses of AI to support multifaceted areas (cognition, metacognition, and motivation) and phases (forethought, performance, and reflection) of SSRL remain elusive. Furthermore, research on developing an educational AI and what pedagogical attributes and elements are required for AI to support students' SSRL effectively is limited. This study, therefore, aims to investigate students' perceptions of AI applications in enhancing SSRL and to explore the essential pedagogical elements …

The Integration Of Artificial Intelligence And Ontologies: Transformations In Knowledge Representation And Application, Grazia Serratore, Julaine Clunis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the landscape of knowledge representation. There is an increasingly strong bidirectional relationship, between AI techniques and ontologies. AI techniques revolutionized traditional, manual ontology development and contribute to automated ontology construction, while ontologies enhance the performance of AI systems and their semantic accuracy. Through a comprehensive review of current literature, this paper aims to examine: i) how Machine Learning (ML) techniques contribute to the automated construction, refinement, and validation of ontologies; ii) the most widely used and effective ML approaches for ontology construction; iii) how domain-specific requirements influence the selection and adaptation of AI techniques for …

Un Enfoque Sistémico De La Integración De Tecnología - A Systems Approach To Technology Integration El Marco Seti, Helen Crompton

STEMPS Faculty Publications

[El marco de Integración Socioecológica de la Tecnología (SETI, por sus siglas en inglés) ofrece una perspectiva sistémica de la integración eficaz de la tecnología en educación. A diferencia de otros modelos anteriores que se centran en la práctica docente —como TPACK y SAMR—, el marco SETI sitúa al educador en un conjunto complejo de sistemas socioecológicos, incluido el microsistema de los entornos escolares, el exosistema de las estructuras de apoyo a nivel de distrito y el macrosistema de las políticas nacionales y las normas culturales. Este artículo parte de conceptualizaciones previas de SETI y desarrolla el marco para mostrar …

Designing Ai-Powered Learning: Adult Learners' Expectations For Curriculum And Human-Ai Interaction, Jinhee Kim, Seongryeong Yu, Rita Detrick, Xi Lin, Na Li

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Despite the potential benefits offered by GenAI technologies to provide innovative solutions to address distinct challenges faced by working adult learners (ALs) in higher education and beyond, there is limited understanding of how best to structure AI-powered learning for this population while ensuring their distinct needs and perspectives are considered. Hence, this study aimed to determine what curriculum and student-AI interaction would be required by situating ALs’ views. Through analyzing 48 e-portfolios and in-depth interviews with 20 ALs from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, the study found that ALs perceived content mastery and developing a lifelong habit of learning as …

Editorial: Ai's Impact On Higher Education: Transforming Research, Teaching, And Learning, Alyse Jordan, Ashley L. Dockens, Natalia Anastasia Pierson, Xinyue Ren

STEMPS Faculty Publications

[Introduction] This Research Topic provides a comprehensive examination of how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming higher education. The collected studies reveal several interconnected themes that illuminate both the opportunities and challenges of AI integration in academic settings. This editorial summarizes these themes and articulates their significance for the future of higher education.

Comparative Analysis Of Eye-Metric Algorithms For Code Comprehension In Introductory Cs Course, Noushin Gauhar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Eye-tracking technology offers a non-intrusive way to study cognitive processes by tracking where and how long individuals look. In computer science education, it provides valuable insights into how students understand source code—a task that requires intense visual and mental effort. This study investigates how eye-tracking can reveal differences in code comprehension strategies among students in an Introductory Programming course. By analyzing three key metrics—dwell time, gaze entropy, and the K coefficient—the research explores how students engage with code. Dwell time indicates cognitive focus on specific code elements, the K coefficient measures attentional shifts between scanning and focused reading, and gaze …

Enhancing Adhd Diagnosis In College Students Using Multimodal Integration Of Nicats And Iva-2 Tools, Rushmila Shabneen

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This study explores enhanced methods for accurately identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) indicators in college students. ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder, impacts attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation, often leading to academic and social difficulties. Many students remain undiagnosed due to symptom overlap with stress and other factors. Traditional tools like the IVA-2 assess behavioral responses but may not fully capture ADHD complexity. This research integrates IVA-2 data with multimodal metrics from the Non-Intrusive Classroom Attention Tracking System (NiCATS), which monitors facial expressions, eye movements, and computer interactions. Preliminary results show that combining these tools improves ADHD detection, reduces false …

Motivating Students Through Problem-Based And Project-Based Learning, Dennis J. Moore

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

As educators, motivating students can be a difficult task.Sixteen eighth-grade students discuss their perceptions of what makes educational programs motivating. In teacher-centered classrooms, teachers lecture while their students take notes, quizzes, and tests and practice memorization skills in preparation for high-stakes testing. Is this a fair assessment of a student's knowledge, and does this type of instruction fulfill students’ needs for a successful future? Research for this case study focused on students' perceptions of an agricultural program that utilizes problem-based and project-based learning with a sustainability focus.

In problem-based learning (PBL) classes, students are given real-world problems and asked …

International Students' Information-Seeking Experiences With A Library Discovery Tool, Kristen Jacobson

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this parallel convergent mixed methods study was to assess how international students from non-native English-speaking backgrounds that represent significant subgroups of the U.S. international student population interact with an academic library website with a discovery tool, and the usability of the tool for these students. It explored the information-seeking behavior of a group of international students (n=14) from Asia, Saudi Arabia, and Africa, who were enrolled at a Midwestern National University. It provides usability information about the issues those students encountered and their experiences when completing 10 common academic research tasks using the university library’s discovery tool. …

Factors Related To Teachers’ Behavioral Intention To Continue Using Digital Game Based Learning To Teach Arabic, Hassan Alhashimalsayed

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the factors related to teachers’ behavioral intention to continue using digital game-based learning technology inside the classroom and how teachers perceive such tool to facilitate the process of teaching. The purpose of this case study was to investigate how the attitudinal factors of the UTAUT model (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence) and background factors (gender, age, teaching experience, educational level, teaching rank, and extent of DGBL integration) predict teachers’ behavioral intention to continue using a digital game-based learning technology in their teaching to improve their performance in teaching Arabic language to Saudi students. The study …

Comparing Elements Of The Community Of Inquiry Framework In An Asynchronous And Synchronous Student Success Course In Nursing School, Megan Mcinnis

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This study explored the impact of course delivery modality—asynchronous versus synchronous—on students’ perceptions of Teaching, Social, and Cognitive Presence as outlined in the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework. Conducted at a nursing college, the study involved students enrolled in a student success course offered in both formats. Quantitative data, using the CoI Survey Instrument, were collected through pre- and post-course surveys and analyzed with independent t tests to determine whether statistically significant differences existed within and between modalities. Results indicated that both course formats supported high levels of perceived presence across all three domains. In the asynchronous section, a statistically …

Perceptions Of Stem Education And Artificial Intelligence: A Twitter (X) Sentiment Analysis, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Yoseph Mamo, Jinhee Kim, Helen Crompton, Matthew Mcconnell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Background, context, and purpose of the study: Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, holding promising potential for supporting the design and implementation of quality STEM education. However, there is a lack of data-based research studying the diverse perceptions of AI in STEM education as conveyed on social media, the factors that influence those perceptions, or the change in those perceptions over time among public audiences. Results, the main findings: The purpose of this study was to examine public perceptions of AI in STEM education by analyzing X posts (Tweets) between 04/28/2020 …

Exploring Vr User Experiences, Sarah Ferguson, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Brett Cook-Snell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) has unique potential for simulating environments and situations beyond real-life experiences. This study investigates the limitations of VR equipment design for learning spaces, specifically online environments. Presented are the findings of an exploratory study that examined the immersion, ease of use, and physiological and emotional experiences of seven university students participating in a 30–60 min VR session. Given the small sample size, the findings were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively. The results revealed that participants recognized the potential of VR as a teaching and learning tool, while also identifying certain limitations associated with health and safety. …

Teaching Engineering To Enhance Beginning Elementary Preservice Teachers' Engineering-Related Knowledge And Beliefs, Jennifer Kidd, Danielle Rhemer, Kristie Gutierrez, Stacie I. Ringleb, Krishnanand Kaipa, Orlando Ayala, Pilar Pazos, Francisco Cima, Isaac Kumi

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Background

Teacher educators have begun exploring the most effective ways to prepare preservice teachers (PSTs) to engage elementary students in engineering design. However, this remains challenging as PSTs continue to report a lack of exposure to engineering during their K-12 school experiences. This study investigates the engineering-related knowledge and beliefs of PSTs in their first education course, collaborating in small teams to lead elementary students in engineering design challenges. We explored two different iterations to understand how the structure of the teaching experiences contributed to PST outcomes as a first step in identifying helpful approaches. In spring 2022, PSTs collaborated …

Exploring Vr User Experiences, Sarah Ferguson, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi, Brett Cook-Snell

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Virtual reality (VR) has unique potential for simulating environments and situations beyond real-life experiences. This study investigates the limitations of VR equipment design for learning spaces, specifically online environments. Presented are the findings of an exploratory study that examined the immersion, ease of use, and physiological and emotional experiences of seven university students participating in a 30–60 min VR session. Given the small sample size, the findings were analyzed with descriptive statistics and qualitatively. The results revealed that participants recognized the potential of VR as a teaching and learning tool, while also identifying certain limitations associated with health and safety. …

Artificial Intelligence In Educational Research And Scholarship: Seven Framings, Eamon Costello, Giselle Ferreira, Stefan Hrastinski, Jason K. Mcdonald, Ahmed Tlili, George Veletsianos, Victoria I. Marin, Henk Huijser, Sharon Altena

Faculty Publications

In a recent interview (Bender et al., 2025), Professor Emily M. Bender discussed the limitations of technical solutions in addressing harmful Artificial Intelligence (AI) bias. She described a particular point we may reach at which technical solutions stop working, and when we should then widen the lens to ask about the problem framing itself. This is a crucial step in any inquiry that is of concern to both novice and experienced researchers alike: moving from problem-solving to problematisation. This commentary aims to provide educational researchers with a glimpse into the wide array of research problems and problematisation of AI in …

Encouraging Self-Regulation In An Online University Course For Preservice Teachers: An Intervention Study, Karen T. Arnesen, Charles R. Graham, Heather Leary, Alison I. Mcmurry

Faculty Publications

Although self-regulation (SR) has long been seen as an important educational concept, we know little about how to foster it in higher education online student populations. This research addresses this need by introducing an SR intervention into a preservice teacher course. The 30 students who participated used an intervention consisting of weekly student goal setting and self-reflection. Using data collected from a self-regulation survey, weekly reflections, final exam reflections, and interviews, all but one student indicated that the process of setting a goal weekly and especially reflecting on their actions during the week increased their self-regulation abilities. More than half …

Application Of Fuzzy Logic For Evaluation Of Student Performance, M. Tomovic, C. Tomovic, V. Jovanovic, S. Bawab

Engineering Technology Faculty Publications

The evaluation of student performance is a multifaceted process that traditionally relies on rigid grading systems, often failing to capture the complexity of student abilities and learning dynamics. This paper explores the application of fuzzy logic to enhance the accuracy and adaptability of student performance evaluation. By leveraging fuzzy logic principles, such as membership functions and linguistic variables, we model and assess the various factors influencing student performance—ranging from academic grades to engagement, participation, and personal learning styles. The approach allows for the representation of imprecise, uncertain, and subjective data, offering a more holistic view of a student’s progress. We …

Hypnosis And Mindfulness Audio Recordings For Reducing Fatigue In Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Study, Mark P. Jensen, Susan Robles, Michael G. Nash, Susanne May, Dwan M. Ehde, Melissa A. Day, Owen Gottlieb, Laurence I. Sugarman, Kevin N. Alschuler

Articles

Background

Fatigue is a common problem in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective

The objective was to evaluate the effects on fatigue of having 4 weeks of

access to audio recordings of therapeutic hypnosis (HYP) and mindfulness meditation

(MM) practices.

Methods

A total of 333 individuals with MS and fatigue were randomly assigned to

one of the three treatment conditions for 28 weeks: (1) access to therapeutic HYP audio

recordings, (2) access to MM audio recordings, or (3) no access to recordings

(treatment as usual or TAU). Fatigue impact (primary outcome) and other outcomes

were assessed at 4, 16, and …