Educational Technology Commons^™

Educator Perceptions And Uses Of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) In Middle Level, Secondary, And Higher Education Classrooms, Rachel Stowers

Honors Capstones

GenAI has experienced rapid growth and controversy over its benefits, drawbacks, and ethicality in education. This study examines Illinois educators’ attitudes and classroom use of GenAI across middle school, high school, and higher education. Data was collected through a digital survey containing both quantitative and short-answer questions, yielding 330 respondents who were practicing teachers, along with five supplemental interviews. Preliminary results show that respondents ages 20–29 reported the highest understanding of how to use GenAI yet were also the most likely to express ethical discomfort, with 45.9% disagreeing that they feel comfortable using it ethically. While responses varied, educators generally …

Can A Different Research Poster Format Increase Attendee Engagement? A Case Report., Elizabeth M. Ardolino, Kelli Nielsen, Mike Morrison, Jane E. Sullivan

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: Poster sessions are a widely used method of knowledge dissemination at professional conferences, yet their effectiveness in promoting engagement and knowledge transfer is uncertain. Traditional poster formats often follow a dense, text-heavy structure that may contribute to cognitive overload. Billboard-style posters, grounded in Cognitive Load Theory, offer an alternative design intended to enhance clarity and engagement.

Methods: This case report describes a three-year implementation (2022–2024) of billboard-style posters at the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Annual Conference. Attendees were invited to complete a brief survey after viewing either traditional or billboard-style posters. The survey assessed engagement (time spent reading …

Innovative Framework And Checklist For Enhancing Interprofessional Education: A Literature Review Of Program Design, Delivery, And Outcome Measurement, Stacy Castronova, Lori Rainchuso

Journal of Innovation in Health Sciences Education

Introduction: This dual-focused study aimed (1) to conduct a comprehensive literature review of interprofessional education (IPE) initiatives across health disciplines to examine collaboration patterns, delivery methods, validated assessment tools, and outcome measures and (2) to develop an evidence-informed framework and checklist, based on the findings and identified gaps, to improve the standardization and reporting of IPE programs.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across three professional databases, targeting peer-reviewed publications from 2012 to 2024. Inclusion criteria prioritized studies that provided detailed descriptions of IPE intervention delivery, utilized validated measurement tools, and demonstrated participant engagement to ensure the selection …

Assessing The Effectiveness Of Ai-Based Adaptive Learning Systems In Higher Education, Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Yusuf, Suleiman Yusuf

Journal of Educational Leadership in Action

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is transforming teaching and learning by enhancing outcomes and personalizing learning experiences. This study investigates the effectiveness of AI-based adaptive learning systems in higher education using a quantitative research design involving 500 students from five institutions. The primary goal is to assess the impact of these systems on academic performance, student engagement, and retention rates. Data were collected through surveys and academic records, comparing students using adaptive learning systems to those in traditional classroom environments. Academic performance of students utilizing AI systems demonstrated significant improvement in grades compared to peers in conventional …

Integrating Artificial Intelligence Into Academic Writing: Development Of A Student-Centered Ethical Toolkit, Matteo Landais

Theses

The rapid growth of generative artificial intelligence in higher education has introduced new challenges surrounding authorship, academic integrity, and the role of writing in student learning. While institutional responses have often focused on restriction, surveillance, and AI detection, students continue to incorporate AI tools into their writing practices in increasingly normalized ways. This project argues that the issue is not simply whether students use AI, but how they use it and whether that use supports meaningful engagement with the writing process.

This applied project proposes a process-oriented and student-centered framework for the ethical integration of AI into academic writing. Learning …

The Impact Of Community On Professional Identity In Computer Science Education, Ian A. Kollipara

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis explores the application of Communities of Practice (CoPs) in Computer Science Education. The work consists of two qualitative studies examining related but distinct populations: (1) K–12 CS teachers and (2) undergraduate CS students. The first study presents a retrospective analysis of conneCTION, an online CoP for K–12 CS educators, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and design considerations that inform future platform development. The second study investigates how participation in a CoP can mitigate negative and exclusionary stereotypes in CS. This study was conducted in an under-explored context: a small, private, religious, Midwestern university, and examines an existing community, the Programming …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Technical Report., Kate O'Malley, Steven Kambouris, Dulce Lay, Amira Mahmood, Frances Eveleigh, Jorge Fallas

ICT - Digital Literacy

The primary purpose of the NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 technical report is to detail the technical aspects of the assessment. It outlines the key activities undertaken in the design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and reporting phases of the national sample assessment. The 2025 cycle marks the seventh national assessment of ICT literacy. Notably, the 2025 assessment was administered in May, a shift of 5 months from previous cycles, which were held in October. For this reason, changes in achievement between 2025 and previous cycles of the NAP–ICT Literacy assessment should be interpreted with some caution. The NAP–ICT Literacy 2025 assessment was …

National Assessment Program – Ict Literacy 2025. Public Report, Tim Friedman, Kate O'Malley, Frances Eveleigh, Wolfram Schulz

ICT - Digital Literacy

This report presents the findings from the seventh National Assessment Program – Information and Communication Technology Literacy (NAP–ICT Literacy) assessment cycle. The assessment was conducted in May 2025 with representative samples of Year 6 and Year 10 students across Australia. The report includes comparisons, where appropriate, with findings from previous NAP–ICT Literacy assessment cycles. NAP–ICT Literacy assesses students’ ability to use ICT and digital tools appropriately, safely and effectively across a range of real-world contexts. The assessment evaluates a broad range of skills, including: accessing, managing and evaluating information, developing new understandings, applying computational, design and systems thinking, communicating and …

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through Xr And Ai, Christopher Spitzer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Techno-Imagination: Elevating Creativity Through XR and AI explores the history of creativity and computing technology, supported by research and academic literature, and looks at the possibilities of a convergence between the two. In parallel, a brief biographical story of the author shares how a passion for creativity emerged, along with a growing interest in science and technology—specifically extended reality—which ultimately came together in the creation of this master’s project. The project also highlights how the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) process was used alongside AI bots and twenty research-based creative thinking skills in developing the business model canvas. Finally, the outcome …

Leading The Choreography: Preserving Creative Agency In Ai-Supported Problem-Solving, Mikhaila Ackerbauer

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly present in creative and problem-solving contexts, a critical question emerges: how can users engage with AI in ways that preserve rather than erode their own creative capacity? This project explores that question through research synthesis, practitioner conversations, coursework, international conference presentations, and the development of custom AI chatbots trained in the Creative Problem-Solving process. The central finding is a theoretical triangle comprising three interdependent capacities: autonomy, creative self-efficacy, and critical thinking. Grounded in Rhodes' (1961) Four P's framework, the triangle sits within the Person dimension. Convergent themes across the literature, practitioner conversations, and direct …

Exploring The Role Of Video Games In Civil Engineering Education And K-12 Stem Engagement, Jillian S. Codron

Architectural Engineering

Civil engineering education has traditionally emphasized a linear progression from theory to application, with foundational concepts introduced in lecture before being reinforced through laboratory or design experiences. While effective for advanced learners, this approach can limit early engagement for K–12 students who may struggle to connect abstract principles to realworld engineering practice. This project examines the use of video games as interactive, feedback-driven environments for introducing civil engineering concepts and practices to younger learners in more exploratory and accessible ways.

The study pursues four primary objectives: evaluating the educational affordances of selected video games; examining how gaming experiences have influenced …

Leading For Impact: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study On Leadership Actions Driving Academic Gains Beyond Mock Projections, John Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how principals lead schools to achieve academic outcomes that exceed projected performance. Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, the study first identified campuses that demonstrated statistically significant improvement between projected outcomes based on mock assessments and actual performance on state accountability measures. Quantitative analyses, including paired-samples t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA, and correlation analyses, revealed significant differences between projected and actual outcomes, variation across assessment cycles, and increasing alignment between mock and summative assessments over time. Standardized mean difference scores were used to identify campuses that demonstrated the greatest positive deviation from projected performance.

In Phase 2, …

Teaching Under Restriction: Pre-Service Teachers’ Experiences With Censorship, Johnny Salinas

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of pre-service teacher candidates at a predominantly minority university in South Texas about educational censorship in K–12 schools. Grounded in critical theory, the research explored how restrictive policies—including book bans and legislation related to race, gender, and identity—affect candidates’ developing professional identities and career aspirations. Data were collected through an anonymous, open-ended questionnaire and analyzed to identify six interconnected themes: autonomy and fear, book bans, policy and legislation, race and identity, subject-specific impacts, and readiness and confidence. Participants described an increasingly tense educational climate marked by heightened scrutiny and ambiguous policy expectations. They voiced …

A Case Study Of One-To-One Mobile Teaching And Learning Environments Measuring Creativity In A Rural Elementary School In Deep South Texas, David Warren Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined how creativity is enacted within rural one-to-one mobile teaching and learning environments in Deep South Texas. Grounded in the frameworks of mobile learning affordances (Klopfer et al., 2002), the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, and the SAMR model, the study explored how instructional practices, student agency, and contextual conditions influenced creative learning experiences in an elementary school setting. Data were collected from five elementary teachers at a rural South Texas district and included semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and samples of student-created artifacts. Data analysis followed a systematic process of first-cycle coding, second-cycle axial …

R Software Tutorials For Introductory Statistics Courses, Erica M. Hurst

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

This project focused on creating online resources for using the statistical software package R in an introductory statistics course at Utah State University. The goal was to make R more accessible, user-friendly, and engaging for learners. To do this, existing written materials were moved to a new section of an online website called Stats Stuff. Then interactive features were added such as step-by-step video tutorials, real datasets, and an embedded coding tool. These resources have been in use for the past four years and have helped students build confidence and enhance their statistical learning experience.

Designing The Future: A Vr Campus Environment, Jasmine Talitha Banman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone project details the development of the "USU Virtual Campus," a high-fidelity 3D replica of the Utah State University College of Engineering building. Grounded in constructionist learning, I designed a unique architectural model in the USU virtual campus and gained practical experience using a 3D modeling platform. The project documents a transition from 2D UX/UI theory to 3D environmental design, highlighting technical challenges. Moving from greyboxing to high-fidelity detailing-the project establishes a future-proof framework for building a digital replica. Ultimately, this virtual environment promotes accessibility by allowing students to engage with the USU community regardless of geographic or physical …

Artificial Intelligence Adoption Among Community College Faculty: A Comparative Analysis Of Rural And Urban Institutions, Morgan A. Saunders

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has created new opportunities and challenges for higher education institutions. Community colleges, which serve diverse student populations and play a significant role in workforce development, must determine. The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate differences in artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, usage patterns, and perceptions of importance among faculty at two rural community colleges and two urban community colleges in the United States. Specifically, the study investigated whether statistically significant differences existed in the perceived importance of AI and in the number of AI tools used by faculty across institutional contexts. In …

Low-Vision Students’ Experiences With And Suggestions To Improve Desktop Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study, Tanveer Mansur Syed

Theses and Dissertations

Visually impaired students have faced challenges in the field of education, particularly in science education. Not surprisingly, the unemployment rate for working-age visually impaired people has been above 70%. This persists despite federal laws to support the education and employment of visually impaired people,

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has evolved for several decades. Its use has proliferated in areas that include education. Today, VR science lab simulations are presented as a cost-effective alternative to traditional science labs. Research shows these to be viable substitutes to traditional science labs without a significant drop in learning outcomes. However, this researcher was unable …

Technology-Supported Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms (K-5): Perspectives Of Student Teachers In Western Kentucky, Ila B. Shirrell

Honors College Theses

The use of technology in elementary classrooms (kindergarten–fifth grade) has increased significantly with the goal of enhancing instruction. Additionally, educational technology is being used to improve literacy skills, reading recovery, and comprehension. This study examined how technology supports literacy development and instruction in elementary classrooms by drawing upon the perspectives of current student teachers. Student teachers from Murray State University, placed in third through fifth grade classrooms in Western Kentucky, were interviewed. The interviews assessed how technology was used for literacy instruction, including the extent of its effectiveness and potential challenges. Responses were transcribed and analyzed. The themes of evidence-based …

The Unsmart Home: A Steam Approach To Coding Though Drama And Creative Play, Jennifer R. Roberts

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

This article examines how integrating drama and coding can enhance computational thinking, creativity, and inclusivity in children. Grounded in constructivist and embodied learning theories, it presents The UnSmart Home, a drama-based coding experience. In this immersive project, children interact with a mal-functioning smart home through character-led, narrative challenges that require basic coding to solve problems. This approach reframes programming as creative play, making abstract concepts tangible through storytelling and physical engagement. Positioned within the STEAM education framework, the article argues that drama offers a powerful entry point into technical learning. It supports multimodal learning, encourages collaboration, and challenges stereotypes about …