Digital Commons Network^™

Mind The Gap: Supporting Freshmen Voice Students Transitioning To Higher Education Through Coaching Conversations, Erica L. Gabriel

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The experiences one may encounter while matriculating through the K-12 system of education are vastly different from the world of higher education. While one feeds directly into the other, the transition can be a difficult one for young singers also navigating the developmental leap from adolescence to adulthood. This is due to several systematic and instructional differences, compounded with unique challenges encountered by freshman voice students in the first year. Gaps in support systems compiled with new and increasing financial, social, and academic demands can lead to a decline in overall student well-being and an increase in stress.

This increase …

Social Science In Early Childhood Education Open Syllabus, Denise Farrelly

Open Educational Resources

This syllabus provides a week-by-week outline of resources for teaching early childhood social studies for preservice teachers at the associate's level.

Connecting Principals To The Implementation Of A Multi-Tiered System Of Support, Douglas L. Rose

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine the implementation of a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) through the lens of secondary school administrators following professional development. The professional development was chunked and spread over time following the principles of Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller, 2010) to expand understanding of MTSS implementation. Following the professional development, 25 administrators completed a 42-question survey. Ten secondary administrators completed an 11-question interview to expand on the results of the survey. The culmination of results from the quantitative survey, qualitative interviews, and literature provided insight into the practices that increase administrator …

Vietnamese Efl Lecturers’ Perceptions Of The Role Of Chatgpt In Facilitating Language Acquisition Among Their Students, Thanh Thao Le, Phuong Hoang Yen Dr, Trut Thuy Pham, Ngoc Bao Chau Tran, Thi Thuy Linh Nguyen

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This qualitative study investigates the perceptions of Vietnamese EFL teachers regarding the role of ChatGPT in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Amidst the growing integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, this research focuses on understanding how educators at different career stages perceive the effectiveness of ChatGPT in enhancing language learning experiences. Employing semi-structured interviews, the study engaged nine teachers from two educational institutions in Vietnam. Thematic analysis, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Constructivist Theory of Learning, revealed multiple roles of ChatGPT in SLA. These include its use as a conversational partner, a tool for immediate feedback, …

Digital Storytelling Across Disciplinary Horizons: A Bibliometric Exploration Through Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, And Social Sciences, Desmin Davis, Manoj Praveen G, Ashna K

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to know the key publication trends and patterns in digital storytelling research and to find the most influential papers, authors, journals, funding sponsors, sources, and countries that contributed to digital storytelling research from 2013 to 2023. This was examined through a systematic bibliometric analysis conducted on 508 documents collected from the Scopus database based on particular inclusion and exclusion criteria. Bibliometric patterns were obtained using the VOS viewer software. The findings indicated that the digital storytelling research field is emerging and shows growing interest in this particular field. The increasing citation trend shows its importance across various …

Analyzing Teachers' Perceptions Of Mobile Learning In Senior Secondary Schools: A Frame Model Perspective In Sub-Saharan Africa, Dennis Kealeboga Mabalane Junior

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The paper focuses on a systematic review of existing literature regarding the teachers’ perceptions toward mobile learning (mLearning) in public secondary schools across sub-Saharan Africa. It emphasizes that this research synthesizes previously published work rather than presenting original findings. The review identifies significant challenges and opportunities associated with mLearning implementation, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has accelerated the adoption of mobile technologies in education. Despite the growing body of literature on mLearning trends in sub-Saharan Africa, there remains a notable lack of systematic reviews specifically addressing stakeholder perceptions. This study aims to fill that gap by …

Analysis Of The Scratch Program For Computational Thinking In Schoolchildren In An Educational Institution In Peru: A Network Analysis, Rolando Oscco Solorzano Dr., Leonor Torres Matos Dr, David Aroni Palomino, Miguel Armando Alcca Huisa, Jeanny Helen Ppuño Huaricachi, Delio Merma Saico

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Abstract: o analyze the relationship between the Scratch program and students’ computational thinking in an educational institution in Peru, relational research guidelines were followed with 384 regular elementary school students aged 6 to 12. The group had a higher percentage of males (52.6%) compared to females (47.4%). Two custom questionnaires were used to measure both variables. The study found that the aesthetic aspects of the Scratch program are the most significant component for developing computational thinking (=3.34; =2.34; =2.47), especially the dimension of computational practices. Limitations include a small sample size for analyzing sociodemographic variables, operationalization of computational thinking dimensions, …

Role Of Assistive And Adaptive Technologies In Promoting Inclusivity In Classrooms: A Study On Special Education Trainees, Deepa Sikand Kauts Dr., Moomin Ahmad Rather Mr

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Integrating assistive and adaptive technologies is vital for fostering inclusivity in special education. However, awareness and perceived impact of these tools among aspiring special educators remain underexplored. This study examined the awareness and perceived impact of assistive and adaptive technologies among 56 students enrolled in a Multiple Disabilities (MD) B.Ed. Special Education program. Validated scales with strong reliability and unidimensionality were employed, with the awareness scale explaining 70.62% of the variance and the perceived impact scale accounting for 53.68%. Descriptive and inferential analyses indicated that awareness levels ranged from basic to moderate (mean = 3.37), with a subset showing high …

A Critical Link Between Principal's Transformational Leadership And Teachers' Digital Engagement: The Moderating Role Of Technology Infrastructure In Malaysia, Jabeen Mozammel, Aida Hanim A. Hamid

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the relationship between principals’ transformational leadership and teachers’ digital engagement in secondary schools across Malaysia, emphasizing the influence of leadership behaviours on adopting digital technologies. Despite significant advancements in digital infrastructure across the region, disparities in effective integration remain. 114 secondary school teachers and principals in Malaysia were surveyed using a quantitative, non-experimental, correlational research design. Descriptive and regression analyses were conducted using SPSS, with results showing that transformational leadership behaviours, particularly inspirational motivation (β = .943, p < .001) and individualized consideration (β = .224, p = .027), significantly predicted higher levels of teachers’ digital engagement. However, idealized influence (β = -.053, p = .639) and intellectual stimulation (β = -.102, p = .356) did not have a significant effect. The model explained 97% of the variance in teachers’ digital engagement (R² = .970), highlighting the critical role of leadership in fostering digital adoption. The study concludes that empowering school leaders through leadership development programs can significantly enhance teachers’ engagement with digital technologies. Future research should explore longitudinal designs and include a broader sample across different educational contexts to further validate these findings.

Enhancing University Students’ Listening Comprehension Using The Toefl Learning English Application (Mall) : A Quantitative Study, Andrian Nuriza Johan, Sri Wuli Fitriati, Januarius Wuli Mujiyanto, Widhiyanto Wuli Widhiyanto

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study investigates the effectiveness of the TOEFL Learning English Application in enhancing the listening comprehension skills of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners and explores students’ perceptions of its use. A descriptive quantitative design was employed involving 45 English Education students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Purworejo. Pre- and post-tests measured listening comprehension gains, while a questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model assessed student perceptions. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in listening scores, as well as generally positive perceptions regarding the application’s accessibility, usability, and ability to reduce learning anxiety. These findings support using the TOEFL Learning English …

A Social Learning Analysis Study: Social Presence In Online Discussions’ Network Interactions, Hoda Harati, Chih-Hsiung Tu, Cherng-Jyh Yen, Yingying Liu, Nesma Raghab Nasr, Jennifer Werner

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The significance of social presence is pivotal for online students’ participation in online discussion boards. Yet, it remained ambiguous how students evolved their social presence in their network interaction development. This research delved into the extent to which social presence moderated trends over time in several facets of students' prominence within social learning analysis of online discussions. The social network analysis (SNA) employed revealed that students’ prominence, including betweenness centrality, closeness centrality, eigenvector centrality, and PageRank, showed no notable growth over the duration of a 7-week online course. Moreover, the consistent trend observed in betweenness, eigenvector, and PageRank, coupled with …

Reducing Transactional Distance In A Hybrid-Flexible Learning Environment In Higher Education: Interaction And Engagement Despite Asynchronous Communication, Natalie C. Nussli, Kevin Oh

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study explores the implementation of an asynchronous video-based guest lecture in an undergraduate teacher education program in Switzerland. It describes how the guest lecture was delivered to foster an interactive and engaging environment for learners and to mimic two-way communication. The study applies the tenets of the Theory of Transactional Distance in examining the student-teacher interaction in a hybrid-flexible learning environment to promote quality dialogue, participation, critical reflection, and to foster a caring relationship. It describes the instructional process and the use of video splicing to mimic interaction between the students, who were physically present on campus, and the …

Students’ Perceptions Of Higher Education Assessment Practices In The Context Of Artificial Intelligence In Ghana, Michael Owusu Tabiri, Opoku Gyabaah, Ivy Jones-Mensah, Patience Calys-Tagoe

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to investigate the experiences of university students on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for assessment in higher education in Ghana. A quantitative survey approach was employed, using an online questionnaire administered to target participants across five public universities. The findings from a final sample size of 509 indicate varying levels of exposure to AI-based tools for assessment, learning, and research. It was found that the majority of the respondents have occasionally (n=218, 42.8%) been assessed using AI-based tools, while very few have very often (n=35, 6.9%) used AI-based tools for assessment as students. It was also …

College Tutors' And Secondary School Teachers' Knowledge And Perceptions Of Technology Integration In Teaching And Learning, Joseph Njiku, Florence Kyaruzi Dr, Venance Timothy, Nyanjiga Rukondo, Kondrada Haule

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

Technology integration in education has been practiced for some decades in developing countries. Despite the growing access to technology in terms of infrastructure and tools in teacher colleges and secondary schools in Tanzania, there is limited research on how teachers use such resources to facilitate teaching and learning. This study used a mixed-methods research approach and a cross-sectional survey design to examine college tutors’ and secondary school teachers’ knowledge and perceptions of technology integration in teaching and learning in Tanzania. Adopting the technology acceptance model, the study assessed perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and actual use of technology. Furthermore, …

Exploratory Study On The Influence Of Social Skills, Students' Well-Being, And Communication Skills On Smartphone Usage Among Junior Secondary School Students, Sriyanto Sriyanto, Tri Naimah, Aji Heru Muslim, Dedy Irawan, Sri Muryaningsih

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The escalating smartphone usage (SU) among Junior Secondary School (JSS) students necessitates rigorous investigation of its multifaceted impacts on social skills (SS), communication skills (CS), and student well-being (SW), particularly through the lens of mediation and moderation analysis that current studies have overlooked. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the impact of SU on SS, CS, and SW, considering the mediating and moderating roles of related variables. The research design utilized a survey and a cross-sectional approach involving JSC students in Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia (N=500). Data were collected using a questionnaire developed by adapting standardized instruments to …

Online Inclusivity: Mission And Best Practice, Colin P. Marks, Zoe Niesel

Faculty Works

This essay examines the role of inclusivity as a foundational principle in online legal education, arguing that it is essential to fulfilling institutional missions, aligning with established pedagogical best practices, and enhancing the overall learning experience. Drawing on the development of a fully online J.D. program, the piece outlines how inclusivity can be embedded at both the institutional and classroom levels. It highlights strategies for fostering a sense of community among geographically dispersed students, including integrating online learners into broader academic and co-curricular activities, designing courses that balance synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and implementing consistent instructional standards. The essay further …

Bridging The Gap: Fostering Emotional Expression Through Teaching Strategies In The Middle School Choral Classroom, Jacob Brown

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study investigates the impact of teacher-elicited expression strategies (i.e. emotionally evocative metaphor, technical elements through modeling, body of the conductor, understanding the emotional content) on the emotional expressivity of my middle school choral students. Using a mixed-method approach, data was collected through surveys of students' self-evaluations of the expression strategies, and their overall value of expression before and after learning processes that emphasized emotional expressivity. I found that each teacher-elicited expression strategies impacted student expressivity positively. Concrete strategies (i.e., body of the conductor and technical elements through modeling) were highly effective, particularly in my beginner and intermediate choirs, while …

Advancing Digital Teaching Literacy: The M-Prae Model For Large-Scale Enhancement Of Primary And Secondary School Teachers, Youru Xie, Wan Xia, Caoyin Li, Yi Qiu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

High-quality teachers are essential to building a strong educational system, with digital teaching literacy being crucial to their professional development. This study, informed by a review of existing research, addressed the need for enhancing the digital teaching literacy among primary and secondary school teachers. Utilizing the MOOC construction concept (Concept), MOOC teaching content (Content), and MOOC design and development (Development)CCD model and the large-scale capabilities of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), this study developed the M-PRAE model, which encompasses five components: building a MOOC, clarifying improvement problems, supplying digital and non-digital resources, implementing collaborative activities, and conducting multi-dimensional evidence-based evaluations. …

Assessing Middle School Teachers' Digital Innovation Skills In Bisha Province: A Comprehensive Study, Ahmad Mohammad Aldaleel

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to assess the digital innovation skills of 400 middle school teachers in the Bisha Province and evaluate their significance in the educational process. The survey reveals that instructors exhibit a high level of technological expertise and proficiency, namely in utilising search engines and databases to locate information. Nevertheless, their proficiency in using artificial intelligence applications in school is deficient. In terms of digital security, instructors are competent at generating strong passwords, but they lack understanding of cybercrimes and prevention solutions. Teachers have exceptional communication and cooperation abilities, emphasising ongoing learning and active involvement in professional development programs. …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Readi System In Helping Non-Native English-Speaking Preschoolers In Sarawak Learn The Alphabet: A Pilot Study., Yen Vee Tan, Julia Ai Cheng Lee, Rehman Ullah Khan, Chwen Jen Chen, Kartini Abdul Ghani, Sarah Flora Samson Juan, Brian Chung Shiong Loh

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

In Sarawak, Malaysia, many children come from multicultural backgrounds and are predominantly non-native English speakers making preschool education essential for developing early literacy skills in English. However, high teacher-child ratios can impede effective learning. The READi system—a module-based, multisensory, web-based early literacy intervention—was introduced as a supplementary classroom tool to address this challenge. This pilot study specifically evaluated the effectiveness of the "Alphabet Adventure" module within the READi system on enhancing alphabet knowledge, with a focus on letter recognition and letter name knowledge. The research design employed a pretest-posttest control group approach grounded in the positivist paradigm. [YT1] Participants were …

A Study Of Image Editing Ai Awareness In Children: Can Ai That Lets Still Images Speak Capture The Interest Of Young Children?, Hidemichi Okamoto, Hironori Tachizaki

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study explores the application of image and video editing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education, with a particular focus on “image-speaking AI”. We investigated whether using AI could effectively capture children’s attention. The results showed that, under certain settings, the longest attention span was achieved when a character spoke by means of AI(*p<0.05). Rather than adding sound to a still image, using AI to move the mouth of the still image captured the children’s attention. However, the parents from the survey indicated that the realism of the mouth movements seemed unnatural and could distract the viewers from understanding the contents.

Teacher Perceptions Of A Mindful-Based Social Emotional Group Drumming Curriculum: A Collective Case Study, Kristin Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Educational researchers have discovered a connection between educator and student well-being. Educators need to cultivate these skills to effectively model social emotional learning (SEL). However, there is a shortage of resources for elementary general music educators that intentionally embed social emotional competencies in tandem with adhering to the National Core Arts Standards.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine elementary music educators’ perceptions of a Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning (MBSEL) group drumming curriculum and its impact on their own and their students’ social emotional competencies (SECs). The research questions were: (1) What are elementary music educators’ perceptions of …

Explorations Of Social-Emotional Learning In The Arts, Lydia Boyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this Honors Research Project was to explore social-emotional learning as a practice, to find effective applications for schools, to highlight the connections between the arts and social-emotional learning, and to provide useful methods for the actual implementation. There is a focus on the five main competencies of social-emotional learning which are self- awareness, social-awareness, self-management, relationship-building, and responsible decision- making skills which are translated into various class practices and art projects. Social-emotional learning is a mindset rather than merely a practice and has been practiced latently in education. Art education and social-emotional learning share congruencies in standards, …

Including Conscientiously: How Charter School Educators Experience Inclusion Education Implementation, Joe A. Petty

Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how charter school educators experience inclusive education implementation while confronting ableist systems that maintain exclusion through seemingly neutral practices. This research emerged from my lived experience of how educational structures systematically marginalize disabled students while appearing progressive. The study investigated two research questions: how support structures and leadership practices either perpetuate or dismantle ableist assumptions embedded in educational practice, and how educators negotiate tensions between implementing evidence-based inclusive strategies and addressing environmental factors that create the need for those strategies.

Data collection employed semistructured interviews with eight credentialed educators across two Southern California charter school sites, …

Experiencing The Shift: How Experiential Blended Learning Professional Development Enhances Teacher Self-Efficacy, Shannon N. Tabaldo, Ashley L. Ireland

Journal of Catholic Education

This qualitative study examines how participation in a multi-year, experiential professional development program—the Academy of Blended Learning (ABL)—shaped teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in implementing blended learning. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, Bruner’s constructivism, and Knowles’ adult learning principles, the study drew on semi-structured interviews and instructional artifacts from eight teachers in Catholic schools serving historically marginalized communities in California. Findings suggest that ABL participation was associated with increased instructional confidence, a stronger sense of professional purpose, and greater enthusiasm for student-centered, technology-enhanced learning. Teachers attributed these shifts to ABL’s design, which emphasized active participation, collaborative inquiry, differentiated instruction, and development of …

How Latine College Students Experience, Maneuver, And Navigate Within The Colonizing Notion Of Smartness, Jasmine Jetton-Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how Latine college students, particularly those who are the first in their family to attend college, navigate and maneuver within the dominating colonizing notion of smartness in academia. Rooted in an Anglo-centric educational framework, the American education system often marginalizes Latine students by devaluing their cultural and linguistic knowledge while upholding Eurocentric standards of intelligence. Using a qualitative critical research approach, this study employs testimonios to examine the lived experiences of Latine college graduates in Illinois. Findings reveal that Latine students frequently encounter systemic barriers that challenge their academic identity, including racialized perceptions of intelligence, institutionalized deficit …

Beyond The Classroom Walls: Outdoor Education For Pre-Service Early Childhood Teachers, Sebnem Cetken-Aktas, Gunes Ezgi Demirci, Serap Sevimli-Celik

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Outdoor education, an experiential approach that fosters sensory engagement and connections with the natural world, is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of early childhood education. However, there is a notable gap in preparing pre-service early childhood teachers to implement outdoor pedagogy effectively. This study examines how pre-service teachers evaluated their experiences in a course titled Outdoor Education in Early Years, designed to equip them with the confidence and skills for outdoor teaching in early childhood contexts. Seven early childhood pre-service teachers, aged 21 to 23, participated in the study, which employed purposive sampling. Data collection included one-on-one interviews, focus …

Research Methodology Education In Europe: A Multi-Country, Cross-Disciplinary Survey Of Current Practices And Perspectives, Silke Kniffert, Ivan Buljan, Flavio Azevedo, Peter Babinčák, Lucija Batinović, Thomas Rhys Evans, Sara Garofalo, Christopher Graham, Lucianne Groenink, Malika Ihle, Milosav Klugar, Lucia Kočišová, Michal Kohút, Nikolaos Kostomitsopoulos, Seán Lacey, Anita Lunić, Ana Marušić, Thomas Nordström, Charlotte R. Pennington, Daniel Pizzolato, Ulf Toelch, Marta Topor, Miro Vuković, Michiel R. De Boer

Publications

Background

Research methodology education aims to equip students with the foundational knowledge of robust scientific practices, emphasizing deep understanding of scientific inquiry, integrity, and critical thinking in research practice. A literature review reveals that the observed diversity in research methods course design and instruction stems from a lack of consensus about the essential foundations required to critically engage with, design, and execute research in education. This is further compounded by a limited pedagogical innovation. However, no study has yet investigated how research methodology is taught and perceived across European universities. The objective of this study is to examine practices and …

Technology-Enhanced Professional Development For Early Literacy: A Comparative Study Of Online Teacher Learning Models In Kenya, Constanza Uribe-Banda

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Growing recognition of early literacy as essential for lifelong learning, along with evidence that teachers’ mastery of foundational literacy instruction influences student outcomes (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017; UNESCO, 2020), has led to increased investment in teacher professional development. Despite these efforts, many educators face significant challenges in accessing high-quality training, particularly in resource-constrained settings where geographical barriers and limited institutional support persist. This is especially true in rural Kenyan communities, where teachers often work in under-resourced schools with unreliable electricity and internet connectivity yet bear responsibility for laying critical literacy foundations. The present study examines the potential to deliver effective …

How Have Teacher Candidates Learned To Use Evidence? A Systematic Review Of Research, J. S. Beck, D. R. Riddle, J. J. Morgan, H. Whitesides, N. Brown

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

The purpose of the current manuscript was to provide a systematic review of the literature regarding how preservice teachers learn to use evidence to evaluate student learning. To that end, we operationalize the terms data literacy for teachers, data-driven decision making, and assessment literacy before outlining the methods of our systematic review. Our review produced 36 relevant articles situated within the United States. Based on these articles, we describe how teacher candidates learn to use data including relevant interventions and instructional methods. We also expand on the types of research methods used in these studies. We conclude with implications for …