Education Commons^™

Determining The Effect Of Bring Your Own Device On Cyberbullying Incidents At A High School, Patrick William Maus

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was: How does bring your own device affect cyberbullying in a high school? It documents one teacher’s survey of his colleagues to determine whether or not cyberbullying incidents have increased due to the implementation of a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) technology policy. He details the importance of the issue of cyberbullying in high schools with increasing use of student-owned devices as well as the importance of technology in the learning process. His survey results showed that behavior consistent with cyberbullying was observed by teachers and administrators at the school, though reported incidents …

Integrating Technology To Improve Communicative And Cultural Proficiency, Nicholas Frank

Honors Projects

The purpose of this report is to explore how the integration of technology can enhance students’ communicative and cultural proficiency in a second language by connecting two world language classrooms from across the globe. Through a series of weekly emails between partners, students practiced their reading and writing skills while gaining knowledge of their partners’ culture and colloquial language in a meaningful and individualized manner. The participants were high school students in the United States who were learning Spanish and high school students in Spain who were learning English. This created an authentic and organic environment for language acquisition, showing …

The Effect Of Technology On Work-Life Balance: Women In Higher Education, Alexandra G. Hubbard

Masters Theses, 2010-2019

This study aimed to contribute to the literature on women, technology, and work-life balance (WLB). By identifying both instructional and non-instructional female employees at an institution of higher education, the study facilitated a comparison between the perceived levels of WLB and technology’s impact on the balance. A mixed methods survey was sent to all female employees to identify potential commonalities or differences between the groups. Questions inquired about employees’ experiences with, and outlooks on, WLB and information and communication technologies (ICTs). For the purpose of the study, ICTs included technologies such as email, accessed through computers, cell-phones or tablets. The …

The Effect Technology Has On Student Comprehension And Motivation, Paul Richard Holland

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this project was, why do students in a sixth grade classroom using an electronic device to read display different comprehension and motivational levels than students with printed texts? The motivating factor for this capstone was the increased use of electronic devices in the classroom. It documents the changes in students’ comprehension and motivation over a six week time period. Data was collected in a variety of ways such as surveys, student interviews, journals, and comprehension quizzes. Although there were limitations and areas to improve in future studies, results showed student choice plays a significant role …

Undergraduate Motivations For Choosing A Science, Technology, Engineering, Or Mathematics (Stem) Major, Preston Taylor Mitchell

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

The Discursive Construction Of Language Teaching And Learning In Multiuser Virtual Environments, Douglas W. Canfield

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation seeks to broaden how researchers within computer-assisted language learning (CALL) make sense of and examine psychological and power constructs at play in language courses conducted in 3D multiuser virtual environments. 18 students and 2 teachers in 8 formal English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in the 3D multiuser virtual environment of Second Life participated in a discourse analysis study to explore the theoretical and analytic ways in which critical discursive psychology could function to explore how teaching and learning are performed as interactional events in a community of language teachers and learners in Second Life by investigating …

Assessing Latino Caregiver’S Knowledge And Understanding Of Medication Management For Children And The Use Of Health Technology To Gather Information, Kamal Jennifer Johal

Child Development Theses

For people with low literacy who come from other cultures, accessing, understanding and using the United States healthcare system is challenging. Existing literature states that low parental health literacy among the Latino population is related to poor health outcomes for their children. This project explores Latino caregiver’s health practices and the possible uses of technology, specifically Smartphone applications (apps), to provide information about their child’s health care. The project included two focus group sessions (one in English, one in Spanish) with a total of 17 caregivers who attend a Head Start Program. The focus groups addressed two aims: (1) to …

A Study Of The Pedagogical And Structural Elements Being Incorporated Into The Design Of Hybrid Courses For Higher Education, Deborah Kezerian Baird

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined a new course design for teaching adults in higher education. Increasingly referred to as the hybrid course format, it entails purposefully dividing a course into face-to-face class sessions and online class sessions in separately calendared periods. Hybrid courses are a specific iteration of a broader category of courses that utilize technology in many configurations. Research into the potential for the hybrid format to be a highly effective way of teaching adults was found to be new and fragmented.

Adult education theories, including the andragogy model, the self-directed learning model, the transformative learning model and the experiential learning …

The Effects Of Dynamic Graphing Utilities On Student Attitudes And Conceptual Understanding In College Algebra, Ryan Vail Thomas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this study is to explore and characterize the effects of using a dynamic graphing utility (DGU) on conceptual understanding and attitudes toward mathematics, measured by the responses of college algebra students to an attitude survey and concepts assessment. Two sections of college algebra taught by the primary researcher are included in the study, with one group using the dynamic graphing utility Desmos (www.desmos.com), and the other using the TI-84 (or equivalent) graphing calculator as a control. The Precalculus Concept Assessment (Carlson, Oehrtman, & Engelke, 2010) was used to measure aspects of students’ conceptual understanding of course material, …

An Examination Of Teacher Understandings Of Technology Integration At The Classroom Level, Shawn M. Carlson Phd

All Student Scholarship

The purpose of this dissertation is to describe and understand how teachers describe the changes in their practices as a result of ten years participation in a one-to-one environment. This research study focuses on one successful middle school’s adoption of laptops to support teaching and learning. A qualitative study using interviews of key participants was undertaken with teachers and administrators. The Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework was used in conjunction with Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovation framework to understand from the participants’ perspective changes to their practice. The results indicate teachers underwent changes in their use of technology to …

Teacher And Student Perceptions On High School Science Flipped Classrooms: Educational Breakthrough Or Media Hype?, Rebecca C. Hunley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years educators have struggled to ensure students meet the rigors of state mandated tests. Challenges that often impede student success are student absences, school closings due to weather, and remediation for students who need additional help while advanced students can move ahead. Many educators, especially secondary math and science teachers, have responded to these issues by implementing a teaching strategy called the flipped classroom where students view lectures, power points, or podcasts outside of school and class time shifts to allow opportunities for collaborative learning.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate teacher and student perceptions of high …

A Comparison Of The Attitudes Of Administrators And Teachers On Cell Phone Use As An Educational Tool, Karen Smith Lockhart

Dissertations

Youth continue to make up the largest share of the cell phone market in the United States. In 2010, 58% of all 12 year olds owned their own cell phone. By 2015, 88% of teenagers owned a cell phone. Today’s teenagers are constantly on cell phones, using them to text, talk, access the internet, and take pictures. Technology is such a part of teenagers’ lives that they have been labeled by Marc Prensky and others as digital natives (2001). They have always had technology and cannot conceive of a world without it.

School systems have faced challenges with the new …

Finding Balance Between The Technical And The Creative, Beverly Z. Weihz

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The aim of this project was to develop a curriculum for a high school news broadcasting classroom that balances the technical and creative aspects necessary for the class to be both proficient and innovative. For most, the technical aspect would be enough to satisfy the needs of the classroom. However, in an ever growing age of technology with a need for innovative and problem solving skills, this was an opportunity to bring creativity Hhh

into the technical classroom, both in teaching design and in creative outlets for the students. In addition to creative outlets, attention was paid to the needs …

Fostering Foreign Language Learning Through Game Play, Rachel Marie Floyd

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of pedagogical video games in positively affecting students’ knowledge of a foreign language and culture as well as their students’ perspectives on the learning process in such a learning-throughgaming environment. The theories that support such an endeavor are explored. This study looked at the process of making a French pedagogical video game that focuses on presenting French culture, history, language as well as fostering lexico-grammatical, interpersonal communication, and interpretational skills. It focuses specifically on learning through gameplay and provides evidence on the positive effect of the game on elementary level …

Technology In Teacher Preparation, Barbara Martin

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to fully prepare teacher candidates, technology has become a vital part of teacher education programs across the country. In order to fully understand technology integration in teacher education, it is important to examine faculty perceptions of technology integration as well as current practices. This study examined faculty attitudes toward technology integration in one Midwestern university and how this faculty infused technology into their education courses in an effort to train teacher candidates to be successful digital educators.

Generational Learning Style Preferences Based On Computer-Based Healthcare Training, Michaelle H. Knight

Dissertations

Purpose. The purpose of this mixed-method study was to determine the degree of perceived differences for auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning styles of Traditionalist, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennial generational healthcare workers participating in technology-assisted healthcare training.

Methodology. This mixed-method research design used quantitative and qualitative data to analyze the research questions regarding generational learning style preferences. The study focused on quantitative data collection, through an online survey instrument that included two open-ended qualitative questions. The quantitative component (survey) was administered via a 24-question online survey. The results obtained from the qualitative component (interview questions) identified analyzable patterns and …

Counselors’ Perceived Preparedness For Technology-Mediated Distance Counseling: A Phenomenological Examination, Daniel C. Holland

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

This phenomenological study examined counselors’ perceptions of their formal preparation for engaging in technology-mediated distance counseling with the intent of gaining an understanding of their lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven seasoned counselors who regularly engage in technology-mediated distance counseling. The results highlighted two categories emerging: the counselor and training/education. Themes related to motivation and counselor attributes emerged from the first category and themes of availability, inadequacy, and modality emerged from the second. The implications from this study suggest a lack of availability of effective training on technology-mediated distance counseling. The implications also suggest areas of potential future …

Online Learning And Effective Leadership: The Importance Of Relationship Building And Culture, Nadine K. Rupp

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

Online and blended learning are becoming more important in k-12 public schools because of their flexibility and increased opportunity for students in urban as well as rural environments. Implementing and sustaining technology-based learning is a complex process that requires educational leaders to have a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills which are critical to the success of online programs. This case study research used in-depth interviews to gather data on how one district was able to provide a successful program using effective leadership skills. Three areas critical to success were identified in the data: clear vision and achievable goals, appropriate …

Critical Literacy And Identities In World Language Education: Telling Reflective Stories Of Digital Storytelling, Keiko Konoeda

Doctoral Dissertations

This paper explores a digital storytelling project in world language education conducted as critical literacy (Janks, 1991; 2000). Digital storytelling here entails the analysis and production of short videos (called digital stories) that tell a storyteller's personally significant experience by digitally combining a voice-over, images, and music. In other words, this study theorizes digital storytelling in a world language as pedagogical opportunities to examine the effects of language in use and to transform their relations to language through the production of and reflection on "identity text" (Cummins et al., 2005). Two areas of guiding questions were: the design process and …

Access, Technology, And Parental Involvement: A Case Study On A West Los Angeles Charter School, Tanisha M. Barnett

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

Research clearly indicates that parental involvement plays an essential role in the educational process of any student regardless of grade level. However, technology is changing the way schools communicate, which affects the way parents are involved in their children’s education. Research on the digital divide indicates that there are differences in access based on race and family income. In other words, lower income and minority families tend to have less access to technology, and therefore may be less able to fully participate in schools.

This issue of social justice was investigated at a small charter school located in West Los …

Google Classroom For Third Grade Writing, Jessi Fallon

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this thesis is to investigate and evaluate the effects of using the technology of Google Classroom in writing personal narratives in a third grade classroom. Specific aims of the study are to analyze how the technology will affect students’ motivation, engagement, and overall writing skills. Previous research indicates that integration of technology allows for more collaboration among students as well as an increase in motivation in the classroom (MacArthur, 2009). This study advances our understanding of technology to see how the application of Google Classroom will benefit students in the capacity of motivation and writing skills due …

Technology In A Gifted And Talented Math Classroom: How It Impacts Students' Problem Solving And Mathematical Learning, Brandon H. French

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

Technology has advanced greatly over the past few decades and the surge in the industry has impacted the workplace. As a result, K-12 education has worked to integrate 21^st century skills into curriculum. Many times this is through STEM classes. This study examined the impact technology had on gifted and talented students’ achievement and creative construction. During a unit on Transformations, a control group received traditional instruction, while an experimental group received traditional instruction with an added technology component. A pre and posttest were given to both groups to measure student success with the geometry content. Results indicated that …

A Case Study Of Middle Schools Teachers' Perceptions Of The Use Of Classroom Websites, Deborah Mau

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research has confirmed the benefits of incorporating technology, such as course websites, within public school classrooms to enhance student learning. However, many teachers do not incorporate technology or class websites. The purpose of this case study was to investigate technology integration within classroom websites to enhance student learning. Guided by the theory of constructivism, the concerns-based adoption model, and the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework, the research questions focused on teachers' perceptions of how a classroom website influences teaching practices and the key benefits of technology integration. Data were collected from 12 certified teachers in 2 middle schools who were …

Perceptions Of Adult Professional Studies Instructors Regarding Developing And Transitioning Online Courses, Miah M. Skinner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although a mandate was given in an urban southern university for instructors in the Adult Professional Studies Program (APS) to begin transitioning their face-to-face courses to online curricula, few courses have been converted. The purpose of this case study was to determine APS instructors' perceptions of developing and transitioning face-to-face courses to an online format. Lewin's change theory and force field analysis provided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions concerned the faculty's perceptions of developing and transitioning courses to an online format. A purposeful sample of fulltime and adjunct faculty, with different levels of expertise in online …

Community College Basic Skills Math Instructors" Experiences With Universal Design For Learning, Sunny Greene

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Multiple approaches have been used in U.S. community colleges to address the learning needs of postsecondary students who are underprepared in basic skills math. The purpose of this exploratory interview study was to gain a deeper understanding of community college basic skills math learning through instructors' lived experiences using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach and its technology tool, a computerized pen. The conceptual framework for this study used Knowles's adult learning and Kolb's experiential learning theories with UDL principles. The central research questions investigated the professional development and teaching experiences of community college basic skills math instructors in …

The Relationship Between The Apex Program For Instruction And High School Student Academic Success, David Gordon Krosner

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An alternative high school campus in the State of Georgia introduced a new program to support academic growth and engagement among at-risk students. This program, the APEX program, merges technology with content to provide students with self-paced learning facilitated by teachers with the objective of improving test scores, course completion, and graduation. The purpose of this goals-based evaluation was to examine the relationship between APEX program usage and the academic success measures of EOCT scores, course credit accrual, and graduation; it was grounded in the behavior objectives approach. The study followed a cohort of students who were enrolled in Grade …

1:1 Laptop Experience And High-Stakes Testing: Effects On Eighth-Grade Student Achievement, Mary Lea Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on 1:1 laptop implementations is missing key information about student achievement on high-stakes assessment. This post hoc, quasi-experimental, quantitative study explores how 1:1 laptop access affects student achievement on the mandated eighth-grade online science assessment in five Mississippi school districts throughout the state. Fifth-grade science assessment results are used as a baseline for student achievement. Three research questions examined mean scale scores on the science assessment, change in scores from fifth to eighth-grade, and the effect on scale scores as the duration of the 1:1 laptop implementation increased. Two of the three experimental districts shoa significant difference in the …

The Effect Of A Fluent Signing Narrator On Children's Behavior During Technology-Enhanced Shared Reading With Children With Hearing Loss And Their Parents, Gabriela Itzel Rodriguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Shared reading plays an essential role in the language and literacy development of children who are at risk of future problems in those areas. Children with hearing loss (CHL) are a group who usually experience limited and poor quality activities that foster literacy development such as shared reading (SR). Researchers examining high quality interactions have rated child behaviors, primarily attention and initiation, during shared reading and play based activities finding positive correlations between these behaviors and the overall development in typically developing children as well as in children with other impairments such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down syndrome (Kim …

International Students Use Of Technology For Improving Writing Skills In College, Margaret Godwin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many college-level students choose to study in another country and in a second language, often in English. In this context, a high standard of written English is important to attain good grades in college and earn degrees with distinction, which may lead to successful careers. One international college provided computer tools to students to improve their writing; however, students were reluctant to use the tools provided. This qualitative study explored these college students' perceptions of their lack of motivation to use computer tools and the barriers that prevent them from improving their English writing. The research questions investigated the technology …

Investigating It Leadership Models In Schools, Patrick Michael Mcgrath

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The influence of technology in the school setting has grown dramatically in recent decades. It is critical that school leaders manage the influx of technology effectively and leverage it appropriately to benefit the operational and instructional aspects of the school.