Educational Technology Commons^™

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

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 …

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 …

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 …

Student Engagement In The Honors Biology Flipped Learning Environment, Hillary M. Wilson

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate four constructs of engagement (affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social) within an Honors Biology flipped learning environment. Social constructivism, the Bioecological Model of Influences on Student Engagement, and Academic Communities of Engagement (ACE) served as the theoretical foundation for the study. A mixed methods convergent parallel design was used to answer the following research questions: What are student perceptions of engagement in a flipped learning environment based on the dimensions of engagement (e.g., affective, behavioral, cognitive, and social)? How do high school Honors biology students affectively, behaviorally, cognitively, and socially engage during the …

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. …

Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Experiences With Technology Integration In A One-To-One School District During Face-To-Face And Remote Instruction: A Phenomenography, Safna Kalariparambil

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenographic study was to acquire a better understanding of the lived experiences of 12 secondary mathematics teachers who integrated one-to-one technology into their classrooms as part of a district-wide one-to-one technology initiative. Transcripts from semi-structured interviews were analyzed to elicit and describe different ways in which secondary mathematics teachers experienced the phenomenon. Data analysis showed teachers experienced technology integration in classrooms based on their attitude towards using technology. Those who expressed positive attitudes used technology to support modeling mathematics, differentiate learning, problem-solving, expedite grading, and provide instant feedback to students. Those who did not have positive …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of One-To-One Laptop Initiative For Increased Learner Communication And Collaboration Skills, Harry Saint Cyr

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

This mixed-methods case study examined the impact of one-to-one technology on learners’ communication and collaboration skills, two of the critical 21st-century skills necessary for learners to succeed in the global world. The purpose of this case study was to examine middle school teachers’ perceptions of a one-to-one laptop computer implementation and its impacts on learners’ communication and collaboration skills. Mixed-methods research methodologies were adopted to collect the data that answered the research questions. Explanatory sequential design was used to design, collect, analyze, and report the study’s findings. Quantitative data as Likert scale survey was sent to all the eligible forty-one …

Addressing Student Engagement During Covid-19: Secondary Stem Teachers Attend To The Affective Dimension Of Learner Needs, Tiffany Roman, Laurie Brantley-Dias, Michael Dias, Belinda Edwards

Faculty Articles

This case study examines how a cohort of eleven induction secondary STEM teachers engaged learners during the onset of COVID-19 and their designs for student engagement given an online or blended teaching context in fall 2020. Participants attended a summer professional development workshop guided by trauma-informed teaching practices and learner engagement conceptual frameworks. Through the analysis of teacher artifacts and interviews, we identified dimensions of student engagement that teachers prioritized. Results indicate a marked increase in teachers’ attention to affective and social dimensions of learner engagement. We argue that teacher awareness and action in the affective domain of student engagement …

Factors That Influence The Acceptance And Use Of Formative Feedback In An Online Undergraduate Module, Jameson Goto, Jacqueline Batchelor, Geoffrey Lautenbach

The African Journal of Information Systems

The focus of the study was to determine the factors that influence the acceptance and use of online feedback in an undergraduate module using the modified unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The participants were third-year pre-service teachers in the Bachelor of Education degree who were taking a fully online Teaching Studies module, in addition to their specialist subject areas at one of the universities in South Africa. A survey instrument was developed from the original UTAUT2 instrument and modified where appropriate, to fit the formative feedback context. Exploratory factor analysis was used to validate the instrument. …

Teacher Experiences With Multiple One-To-One Technology Integration Models: A Phenomenography, Tiffany Post

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the beliefs and perceptions of teachers who have experience with both the BYOT and school-issued 1:1 technology integration models. The eight informants in this study all had middle and/or high school experience teaching with both models. The data came from semi-structured interviews with each informant and five documents related to 1:1 technology integration from four districts. Analysis results showed a preference for the 1:1 school-issued model due to concerns with technical support, equity, student behavior, technology monitoring, and pedagogical change. COVID reinforced teacher preference. Neither model was conclusively preferred in …

The Health Benefits Of Video Games, Zachary Shanks

Emerging Writers

This paper seeks to evaluate if video games are useful as more than just entertainment.  The research shows that they can be utilized in the educational, medical, and business fields. Video Games have been shown to benefit the physical, emotional, and mental health of players, as well as create more efficient learning and working environments. The article argues that video games are no longer just a source of entertainment, as they are now becoming useful tools in society.

Student Experiences, Attitudes, And Perceptions Toward Online Collaborative Tools: A Case Study, Jeremy Easley

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

Abstract

This case study (Merriam, 1998) describes the experiences, attitudes, and perceptions of four twelfth-grade students at Bob Jones High School (pseudonym) with literacy deficiencies as they used collaborative technology tools in an online after-school tutoring program that focused on reading and writing skills. Leveraging the sociocultural theory of reading (Freebod & Luke, 1990), participants worked collaboratively to strengthen skills while completing tasks. In addition, students used online collaborative tools, based on the principles of the New Literacies Studies (Gee, 2010), to construct and share meaning. Data collection included semi-structured interviews, participant observation and student artifacts. The data from these …

A Survey Of Serious Games For Cybersecurity Education And Training, Winston Anthony Hill Jr., Mesafint Fanuel, Xiaohong Yuan, Jinghua Zhang, Sajad Sajad

KSU Proceedings on Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Serious games can challenge users in competitive and entertaining ways. Educators have used serious games to increase student engagement in cybersecurity education. Serious games have been developed to teach students various cybersecurity topics such as safe online behavior, threats and attacks, malware, and more. They have been used in cybersecurity training and education at different levels. Serious games have targeted different audiences such as K-12 students, undergraduate and graduate students in academic institutions, and professionals in the cybersecurity workforce. In this paper, we provide a survey of serious games used in cybersecurity education and training. We categorize these games into …

Systematic Literature Review Of Soft System Method Use In Information Systems Field, Abdurehman Ali, Shimelis Shiferaw Deneke

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Information system (IS) papers are published in different Journals and conferences using various methods focusing on different problems. IS is an interdisciplinary field and contains information related to technology, human and organizational issues. Problems related to this are most of the time messy and confused ones and these needs soft system methodology (SSM) uses because this methodology basically emphases on activities inside the organization and allows a participation of heterogeneous groups like IS discipline do. Therefore, the study focuses on how SSM uses in IS field.

SSM help to construct complex structural and governmental conditions and delivers a possible change. …

Malaware Defensive: A Game To Train Users To Combat Malware, Tyler Moon, Tamirat Abegaz, Bryson Payne, Abi Salimi

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

Several research findings indicate that basic cyber hygiene can potentially deter the majority of cyber threats. One of the ways cybersecurity professionals can prepare users to ensure proper hygiene is to help them develop their ability to spot the difference between normal and abnormal behavior in a computer system. Malware disrupts the normal behavior of a computer system. The lack of appropriate user training has been one of the main reasons behind the exposure of computer systems to threats, from social engineering to viruses, trojans, and ransomware. Basic knowledge about common behavioral characteristics of malware could help users identify potentially …

Hashtags And Pins In Education: Digital Native Educators In Digital Habitats., Kelly Pilgrim Cassidy

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

As technology becomes more ubiquitous in society, education cannot ignore the impact it is having on education. This research seeks to understand how Digital Native educators are using Digital Habitats in their professional practice. By gaining a deeper understanding of how educators use Digital Habitats, including their tools, like hashtags and pins, we can begin to develop ways to incorporate these skills into our teacher preparation programs. The knowledge gained from this study can help administrators, technology leaders and coaches to better understand their Digital Native teachers and how they are using these technology tools in their professional practice. This …

A Pedagogical Smart Learning Environment In South African Tertiary Institutions, Tope Samuel Adeyelure, Billy Mathias Kalema

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

With the rapid growth rate of technology innovation different sectors tends to keep up with the developing trends by implementing the latest technology with the aim of achieving their goals. Educational institutions deploy information systems in their teaching and learning environment to enhance performance. However, educational institutions usually struggle with smooth implementation of IT leading to its failure. Adopting various scientific methods such as content analysis, Principal Component Analysis and so on, contextual factors were identified for effective deployment of smart learning environments based on extensive review of exploratory research, analyzing data and study outcomes of ICT deployment educational institutes …

Reframing Writing Instruction In Physical Learning Environments: Making Connections Between Digital And Nondigital Technologies, André C. Buchenot, Tiffany Roman

Faculty Articles

Physical learning environments offer many affordances that one can choose from when designing instruction. For courses where student writing is central to course learning outcomes, a challenge exists in that innovative digital technologies may take precedence over nondigital tools, such as paper-based student writing. We argue that treating student writing as a technology can increase opportunities for active learning within physical learning environments. In this article, we describe an approach to writing instruction that builds intentional connections between paper-based texts and digital technologies to increase opportunities for active learning. We explain the rationale for the design decisions in an introductory …

Understanding Sub-Saharan African Learners Informal Learning Using Mobile Devices: A Case Of Tanzania, Laban Bagui, Samwel Dick Mwapwele

The African Journal of Information Systems

In this era of pervasive computing and the Internet, learners everywhere connect and reconnect to knowledge away from classrooms, via mobile devices and their Mobile Instant Messaging platforms (MIMs). Still, many sub-Saharan African educators continue to confine these platforms to recreational activities. There is lack therefore of knowledge about how learners from sub-Saharan Africa perform such informal and experiential learning. This paper presents a case study of Tanzanian learners learning in informal settings using their mobile devices and MIMs. It deploys the rhizomatic learning theory with the aim of understanding how such learning occurs. Findings suggest that learners use mobile …

Virtual Reality As A Pedagogical Tool To Design For Social Impact: A Design Case, Tiffany Roman, Jon Racek

Faculty Articles

Three-dimensional (3-D) virtual environments have key affordances that can improve learning, particularly when context, culture, and pedagogical aims are aligned to a given learning situation. One challenge in detailing effective uses of 3-D virtual environments in teaching and learning contexts is that the design judgments involved are not always made explicit. We argue that the transparency of design judgments, as it relates to the use of 3-D virtual environments, are critically important. This article advances scholarship of emerging technologies by detailing the design judgments of a university instructor within a Design for Social Impact cross-disciplinary course. To address learner needs …

Transitioning To A Personalized Learning Environment Leveraging One-To-One Devices, Rebecca G. Myers

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership Dissertations

Today’s educational blueprint is evolving from the traditional teacher-directed model into a student-driven curriculum approach. Specifically, education is experiencing a paradigm shift from the long-established one-size-fits-all model to a customized learning process known as personalized learning. Personalized learning aims at engaging students in more relevant and rigorous learning and turns them into co-designers as the curriculum becomes tailored to their individual learning needs, skills, and interests. Additionally, when coupled with educational technology, personalized learning will provide the teacher with the tools to individualize, differentiate, and accommodate multiple student learning styles and preferences. Indeed, as personalized learning increases in popularity the …

Students' Perceptions Of Interactive Technology As A Learning Tool In Legal Studies Courses, Cristen W. Dutcher, Sonia J. Toson

Faculty Articles

This article attempts to further the literature on technology in the classroom by performing an initial investigation on an innovative new textbook technology in an undergraduate legal studies course, such as the Legal Environment of Business. First, we discuss the traditional methods of teaching the law at both the law school and undergraduate levels. We also review the history and effectiveness of using technology in law school and legal studies classrooms. Next, we look the use of textbooks in legal education. Then, we introduce LearnSmart, an adaptive and interactive textbook technology and compare it to other electronic texts in the …