This study proposed a low-cost, easy to set up and easy to modify virtual classroom simulation environment, "CartoonClass," and tested its impact on 27 pre-service primary school teachers' noticing development during a semester-long mathematics methods course. The participants' perceptions of using CartoonClass were also examined. A…

Critical consciousness (CC) is the ability to understand, critique, and act against oppressive social structures and systemic forces. To assist educators in understanding and enacting strategies that foster CC, the authors identified examples of CC in third through fifth grade virtual classes of a 2020 "Children's Defense Fund's" Freedom…

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented events that impacted all walks of life, including education. A significant shift in all levels of education, including K-12, happened quickly and abruptly. All classes transitioned from traditional, face-to-face to virtual teaching using a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Google Classroom™ to…

Recent events have called for a higher proportion of grade school students to learn virtually. The purpose of this qualitative research was to discover effective online teaching strategies that enhance attendance and participation within the virtual classroom setting. A sample of 24 virtual teachers participated in a survey to seek current methods…

This piece summarizes one teacher's experiences during the abrupt move to digital learning due to COVID 19. This is not a full research study.

This article describes the collaborative journey of two elementary education instructors at a large metropolitan university in the Southeast Region of the United States as they transformed and developed an innovative, engaging, and meaningful assignment utilizing adult avatars in TeachLivE™ to simulate parent-teacher reading conferences. The…

2020 was a challenging time to navigate mental health and wellness. With a global pandemic, an emotionally charged U.S. presidential election, and a spike in racially motivated violence, students maneuvered trauma associated with these events in unprecedented ways. The cumulative challenges of this year motivated museum educators at the Cleveland…

The study presents the results from a project in which a 3D multi-user virtual environment was used for informing students on issues related to the protection of the Mediterranean monk seal. The target group was 326, 10-12-years old students divided into three groups. The first one was taught using printed material, the second used a web-based…

During a time when students are accessing instruction virtually because of COVID-19, reflecting on the sixth of the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP 6) is a vital step for educators to take. Although the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (NGA Center and CCSSO 2010) identifies SMP 6 as Attend to precision, associated expertise…

Reading is prominent aspects in written communications which are commonly used as formal communication, especially for students at a higher level of education. They are required to be able to understand more textbooks and informational texts either in English. Unfortunately, reading in English is still considered as big problem for them because…

Web2.0 platforms are allowed to implement worlds completely virtual through technological devices, where the user has the ability to be anywhere anytime and can do almost anything you can imagine. These worlds allow to rediscover the senses through the use of technology. The virtual space can be used to bring students and teachers to this space…

We conceptualize students' opportunities to learn remotely during the initial school closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We then examine variation in remote instruction using an original statewide survey of teachers in Tennessee, deployed just a few weeks into the closures. Using three-level logistic regression models, we explore…

With the proliferation of students' abilities to use technology, in particular virtual reality (VR) applications, teachers are experimenting with VR in virtual learning environments (VLE) to engage students; but clear ethics and safety guidelines are not available. Within the field of education additional research is needed to determine how VR is…

Many social systems, especially education, have an opportunity to significantly improve individual performance and well-being outcomes by attending to and including brain fitness as part of their approach. Brain fitness, like physical fitness, requires exercise. Brain-based "workout" activities improve cognitive development, and their…

While virtual learning environments are not new for many school leaders, the unexpected shift to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in intensified focus on the need for school leadership to ensure equitable learning in virtual environments. When considering virtual learning for the future, new and current adopters will have…