Schools increasingly use educational technology, such as laptop computers, as tools to enhance learning. However, the introduction of educational technology in the classroom can also interfere with the learning process by distracting students through multitasking. Multitasking, or switching back and forth between two different tasks, distracts the…

This mixed methods program evaluation examined teacher and administrator perceptions regarding fidelity of implementation of components of the teacher evaluation program with middle school special education teachers. These components include pre-conferences, observations, and post-conferences; summary evaluations; and professional development…

The problem is that Connecticut school principals face time allocation challenges impacting their ability to ensure student growth in reading and mathematics. With the knowledge of which actions have the greatest impact on student growth, principals can make strategic use of time to increase student achievement. The gap in the literature is that…

Research has been conducted on the science of reading and how students learn to read. This knowledge has not increased reading achievement in middle school. Reading scores in grades 6-8 across America are declining. The gap for students with disabilities is widening. Luhmann's Systems Theory provided a framework for understanding an organization…

This qualitative study examined how elementary school leaders from K-5 schools in eastern New York addressed contextual factors in implementing and sustaining professional learning communities (PLCs). Senge (1990) posited structures need to be in place to create and facilitate collaborative communities. A complementary position presents…

High-stakes testing and accountability are words that those in education hear every day. Students, teachers, administrators, parents, districts, and states are impacted by these tests and their results. This mixed-methods study is aimed to examine the perceived time spent related to high-stakes testing. This study also aims to examine the…

Research at the college and graduate levels indicates that the use of self-regulatory learning skills (such as time management, asking for help and setting goals) and collaboration with teachers and peers to be vital components of online learning. Little research in online learning has been done at the 7th-12th grade levels (Barbour, 2019).…

The problem under investigation was how best to provide middle school instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic while promoting a collaborative school culture. The purpose of the research was to understand the relationship between collaborative school culture and the amount of online teaching through two research questions: (1) What is the degree…

English learner (EL) children (i.e., children learning English as a second language) constitute one of the fastest growing, yet disproportionately underachieving, segments of the U.S. public-school population. A main difficulty that ELs face at school is learning English and content-area knowledge in tandem. Low levels of English proficiency may…

This study evaluated the stress experienced by teachers as a result of the shutdown of schools in March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the shift to digital teaching. A five-item scale, the Coronavirus Questionnaire (CQ), was created to capture the stress caused specifically by the changes schools had to make as a result of the…

Connectivism has been studied primarily in online college classes and was shown to increase the self-regulated learning behaviors of tertiary students. It was not known how Arizona public middle school teachers from a single metropolitan school district perceived the influence of connectivist learning networks on the self-regulated learning…

After receiving tenure, experienced teachers may choose to not participate in professional development opportunities. In fact, tenured teachers may only complete the minimum professional development hours required by their school districts. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the factors that motivated tenured…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between elementary instructional content minute allocations and academic growth. The study sought to explore the relationship between instructional content allocations, scheduling, and the use of content time on student achievement growth. Additionally, the study sought to uncover the…

The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' lived experiences in professional learning communities, conceptualized in Ohio as teacher based teams. This study was carried out against the backdrop of state policies addressed to poorly performing schools. School culture must change in failing schools. In order to change culture (Kowalski,…

This dissertation reports the results of a research project that examined the effects of varying rates of reinforcement on students' math performance and assignment preference. The relationship between students' instructional level and the rate of reinforcement threshold for influencing assignment preference was also explored. Participants were…