This dissertation investigates how collective process-oriented documentation tools, combined with Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, can enhance knowledge construction in hands-on, open-ended learning environments, such as makerspaces. Through a three-year design-based research, the study developed and tested a collective documentation…

The field of autonomous language learning in second language acquisition has experienced significant growth since its introduction by Holec in the 1980s. Several studies have explored how to promote learning autonomy in various spaces, including online learning environments. However, research related to autonomous language learning in online…

Instruction, designed to impact learning, accentuates the quantity and quality of learner interactions. Theoretically, the higher the level or quantity of learner interaction within instruction, the higher the quality of instruction. Learner interactions are fostered through learner-to-learner (L2L), learner-to-instructor (L2I), and…

To date, most classroom-based research into the learning of a third language (L3) in the US has examined patterns of acquisition among various groups of bilinguals. Situated mainly within the context of "Portuguese for Spanish Speakers" (PSS), studies typically group learners based on the sequence / age of onset of their main background…

The purpose of this qualitative, descriptive study was to explore how college English as a second language educators described how English as a second language learners used direct and indirect Language Learning Strategies in facilitating their learning at a higher education institution in the Southwest region of the United States. The research is…

From the spring of 2020 to the spring of 2022, the COVID-19 pandemic forced teachers in a Midwestern U.S. state to engage in emergency remote teaching (ERT). The new challenges included increased workloads, shifts in instructional methods, altered teacher identities, and changing student-teacher dynamics. As schools reopened, these ERT-related…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive single case study was to understand how college instructors across a variety of discipline areas described the development of their instructional strategies to embed sense of community and cognitive presence in a blended class environment at a university in the Midwest United States. The Community of…

According to the 2020 Training Industry Report conducted by "Training Magazine," organizations across all industries and sizes have spent $87.5 billion in training per year. The average training budget for a large company was reported at $22 million, whereas a midsized company was $808,000 and a small-sized company reported a yearly…

The problem is English language learners (ELLs) in adult education and college programs in the United States need support in achieving learning goals due to a lack of qualified English as a second language (ESL) teachers in their home countries. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand how ELL students in Indiana perceive the…

Cohorts have a positive influence on doctoral students, providing support and contributing to student success. Many of these benefits are attributed to the sense of community a cohort develops. Despite the importance of a sense of community in doctoral cohorts, few studies have addressed how it develops. The purpose of this study was to examine,…

This qualitative research study examined the design of collaborative learning experiences in an online graduate course in educational leadership. Based on principles of design-based research, this single case study analyzed the design process among the faculty member and learning design team who created the course. Data were also gathered from the…

Active learning is critical to the development of lifelong learners. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to determine the extent to which teachers incorporate rigor and engagement in their classrooms. Both of these elements are required to create active learning environments for students. This evaluation study investigated the knowledge,…

Social Emotional skills are utilized in everyday life. Social and emotional learning (SEL) helps students (even adults) thrive within school and life outside of school. In many schools, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the foundation of their curriculum. Social emotional learning is a commonly used teaching method within public and private…

The proliferation of online programs and courses in higher education has allowed institutions to reach more diverse learners, underscoring the need for online instruction to be inclusive and equitable. This has created a pressing need for professional development (PD) to help faculty develop inclusive teaching skills; unfortunately, many colleges…

While e-technology plays an important role in education, there have been some countries that have not yet utilized e- technology to reform their education goals and meet the global standards as other advanced countries. As of today, in many less developed countries such as Iraq, faculty members support traditional styles of teaching and do not…