The problem of the study was to determine if the use of a reflective writing assessment at the beginning, middle, and end of a college semester indicated an industrial technology student's knowledge and skills related to technological and engineering literacy. Experiences gained during project-based learning activities were used as the basis for…

Engineering leaders around the world are concerned about the decrease in skilled professionals in engineering fields. This concern led to the exploration of active learning in two undergraduate civil engineering courses. The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to investigate the impact of active learning on engineering students' motivation to…

The Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards propose that students learn concepts and practices related to engineering as well as science. Currently the research surrounding how engineering practices through engineering design are implemented in the life sciences such as high school biology is limited. To…

This dissertation explored STEM faculty description of using a Student Response System (SRS) in higher education engineering classrooms, aimed to understand their experiences, practices, and perceptions of SRS as a pedagogical tool for enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. The research questions driving this qualitative study focused…

While zinc (Zn[superscript 2+]) is a vital ion for cell function and human health, we are still learning about how Zn[superscript 2+] concentration and localization is regulated and the role that Zn[superscript 2+] fluctuations may play in regulating cell signaling and cell fate. Here, we use fluorescent tools to study the interaction between…

This retrospective quasi-experimental design research compared student achievement of students in two active learning environments. One is referred to as Student Centered Active Learning Environment with Upside-Down Pedagogies (SCALE-UP), and the other is referred to as traditional classroom environments. Student final course grades of physics…

Students who are not proficient in math are more likely to face negative long-term effects. In addition to adults with a lack of math skills facing a range of potential economic and mental health issues, the nation is also negatively impacted by a society of individuals who cannot contribute to the technological infrastructure. Project-based…

Technological literacy for all is the goal of technology and engineering education (T&E) instruction. While this has been the goal for several decades, technological literacy is lacking in the United States. To address this problem the current study investigates student motivation toward making and doing. By understanding student motivation…

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of utilizing the principles of Project-based learning (PJBL) in nontraditional settings in engineering education. There is ample literature related to the usage of PJBL techniques in engineering education but there are also challenges with incorporating PJBL within the curriculum. It is the…

Engineering education has a long and well-researched history; however, recent declines in the number of undergraduate students entering and matriculating through to graduation has commanded the engineering education community's attention. To help counter the declining number of students entering and persisting in engineering, an engineering…

This dissertation describes a practitioner's design-based development of a prototype chatbot to guide students in learning biological concepts of genetic mutations and protein synthesis. This chatbot's architecture provides learning activities, feedback, and support throughout a series of short, connected lessons. The chatbot is designed to…

There is an increased interest in integrating engineering design into K-12 classrooms because it equips students to solve real-world problems. However, before students are introduced to real-world problems, K-12 teachers may need to develop inquiry pedagogies and establish a learning context that supports student problem-solving. This study…

This study investigates how students can use "interactive example models" in inquiry activities to develop their conceptual knowledge about an engineering phenomenon like electromagnetic fields and waves. An interactive model, for example a computational model, could be used to develop and teach principles of dynamic complex systems, and…

This research examines the student engagement of senior accounting majors in three major areas of engagement using National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data: level of academic challenge, active and collaborative learning and student-faculty interaction. Senior accounting majors are compared to senior business administration majors and…

Schools that focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have been created to address a perceived need to increase numbers of students in the United States choosing and persisting in STEM career pathways. This study compared science programs in STEM and non-STEM high schools to determine how implementing a STEM design impacts…