The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental study was to determine if, and to extent, there is a statistically significant difference between pre and posttest critical thinking scores of U.S. Navy Operations Specialist A-school participants in an adaptive technology training environment and those in the traditional learning environment.…

The purpose of this Action Research study is to examine the current teaching methods in the virtual education setting and see how professional ideologies of educators may be influenced when introduced to new knowledge. The current education model heavily favors preparing for standardized tests, which the researcher contends is not an accurate…

Instructor feedback strategies play a key role in the learning acquisition process, especially in online environments. In addition, educational improvement and reform cannot occur without timely and effective assessment approaches. This study, grounded on Bandura's 1967 "self-efficacy and social cognitive theory," focused on identifying…

Assessments are some of the most common tools used to evaluate student learning. While exams have always been a part of evaluating how well students learn and retain information, the most effective way to administer them has always been debated. However, remarkably few studies have compared online and paper testing, and even fewer have examined…

This dissertation focuses on three manuscripts all related to bolstering science achievement through recommendations from the National Research Council (NRC) regarding the teaching and learning of science. The manuscripts address meeting the NRC's call to incorporate curriculum and assessment that lead to more in-depth knowledge that can be…

The digital transformation in educational assessment has led to the proliferation of large-scale data, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance language learning, and testing through machine learning (ML) techniques. Drawing on the extensive data generated by online English language assessments, this dissertation investigates the efficacy…

A major problem faced by instructors post-implementation of unsupervised online assessments is that they may lack real-time access to the students' actual learning behaviors. Limitations in student-feedback, limited know-how of accessing and analyzing log data, and large class sizes could restrict instructors' access to learners' behaviors. This…

The national average Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Excel certification exam pass rate on the first try is relatively low. The problem addressed in this study was the effectiveness of asynchronous instruction with adult learners using computer-based instruction (CBI) programs and if these interactions affect the successful completion of the…

Automated corrective feedback (ACF), in which a computer system helps language learners identify and correct errors in their writing or speech, is considered an important tool for language instruction by many researchers. Such systems allow learners to correct their own mistakes, thereby reducing teacher workload and potentially preventing issues…

School psychologists often administer evidence-based academic interventions such as Explicit Timing in order to increase math fact fluency. However, little is known about the efficacy of adapting Explicit Timing interventions to be used in a virtual format. This dissertation examines the use of virtually delivered Explicit Timing interventions as…

This dissertation describes an experiment to investigate how learners with different levels of background in computer science learn core concepts of computer science, in particular, algorithms. We designed a study to focus on cognitive task analysis for eliciting the empirical mental elements of learning two graph algorithms. Cognitive workload…

Higher education is examining artificial intelligence (AI) as a key to increasing productivity and efficiency as colleges race to remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. With the increase of students taking online classes, professors are looking for solutions to help maintain integrity with their testing remotely. AI has…

The relationship between computer-based and paper-based testing may vary. Students with special needs may or may not perform better on computer-based testing compared to paper-based testing. Over the past few decades, computers and technology have increased in society and in classrooms. The use of technology has increased during the era of the…

This applied dissertation examined the use of technological tools in formative assessment activities. These phenomena have left teachers searching for timely methods to perform formative assessment or assessment for learning activities. The problem addressed by this study was that standardized testing, large class size, and increasing distance…

The emergence of digital-first assessments is prompting reconsideration of, and innovation in, aspects of psychometrics, test validation, and test use. Using the Duolingo English Test (DET) as an example, this three-paper series seeks to address issues concerning the estimation of classification consistency and the reporting of results for such…