The purpose of this study was to examine the use of social media, specifically Twitter, as a way for women in higher education to connect with one another. Seven women who developed a specific hashtag were interviewed in a semi-structured initial process followed by a reflective follow up. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and sent to the…

Many information technology professionals are isolated within their own companies or work with a limited number of experts in their specific domains (Jenkins et al., 2020). This phenomenon, known as professional isolation, occurs when professionals have limited access to collaborative opportunities in the workplace (Kutoane et al., 2023).…

This study examined to what extent educators were able to find opportunities/experiences for personal and/or professional learning though their participation in Twitter Chats. This study also examined what drove educators to participate in Twitter Chats as a means to grow personally and/or professionally. Lastly, this study examined how…

The challenges facing adolescents today are greater than ever. It is imperative that students have the social and emotional skills to help them succeed. Mindfulness helps support social, emotional, and academic learning as it assists children in becoming more self-aware and builds self-regulation. Mindfulness is about being present within yourself…

Professional development is viewed as a lifelong learning process for educators to improve student instruction and professional skills (Darling-Hammond et al., 2017). Online professional development for teachers of students who are visually impaired (TVIs) provides opportunities for continuing education, including for earning of recertification…

In response to COVID-19, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) invested approximately $295 million to support digital learning efforts. This investment, referred to as the Mississippi Connects Initiative, funded state level infrastructure improvement, bulk device purchasing, digital subscription purchasing, telehealth and teletherapy…

The problem addressed in this study was the lack of clarity around K-12 teachers' use and value of using social media as a resource for professional development. Many K-12 teachers are accessing social media for professional development. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to examine the experiences of K-12 teachers using…

The purpose of this mixed methods dissertation study is to determine an operational definition for a new construct: a spiritually competent orientation (SCO). The SCO construct has emerged in recent literature but has only been defined theoretically. An exploration of the literature from which it emerged implies the possibility of improving the…

This action research looked at the low comfort levels among young people when engaging in conversations about social inequities. Additionally, this research investigated the development of youth voice, agency, and engagement from youth who were involved in creating an online resource library surrounding these topics. The research consisted of 2…

This modified e-Delphi study sought to gain consensus from a group of K-12 educational professionals on the intersection between essential components of connectivism, the next-generation digital learning environment, and the substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition model. Twelve participants, each having a minimum of five years…

The pandemic, COVID-19, increased the online activity of millions of adolescents globally resulting in an unprecedented amount of youth using the internet leaving them susceptible to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is a global issue that has severe consequences on adolescents' mental health. Teachers have a vital role in the effective implementation…

Members in online communities of practice (CoPs) take advantage of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to exchange practical or work-related knowledge in asynchronous online environments. Practical knowledge represents individuals' mental models allowing them to interact with the environment and perform tasks. With ICTs, practical…

The purpose of this Action Research study was to understand and enhance the perceived efficacy of micro-credentialing and digital badging for K-12 educators within a large urban school district. Cycle 1 of this research engaged over 150 educators and included 14 semi-structured interviews, seeking to identify the primary reasons for engaging…

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have achieved a global reach, particularly in social groups within the 'Global North,' such as those within the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. It has produced the need for a computing workforce, and increasingly, diversity is becoming an integral aspect of that workforce. Today,…

Certified personal trainers and online coaches create training programs that are designed to guide their clients to achieving their fitness goals. Frequently a client will not fully define what their goal(s) is, rather they use subjective terms such as "I want to lose weight" or "I would like to become more toned." From these…