This dissertation examines how first-grade children, as a community of learners, used technology in meaningful and authentic ways within their everyday literacy practices. Two research questions were posited: What are the literacy practices of first graders as they use digital technologies within their everyday community of learners; and how do…

The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to employ a quantitative research paradigm to determine the impact of a one-to-one technology initiative on the development of the 4 C skills of high school students. An objectives-based evaluation model was used to review the one-to-one implementation for future planning and continuous improvement.…

With the widespread use of technology in education, the nature and role of technology in the process of learning are becoming increasingly difficult to understand. There is a need to shift the focus of education technology from innovating around tools to innovating around designing new digital learning environments. Designing digital learning…

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) as an educational tool is gaining attention due to its potential to provide immersive and authentic learning experiences. However, most schools cannot afford to provide individual access to VR, making VR-mediated group learning a promising solution for those with limited access to educational resources. Despite its…

Online executive education courses are a specialized mode of learning used by organizational leaders to develop knowledge in discrete subjects. Universities that offer these courses may lack the technology skills to develop such courses with supportive artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Instructors of such courses serve as adjuncts who are…

Given the well documented fact students often struggle with proof and proof-related activity for various reasons, more educators have shifted to incorporating pedagogies involving collaborative learning given their benefits to student learning. However, there is still surprisingly little research focused on the nature of students' collaborative…

Instructors are steadily incorporating collaborative learning technology into their online classes to help promote effective learning strategies. A learning management system (LMS), such as Blackboard, offers their own collaborative technologies, but some instructors are turning to free and open source system (FOSS) to conduct these collaborative…

The purpose of this study was to determine if the use of one-to-one technology integration initiatives had a positive impact on student engagement. This study looked at survey results from teachers and administrators/building leaders in Southeast Missouri school districts who have been using one-to-one technology integration for a minimum of two…

This qualitative study aimed to examine ways young children practice social skills and use language while playing the digital game Roblox in pairs, using a single electronic device, as framed through Vygotsky's Socio-cultural theory of learning. Roblox is a sandbox-style game comprising several mini-games, such as hide-and-seek simulators and…

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of teachers in kindergarten through first grade utilizing digital technologies to engage elementary students during mathematics instruction. This phenomenological study was guided by the following research questions. (1) How do elementary…

There has been a move towards integrating educational technology into K-12 mathematics classrooms. This emphasis has been partly driven by policy, increases in technology resources available, and a need to engage students in their mathematical learning. Most studies on technology integration in mathematics education are focused on teachers'…

The rise of Artificial Intelligence technology has raised concerns about the potential compromise of privacy due to the handling of personal data. Private AI prevents cybercrimes and falsehoods and protects human freedom and trust. While Federated Learning offers a solution by model training across decentralized devices or servers, thereby…

This research study employed quantitative and qualitative designs to explore the impact of immersive technology on the Computational Thinking (CT) capabilities of students enrolled in an engineering program at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). The quantitative study in this research employs a survey design approach to explore the…

Adaptive collaborative learning support (ACLS) aims to facilitate collaborative activities by providing intelligent feedback and support based on students' collaboration. Existing ACLS systems have been applied in various collaborative environments, ranging from co-located collaboration in the classroom to online learning environments. While these…

The purpose of this dissertation is to develop a virtual, collaborative parent education program for parents of school-age children. Although parenting websites and online discussion forums have been around since the world wide web became widely available in the early 1990s (Lupton, Pedersen & Thomas, 2016), a rise in the use and necessity of…