The problem addressed in this qualitative narrative inquiry study was that middle school students in Grades 6-8 may lack preparation for the required soft skills to enter college or the workforce. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to closely explore the individual participants' stories through thick, rich descriptions and…

The purpose of this study was to determine how the use of www.achieve3000.com, as a computer-based supplemental English Language Art (ELA) instructional tool, affected middle school students' ELA achievement. 455 middle school ELA students from the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades participated in this study. The collected student achievement that…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore communication barriers using social media between eighth-grade middle school teachers and parents who reside in rural communities. The history of social media, current use of social media with the general population and educational facilities, and the link between current studies to social…

Introduced in the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and continued with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states are required to assess students in English Language Arts. The Mississippi Department of Education, in accordance with NCLB and later ESSA, developed the statewide accountability and accreditation model to measure student progress…

This study on computer based learning as a means to increase academic and behavioral engagement of eighth grade students found that computer based learning was not a significant factor in the academic and behavioral engagement of Students A and B (the two students observed in this study). Furthermore, technology has the potential to motivate…

Research on 1:1 laptop implementations is missing key information about student achievement on high-stakes assessment. This post hoc, quasi-experimental, quantitative study explores how 1:1 laptop access affects student achievement on the mandated eighth-grade online science assessment in five Mississippi school districts throughout the state.…

Technology and a variety of resources play an important role in students' educational lives. Vygotsky's (1987) theory of tool mediation suggests that cultural tools, such as computer software influence individuals' thinking and action. However, it is not completely understood how technology and other resources influence student action. Middle…

Despite advancements in the search of equity, females still struggle to find acceptance in the field of information and communication technology. Research indicates that differences in perception of ability of ICT use begin to manifest in the middle school level. This mixed methods study explored the experiences and perceptions of 46 middle school…

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of socioeconomic status on the achievement of high school students participating in a one-to-one laptop computer program. Students living in poverty struggle to achieve in schools across the country, educators must address this issue. The independent variable in this study is socioeconomic…

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to investigate the relationship between the instructional effects of the interactive whiteboard and students' proficiency levels in eighth-grade science as evidenced by the state FCAT scores. A total of 46 eighth-grade science teachers in a South Florida public school district completed…

1:1 Laptop initiatives continue to grow throughout Nebraska schools. There are many questions regarding their effectiveness in improving student learning, justifications for expenses, and the process to guide such an initiative. The purpose of this case study was to explore students' perceptions of academic self-efficacy and self-regulation while…

Technology has become increasingly prominent in schools. The purpose of this study was to examine the integration of technology with students with disabilities, particularly the use of one-to-one computing when used in inclusive classrooms. This study took a qualitative approach exploring how one teacher integrated one-to-one computing into her…

This ethnographic study examined middle school students engaged in a virtual learning environment used in concert with face-to-face instruction in order to complete a collaborative research project. Thirty-eight students from three eighth grade classes participated in this study where data were collected through observation of student work within…

The need for high quality experimental research on the effectiveness of multimedia learning in K-12 schools is immense when considering the need to provide the best education for each child. However, there is little evidence-based research available to guide education leaders' decisions relating to technology initiatives. Therefore, the…

Success in today's globalized, multi-dimensional, and connected world requires individuals to have a variety of skill sets--i.e. oracy, numeracy, literacy, as well as the ability to think spatially. Student's spatial literacy, based on various national and international assessment results, indicates that even though there have been gains in U.S.…