Internet-enabled tools, cloud-based platforms, and digital communication devices have revolutionized the educational landscape but this digital transformation has increased students' exposure to cyber risks and threats exponentially. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to investigate the relationship between technology…

This mixed-methods study analyzes the perspectives of educators in middle school regarding the impact of cell phones in the middle school environment. Vygotsky's (1978) sociocultural theory of cognitive development along with opportunity theory (Cohen & Felson, 1979) provide insight regarding implications related to accessing personal devices…

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…

This mixed-methods case study aimed to explore absenteeism and attendance expectations in Caufield, a pseudonym for a New England school district that facilitated an overnight one-to-one technology distribution in response to COVID-19. The sample consisted of one middle school in a four-school district in Connecticut. This research study sought to…

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 the current study is to explore Korean middle school students' perceptions and the results of their vocabulary test scores related to vocabulary development utilizing Quizlet language learning software. 520 Korean EFL middle school students in all grades were divided into two groups in each grade: the Quizlet group as an…

This study investigates the effectiveness of an inquiry-based learning curriculum for middle school students with learning and/or attentional disabilities (LD and/or ADHD). The main questions asked were: To what extent can an inquiry-based learning curriculum focused on digital responsibility impact: (1) well-being; (2) smartphone usage; and (3)…

The introduction of low-cost hand-held devices has provided K-12 educators with the opportunity to teach using virtual reality (VR). However, the efficacy of VR in K-12 classrooms for teaching and learning has not been established. Therefore, the purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to examine the influence of virtual reality field trips…

The digital fabrication lab, or Fab Lab, at California State University, Bakersfield provided a 1-week, half-day summer program for local area middle school students. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect this summer program had on their attitudes towards math and science. The theoretical framework used for this study was based on…

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…

A significant body of research has examined the impact of technology on pedagogy (Cuban, 1999; Enyedy, 2014), student achievement (Schachter, 1999; Cheung & Slavin, 2013, OECD, 2015), and equity (Reich, Murnane & Willett, 2012; Van Deursen & Van Dijk, 2011) with both positive and negative results within each domain. Research has also…

This study investigated how students in two states, one with and one without a state-wide one-to-one laptop program, performed on measures of online research and learning in science. The study replicated and extended the findings of a recent study using more current and more extensive data. In general, this study adds to the body of research…