Computational thinking (CT) is a critical problem-solving skill that can help students be successful in school and the 21st-century workplace (Wing, 2006). This project builds on past research showing that educational robotics can be a useful and cost-effective means to teach CT to primary school students. Past research has not yet resolved…

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…

This research study examined the implementation of an extended reality (XR) lab on a community college campus to facilitate student and faculty access to immersive learning resources. The study, conducted during one skills day, involved 46 students and was designed to understand if integrating immersive VR into emergency medical technician (EMT)…

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…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to identify and examine the technology-based instructional strategies and digital tools being used by teachers in grades 3-5 that engage children in problem-solving learning opportunities. The study included 11 purposely sampled participants from a school district in East Tennessee who…

Online courses have become an important part of a student's academic career. The variety and number of online course offerings grow each year. Unfortunately, there are a few drawbacks to current online courses, including differences between success rates of general education courses and their face-to-face counterparts. Current research indicates…

The technology in the K-12 classroom has changed from being a tool that educators can utilize on an as needed basis, to a classroom necessity. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore K-12 technology directors experiences in the decision-making process of integrating technology in a K-12 education system at a district level…

Participatory Learning (PL) integrates several learning approaches, engaging students throughout the entire assignment process for both online and face-to-face courses. Beyond simply providing a solution, students also craft a problem (problem-based learning), grade each other (peer assessment and feedback), evaluate themselves (self-assessment),…

Teachers use digital activities for student collaboration; however, it is not known what digital collaboration strategies teachers implement, nor how they perceive students' ability to apply collaboration skills in a digital environment. It is necessary to understand strategies needed by students to be able to collaborate in a digital environment.…

This phenomenological study research presents an option to use both discourse in the native language and technology as an alternative to improve the understanding of mathematics in secondary education. 13 students whose native language is Spanish attended a high school in a large urban school district in the Southwest of the United States,…

Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have difficulty maintaining their focus during class lessons and often require reminder prompts from an adult including a teacher or instructional assistant. This study used goal setting paired with a technology-based application and Smartwatch to explore increases in elementary student…

New Jersey consistently ranks as one of the top-performing states in the country when it comes to education. Most recently, it was ranked third in the nation. A look at the state's standards in any subject shows the state works diligently to vertically align standards while also challenging students in order to better prepare them for the future…

A theoretical framework grounded in constructionism and pragmatism theories supported research on learning by doing. This framework underpinned the purpose of this qualitative case study to explore how K-8 STEM teachers facilitated projects utilizing innovative technologies to solve community-based problems. The problem was a lack of connection…

This dissertation contains findings from two research projects. The first research area focused on assessing engineering students problem solving skills. Problem solving related to two material and energy balance topics--vapor liquid equilibrium and reacting systems with recycle - were examined first followed by a more holistic analysis across two…

Digital learning environments are becoming increasingly ubiquitous as a wide range of EdTech products and services enter classrooms and households across the globe. One salient attribute of these environments is their capacity to generate large amounts of data as students interact with the technology. These data logs can help construct a detailed…