Apprenticeship programs in North Carolina act as a crucial talent pipeline and economic development solution. These registered apprenticeships have also been proven to address many workforce challenges directly by matching well-trained, highly skilled, invested jobseekers to organizations choosing apprenticeship as an economic solution. Despite…

Human-driven threats are changing biodiversity and impacting ecosystem services (i.e., nature's contributions to society, henceforth 'services'). The consequences of biodiversity change for ecosystems and people are hard to predict because the loss of one species can trigger secondary extinctions of additional species when species interact (e.g.,…

Instructional designers need project management skills when managing instructional design projects (Liu et al., 2002). Based on a 2018 study, project management knowledge was found in over 40% of job postings and is recognized as a competency needed for career preparedness (Klein & Kelly, 2018; Larson & Lockee, 2009). It is unknown how…

Educational video games often engage students intuitively with visuals with quick, responsive actions to immerse students in authentic disciplinary practice. In contrast, typical formal learning environments engage students in conscious reflection with visual representations to understand underlying disciplinary concepts. Research has examined how…

This study explores the impact of design thinking education on critical thinking skills among undergraduate (science, technology, engineering, and math) STEM students. The research adopted a correlational, case-control design to analyze the relationship between participation and design thinking education and critical thinking levels among…

Many organizations utilize formal mentoring as a means of human resource development. Positive mentoring experiences can lead to positive outcomes for the mentor, mentee, and organization; however, negative mentoring experiences can have the opposite effect. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine how mentees describe…

The purpose of the present study was to examine the impact of the Self-Regulatory Instructional Planning Approach (SR-IPA) on the lesson planning and self-regulatory development of a group of six preservice secondary social studies teachers (PSSST). Even though the benefits of self-regulated learning and inquiry-based instruction are well…

Empathy plays a vital role in improving student engagement and supporting organizational change in schools. In fact, empathy is widely recognized as an essential skill for integration during such efforts. In collaboration with Battelle for Kids, the Cumberland Valley School District in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, launched a vision for school…

Design schools represent a unique context for the study of creativity. Design school students are expected to master creativity by developing individualized processes. Student development in the design classroom has traditionally focused on cultivating professional skills and aptitudes. However, design school students may have long-held beliefs…

To realize more equitable technology futures, it is not enough to simply adapt technology to be more inclusive "after" it is created. We will also need to equip technology creators with the skills they need to critically reflect upon bias and exclusion "during" the technology design process. The question of how to best to…

The world of work is changing, and soft skills like critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and collaboration are essential for professional and personal success. With the increase in online enrollment, institutions can improve online learning to promote the development of soft skills. There has been a lack of articulated methods or…

Learning designers face challenges integrating learning analytics (LA) when designing learner-content interactions in corporate online education. The quality of the learning design directly affects learners' engagement and impacts the transfer of learning at work. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of experienced learning…

The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of the impact of game mechanics on developing collaborative problem solving (CPS) skills. CPS skills are important for the complex work environments of the 21st century, and games appear to provide potential learning experiences where such skills can develop. The research questions of…

This applied dissertation was designed to provide a targeted training for novice teachers with the use of Behavior Skills Training model. Novice teachers struggle with behavior management in the classroom setting. While there is a growing need for strategic in-class intervention for students with problem behaviors, there is not a system training…

Competency-based education (CBE) has become well-accepted as a powerful way to personalize learning. Today's advanced technologies have enhanced CBE even further. Practitioners in the field are seeking means to take advantage of technology to increase CBE's effectiveness and efficiency, especially for adult learners. Microlearning and digital open…