This dissertation investigates the role of multimedia applications in enhancing student engagement in higher education, with a particular focus on the dynamics of asynchronous discussion forums and lurking behaviors. Leveraging multimedia applications facilitates dynamic, inquiry-based discussions that promote deeper cognitive engagement and…

The level of diversity among colleges and universities is at its greatest level. This level of diversity has proven to be beneficial in several key areas for all students. With this increase in diversity, there have been other consequences as well. One form of bullying, cyberbullying, has been on the rise due to greater use of technology, increase…

Students need academic tools and digital skills for proper social interactions in a digital society. Researchers Ribble and Park (2019) designed the S3 Framework which stresses the importance of developing safe, savvy, and social digital citizens. Using this framework, a series of interventions were developed for students and staff to increase the…

Technology has become very prevalent amongst school-aged students. Students have access to cellphones, iPads, and other technological gadgets to cyberbully others. Cyberbullying is a growing trend that exists within communities and trickles into the school setting. Teachers now face new challenges in educating students on using technology and…

In the wake of suicide, school preparedness is an essential component of postvention crisis response. Professional organizations, relying on the recommendations of researchers and practitioners, have developed helpful guides, such as "After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools," and the "PREPaRE School Crisis Prevention and Intervention…

Place-based educators recognize the importance of place in shaping learning, as our sense of place serves as a lens through which we interpret our experiences. Despite the growing prevalence of online environments in education, their impact on our sense of place remains largely unexplored. This case study employed critical case sampling to explore…

There was a surge in online learning and education during the COVID-19 pandemic, which means that prior research findings need to be tested against what happened during that time frame in order to see if it still holds up. When largely using computers and online settings to communicate with one another in the teaching realm, how did this impact…

Incivility in the college classroom distracts from the learning process. Students who are uncivil to their peers often shame and embarrass them in front of others, and uncivil students distract from learning opportunities by arguing with professors and coercing them for grades that were not earned. Incivility by students is counterintuitive to the…

This applied dissertation investigated middle school literacy educators' views about the impact of text messaging on students' spelling and writing abilities. Specifically, the researcher determined educators' views about the impact of text messages from Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) and Short Message Service (SMS) on middle school student…

Reading is a fundamental skill that is critical for later academic success. Despite extensive research on its development, reading remains a challenging skill for students in the U.S. to master: recent data from the National Assessment of Education Progress showed that 65% of fourth-grade students score below the level of "proficient" in…

School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports is a framework by which schools can assess and develop a system of preventative strategies to decrease the likelihood of problematic behaviors. SWPBIS provides for a three tiered system of interventions with increasing supports and complexity to meet students' needs at each level. CICO was…

This research explored whether the components of social support and knowledge-sharing can be shown to correlate with increased preservice teachers' sense of efficacy. The problem statement was to determine if, and to what degree, the social support and knowledge-sharing in an online community, as measured by activity level and count, correlates to…

The challenges facing adolescents today are greater than ever. It is imperative that students have the social and emotional skills to help them succeed. Mindfulness helps support social, emotional, and academic learning as it assists children in becoming more self-aware and builds self-regulation. Mindfulness is about being present within yourself…

This study conducted a meta-analysis in the area of violent behaviors involving high school students. Meta-Analysis is essentially a systematic review; however, in addition to narrative summary that is conducted in a systematic review, in meta-analysis, the analysis also numerically pooled the results of the studies and arrived at a summary…

Engagement in online classes can promote student success but can be met with challenges associated with students feeling isolated from their peers, their instructors, or the course when learning online. Building opportunities for student interaction is one way to combat this isolation. A common activity in online courses that allows for student…