Integrating technology in education has shown to revolutionize the teaching and learning process in STEM education. It therefore becomes imperative that STEM teachers are skilled and well equipped to use technology in their classrooms. Professional development programs can serve as great channels for teachers to develop their technological…

This research study used Q Methodology to determine the perceptions of geospatial professionals towards technical competencies located within the Geospatial Technology Competency Model (GTCM). The competency model is a result of two decades of time and effort to define the geospatial field as a distinct body and is a cornerstone of the domain.…

At-risk students are at risk of falling behind in contributing to tomorrow's 21st-century technological workforce unless educators address deficits early on. Scholars have indicated school librarians can raise at-risk students' self-efficacy levels and address inequity through access to technology and instruction. Nonetheless, there are…

Given the labor shortage of highly skilled technical professionals in the United States and the influx of English Language Learners (ELLs) to address this, and predictions for this trend to continue and accelerate, organizations must provide equity to harness the full potential of ELLs. Equity focused on ELLs will deliver increased profitability,…

This dissertation consists of three chapters that contribute to the fields of macroeconomics, economic development, and entrepreneurship. In the first chapter, "Entrepreneurship Selection and Performance in the U.S. and Across Countries: The Role of Human Capital," I seek to establish a set of stylized facts related to entrepreneurship…

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 underrepresentation of girls and women in technology is a persistent issue. Researchers have consistently noted that the problem begins in grade school and perpetuates through college and eventually into the workplace. The gender gap widens as women progress in their careers and ascend to executive leadership positions. This qualitative study…

This study was undertaken to provide ways to strengthen and enhance existing online courses and to assist music educators in creating new online classes that are effective and engaging for students. Prior to the pandemic there was a clear lack of instructional expectations, guidance for online music education, and technical support for content…

Today's technologies are rapidly impacting how children learn, play, communicate, and interact with others. Popular media and common wisdom often portray children's technology use as detrimental to their growth and wellbeing. However, in recent years, a wealth of research in Child-Computer Interaction (CCI), education, and health informatics…

Today's students spend an unprecedented amount of time using technology in comparison to any other generation. With increased access to technology, music-making has changed for the 21st-century music student. How are music teachers then keeping up with the needs of today's technology-hungry music students, and how are they leveraging music…

Little is known about the extent to which higher-education faculty members required help and resources transitioning back to face-to-face teaching and learning both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Problems have included (a) determining the best resources and technologies for faculty members to use in the classroom in order to ensure that…

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between student participation in Technology Student Association and the development of soft skills necessary for gainful employment. This study specifically sought information on relationships between soft skills development and (a) time spent on Technology Student Association activities;…

This dissertation investigates inservice elementary teachers' nature of science (NOS) and nature of technology (NOT) implementation and development of NOS views. These investigations are done in three separate studies: views of NOS, implementation of NOS, and implementation of NOT. While the NOS is a necessary part of learning that should take…

This study examined how a technical college can best meet the needs of engineering technology-based employers to address the current workforce gap. The study also explored what engineering technology-based employers see as the largest skills gaps in the current workforce, as well as how a technical college can address the concerns. Using a…

The primary focus of this Executive Leadership Portfolio (ELP) is to investigate whether teachers who actively participate in professional development designed to model best practices and explore digital technology would incrementally change their instructional moves to include these practices and technologies. The literature presented within this…