This study explored the impact of Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) on focus, engagement, and time-on-task learning behaviors among 8- to 10-year-old students. Grounded in Csikszentmihalyi's Theory of Flow, the study utilized a quantitative experimental design to compare DGBL experiences with alternative instructional strategies through learner…

This dissertation presents the results and outcomes of an effort to design educational tools and curriculum to improve student learning in introductory programming courses. The work was conducted at the University of California, Merced (UC Merced), situated in the Central Valley of California, and home to a diverse student population. The findings…

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have deficits in communication and engage in restrictive and repetitive behaviors that may impede their ability to learn, particularly in school environments. Evidence-based practices such as visual supports and video modeling have been used to support individuals with ASD. Activity schedules, a type…

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented events that impacted all walks of life, including education. A significant shift in all levels of education, including K-12, happened quickly and abruptly. All classes transitioned from traditional, face-to-face to virtual teaching using a Learning Management System (LMS) such as Google Classroom™ to…

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…

A choice-making strategy is an antecedent control that has proven to be effective for students with problem behaviors. Because students with Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may display disruptive behaviors and show poor academic performance, it has been suggested that incorporating choice-making strategies into academic instruction…

Engaging higher education students in a unique classroom learning experience has become the objective of many syllabi. Millennials were raised using television for learning and now use multiple screens to engage in television programming. This research looks at using screen narratives (television programming) as the focus of a higher education…

A traditional mode of Earth Science instruction in public day high schools for students with severe emotional behavioral disorders (EBD) is teacher-delivered lectures supported with paper-based laboratory exercises. These laboratory experiences are often presented through worksheet problems that students are asked to solve and return to the…

The purpose of study 1 was to characterize energy expenditure (EE) during academic subjects and activities during an elementary school day. Children in 2nd-4th grades (N = 33) wore the SenseWear Armband (SWA) for five school days to measure EE. Teachers' logs were compared to SWA data to extract information about EE throughout the day. Energy…

American schools are becoming increasingly diverse, with an estimated 17 million first- and second-generation refugee and immigrant children residing in the United States. English learners navigate the challenges of learning how to read, write, and speak a new language, all while being expected to stay on grade level. Classroom teachers nationwide…

In light of the emerging emphasis on interpreting technology, this study investigated how teachers' technology self-efficacy influenced their use of technology in the classroom technology use. The secondary purpose was to examine the extent teacher technology self-efficacy was related to instructional time. The study findings answered questions of…

Academic learning time (ALT) has long had the theoretical underpinnings sufficient to claim a causal relationship with academic achievement, but to this point empirical evidence has been lacking. This dearth of evidence has existed primarily due to difficulties associated with operationalizing ALT in traditional educational settings. Recent…