There has been an increase of both neurodivergent students and enrollment in Computer Science programs in higher education. These increases have brought attention to two separate challenges: neurodivergent college students struggle more compared to their neurotypical peers and many students struggle in introductory computer science courses. This…

This dissertation introduces a comprehensive framework aimed at reshaping applied cybersecurity education to significantly ease the learning curve, at scale, through three synergistic innovations. These methods address the daunting educational barriers in cybersecurity, enabling learners at all levels to understand complex security concepts more…

In recent years there has been an increased push for K-12 computer science education. A major reason for this push is the growing evidence that introducing young children to coding can enhance their interest and promote their learning of foundational skills needed to thrive in today's technologically rich world. However, little research has…

This research explores the emerging field of data science from the scientometric, curricular, and altmetric perspectives and addresses the following six research questions: 1.What are the scientometric features of the data science field? 2.What are the contributing fields to the establishment of data science? 3.What are the major research areas of…

This phenomenological study investigates the narratives of six Black women faculty to ascertain how their experiences contributed to their retention and persistence in Computing. This study, which incorporates Anti-Deficit Achievement Framework, Critical Race Theory, and Intersectionality Theory, is guided by phenomenology and the following key…

Assessments are some of the most common tools used to evaluate student learning. While exams have always been a part of evaluating how well students learn and retain information, the most effective way to administer them has always been debated. However, remarkably few studies have compared online and paper testing, and even fewer have examined…

One approach to teaching game design to students with a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds is through team game projects that span multiple weeks, up to an entire term. However, open-ended, creative projects introduce a gamut of challenges to novice programmers. My goal is to assist game design students with the planning stage of their…

Though efforts have been made for centuries, how concepts are represented in the brain is still elusive. The embodiment view claims that the sensory, motor and other brain areas through which people acquire concept information during life experiences represent this information during concept retrieval. Some compelling neurobiological evidence…

This study sought to address the gap in knowledge about the effect of UDL features on asynchronous online postsecondary learners' achievement, engagement, and self-efficacy. The study also described a process for redesigning an online course to incorporate UDL components and provided specific examples of the implemented UDL guidelines. The study…

The emerging impact of gamification in the field of education has generated several possible avenues for enhancing learning outcomes and raised a large number of as-yet unanswered questions as to the effectiveness of different gamification techniques in different contexts. This quantitative survey study examines the impact of gamification on…

Modern higher education institutions must contend with a litany of cyber threats, regulations, and environmental dynamics. These institutions are increasingly being targeted due to the value of the data they possess and their historically permissive configurations that are intended to support academic freedom. Many universities are implementing…

The purpose of my study is to explore why and how Black women undergraduates at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) persist in computing. By centering the experiences of Black women undergraduates and their stories, this dissertation expands traditional, dominant ways of understanding student persistence in higher education.…

The purpose of this action research was to explore the information and communication technology (ICT) literacy skills of first-year minority students at Saint Augustine's University in order to develop a plan for an ICT professional development program. ICT skills are essential in our rapidly-changing and technology-driven society. While there is…

Machine learning has achieved state-of-the-art performance in many areas, including image recognition and natural language processing. However, there are still many challenges and mysteries attracting numerous researchers. This dissertation comprises a series of works concerning problems at the intersection of computer science theory, adversarial…

Computer science education is being recognized globally as necessary to better prepare students in all grade levels, K-12, for future success. As a result of this focus on computer science education in the United States and around the world, there is an increased demand for highly qualified teachers with content and pedagogical knowledge to…