Online learning as an emerging learning method has a significant impact on education, which cannot be ignored. This article explores the relationship between engagement (including cognition, behavior and emotion), motivation, environment, and college students' concentration in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 889 college…

In response to COVID-19 pandemic-related social restrictions, university students have reported being more depressed, lonelier, and less resilient, potentially affected by changes within the academic system. The present study investigates how students' social and physical well-being affect their psychological well-being and additionally explores…

Student attitudes towards distance learning can affect both the acquisition of knowledge and the motivation to learn. This study explores student attitudes towards the following four topics: (1) technological and environmental impediments towards distance learning, (2) asynchronous versus synchronous course preferences, (3) online versus in-person…

In the century we live in, technological developments are advancing faster than ever, and the world is changing irresistibly. With the Covid-19 epidemic, this change has moved to a very different dimension. Especially today, the pandemic conditions of the whole world have increased the importance of distance education by directing education to the…

There are two important premises at the core of the American democracy: inclusion and dissent. Focusing on the premise of democratic dissent, the overarching goal of this study is understanding how colleges may encourage desirable civic outcomes. This dissertation is proceeds in an alternative format, containing three distinct manuscripts. Chapter…

This study contributes to the growing body of literature about what makes a successful online learning environment. Specifically, it addresses assumptions made about online learning environments--regarding self-determination and adult learners--by measuring students' perceptions and preferences for teaching behaviors that they believe help them…

This dissertation investigated the relationship between course characteristics and student ratings of instruction at a large research intensive university. Specifically, it examined the extent to which academic field, course level, and class size were associated with variation in mean class ratings. Past research consistently identifies…

The nutrition environment in schools can influence the risk for childhood overweight and obesity, which in turn can have life-long implications for risk of chronic disease. This dissertation aimed to examine the nutrition environment in primary public schools in California with regards to the amount of nutrition education provided in the…