The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to determine if and to what extent there is a relationship between facets of trait mindfulness and perceived attention control among college students in Southern California. The study was formulated based on the multi-faceted mindfulness model and the Attention Control Theory. The…

University students' smartphone usage in academic settings is commonplace. In this dissertation, I aim to explore different sides of smartphone usage among university students to address the gap in prior research and reach more accurate findings. I utilized various research methodologies to examine the research objective. I started by observing…

The problem is that online learners in universities experience mind-wandering while viewing video lectures because of low rates of engagement, leading to a loss of focus. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore how interactive online activities that relate directly to a lecture can mitigate the problem faced by online university…

Nature-based interventions (NBI) have demonstrated positive effects on a range of student outcomes, including enhanced prosocial behaviors, decreased levels of stress, and improved mood and concentration. Further, school-aged children's participation in NBIs supports students' reconnection with the natural world. Although schools represent an…

Despite evidence that self-regulated learning ability is a strong predictor of academic achievement, effective learning and study strategies remain largely underutilized by students in higher education. In a time of extreme nursing shortage when prelicensure programs are operating at capacity, implications for course failure reach far beyond the…

We live in an attention economy where many of our interactions are mediated by technologies incentivized to exploit our attention. The consequences of this exploitation, so far as they are known, affect how we spend our time, and also our capacity for reflection and self-awareness, which can have lasting effects across our life and relationships.…

Electronic textbooks have become a common and less expensive resource for learning. These types of books have been replacing traditional paper textbooks for over a decade, and have become popular among college students. The problem this study addressed was that students learn differently when using electronic textbooks, and the use of electronic…

This phenomenological study explored fourth-grade students' perspectives on the barriers and successes they experienced in flexible blended learning. Focus group interviews were conducted to gain insight into the students' motivation, perceived barriers, possible changes, and their own skills and characteristics for success. Thematic analysis was…

The digital revolution of over twenty years has shifted how society communicates and the cellphone has become the most popular communication tool among adolescents. Consequently, cellphone use in the 21st century has extended to the classroom, and many educators are overwhelmed by students' unauthorized cellphone use. Researchers suggested…

With the influx of educational and personal technologies in the classroom, parents, faculty, and students must find strategies to limit the seductive pull of multitasking. The purpose of this study is to determine if an awareness training and experience using website-blocking software improves learning in a lecture course, and if this experience…

Food insecurity among college student is an issue that has received increased attention recently. The risk factors for food insecurity among college students include: age, race/ethnicity, living arrangement, work for pay, having children, financial independence and lack of food resource management skills. Food insecurity in college students is…

Thoughts drift in everyday life and in the classroom. The goal of this study was to investigate how often students reported off-task thinking while watching online lectures. These findings were related to working memory capacity, topic interest, and achievement goal orientations. Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate how all of these…

The latest U.S. government surveys indicate that one in six Americans suffer from food insecurity, which means they have trouble affording adequate food. Previous research has shown that food insecurity affects adult cognitive ability, energy levels, ability to concentrate as well as child academic success. Food insecurity has been studied in…

In this study, I explored the personal attitudes toward creativity of students enrolled in digital photography classes at a Southern California community college, and attempted to discover if awareness brought to creativity and participating in a creative process affects these attitudes. Pink (2005) suggested that creativity is a desirable 21st…

The rapid growth of online and blended learning environments in both higher education and K-12, along with the development of innovative game based, narrative driven, problem-based learning (PBL) systems known as Alternate Reality Games (AltRG), has led to the need to understand student's abilities to self-regulate their learning behaviors…