This dissertation examines the development of combinatorial reasoning in high school students through an in-depth analysis of a problem-solving session involving the Pizza Problem. The study, part of the long-term Rutgers-Kenilworth longitudinal research project, focuses on four 11th-grade students as they explore and connect concepts related to…

Secondary ELA teachers use a variety of methods to engage, motivate, and teach their students literacy. Some methods include an emphasis on arts integration. One method of arts integration that has not been studied often in high school is the use of drama-based pedagogies (DBP). DBP are an innovative avenue to improving meaning-making and other…

This case study investigated how grade 8-12 teachers utilized the novel EdTech tool Equity Maps in their dialogic lesson designs. Grounded in theoretical framework of social constructivism and the conceptual framework of the triple E, this case study engaged a purposive sample of 13 highly qualified practitioners in semi-structured interviews with…

Research continues to find discussions in history classrooms to be rather short in length and simplistic in nature, despite the higher aims of historical and critical thinking. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the phenomenon of historical thinking and dialogic discussions in the secondary history classroom. Its goal was to…

Logarithms, pivotal in advanced mathematics and real-world applications, often present challenges to students who resort to rote memorization without grasping their essence. While the emotional dimensions of learning mathematics are increasingly recognized, research in this area remains limited. This dissertation addresses this gap by examining a…

This qualitative, phenomenological research study explores the best practices that secondary Grades 6-12 educators employ when using microcontrollers in the classroom. Governmental and private organizations have investigated and promoted the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and computer science in education (Code…

The COVID-19 pandemic affected education, causing schools in the United States to switch from face-to-face to remote learning modalities. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of educational modalities on academic achievement in K-12 education to contribute to evidence-based decision-making in science education by practitioners and…

This qualitative case study examined a teacher's perceptions of implementing a research intervention that included the discussion of public issues and analyzed student artifacts from the intervention for ideas related to taking civic action. The research intervention was created using indicators from the Inquiry Arc of the C3 Framework published…

After students have taken years of science classes, they still believe science content is disconnected to the "real" world or to their lives. Teaching without attention to relevance results in decreased motivation for learning and negative attitudes toward science. An instructional method incorporating physical, sport-related activities…

The literacy instruction that adolescent emergent bilingual (EB) students currently receive is insufficient to improve their writing proficiency (Graham et al., 2021; National Center for Education Statistics, 2012). To promote improvements in EBs' writing, evidence-based practices that are culturally and linguistically responsive must be provided…

This quantitative study sought to learn if instructional mode (online, blended, traditional) had an impact on evidence-based reading and writing SAT scores for English Language Learners, as well as if WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) is a predictor of the evidence-based reading and writing SAT scores for ELL students. This…

The purpose of this study was to explore the perception of general education 11th -grade Language Arts teachers on educational benefit for students with disabilities. The study utilized a qualitative phenomenological methodology to explore the perspective of general education educators in providing students with disabilities sufficient educational…

This study examined the relationships among effective literacy instruction, student perception, and student motivation. Today's educators must be to be equipped with proven instructional strategies that engage and motivate students in literacy activities resulting in positive impacts on academic outcomes. Study participants included teachers and…

Digital natives are people born after 1995 who have grown up using technology devices. The problem is that middle and high school students are not developing digital literacy skills which may inhibit success in school. In our society access to information is increasingly through digital devices and internet platforms. Students must be taught to…

Many students struggle with decoding and implementing feedback given to them on writing assignments. Researchers and instructors have used various technologies and strategies to improve students' uptake of feedback given on written assignments, one of which is a form of video feedback called screencasting. Research has been conducted on students'…