<p> Nurse education leaders have a fiduciary responsibility of keep nursing curricula current with the latest technologies in healthcare. Nurse educators and nursing students are the end users who can provide the necessary feedback about the use of technology in nursing academia and clinical settings. This single case study with embedded units of analysis (the end users) was about the lived experience of the end users&rsquo; use of personal mobile devices and associated technology in the pursuit of their academic objectives. This qualitative study investigated what issues, if any, were related to the use (or non-use) of personal mobile devices (PMDs) in the nursing classroom and clinical settings. Other research questions for the end users were if institutional policies, protocols, and practices supported the technological aspects of nursing academia as well as any recommendations for improvements. The small, purposive sample population came from the Upstate Region of South Carolina. The researcher facilitated semi-structured interviews with nurse educators and focus group discussions with nursing students to identify any unforeseen and/or unanticipated concerns in the use of PMDs in nursing academia and clinical practices. The Model Measurement Questionnaire (MMQ) was incorporated into the data collection process which had multiple uses. Data analysis was framed around the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and based on a triangulation of data collected from the end users through field notes, MMQ results, and observations. The most significant outcome of this study was the identification of a psychosocial phenomenon not found in current literature. A secondary objective of this case study was to suggest a basic and repeatable process for qualitative assessment of current technology from the lived experiences of nurse educators and nursing students.</p><p>

<p> One-to-One Technology Device Integration in Grades 3-5 and the Beliefs &amp; Actions of Teachers and District-Level Leaders One-to-One technology initiatives began in the 1990&rsquo;s and have expanded over time. It is not about distributing devices but rather how those devices transform teaching and learning. Educators need to harness the power of technology devices to engage students in learning, enhance teaching, and provide opportunities for personalized learning. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has developed student standards that provide a framework for teachers to guide them in developing content-rich lessons that are supported and enhanced by the use of technology devices. </p><p> The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers in grades three through five operationalize the seven ISTE student standards in schools with one-to-one technology devices. The types of projects designed and implemented with students, as well as the actions taken by leaders to provide systems of instructional technology support, professional development opportunities and systems for learning for teachers was explored. Data was collected through interviews with third through fifth grade teachers and leaders in two districts that have implemented one-to-one student technology devices in their schools. </p><p> A qualitative design was used and data was collected from interviews with twelve leaders, six teachers and a technology integration specialist from two school districts in the Capital Region of New York State that had implemented one-to-one initiatives in their districts. The data was analyzed to develop findings to answer three research questions. The findings of this study indicate that educational leaders who have implemented one-to one student technology in their district recognize that it is not about the device but more about the learning. Teachers reported that one-to-one student technology devices do not replace quality instruction but rather see the devices as a tool to increase motivation and engagement. A formal assessment to gather data to determine the effectiveness of implementing one-to-one student technology devices is needed. </p><p> Conclusions from this study indicate that one-to-one student technology provide the opportunity for teachers to engage students in learning, differentiate and personalize learning, and allow students to be creators of their own learning. This study indicates that when implementing a one-to-one initiative, leaders who provide time for professional development through the creation of social networks of learning and technical support for student technology devices foster the successful implementation of a one-to-one initiative. Recommendations include supporting professional development on the ISTE standards, designing schedules that provide common time for teachers to learn about technology integration, requiring the inclusion of professional development for technology integration in district professional development plans and teacher and leader certification programs, and future studies. </p><p>

<p> This study was conducted in order to understand the types of music technologies band educators in the state of Arkansas were using, their attitudes towards technology, and the implications training, during undergraduate and through professional development, had on the frequency of use. Arkansas Music Educators (n = 64) completed an online questionnaire containing demographic information, selection of music technologies, agreeability/disagreeability to statements about music technology, frequency of use, descriptions of technologies, and description of how they felt music technology should be used for the purpose of learning. Regarding training in undergraduate professional development for music technology use, there appeared to be no difference between the increase of music technology usage and the increase of more training. Results suggest that participants have an overall &ldquo;good&rdquo; attitude towards technology with the stipulation that it should be considered a tool, students and teachers receive appropriate training, and it should be used efficiently.</p><p>

<p> This study focused on the motivation of K-12 teachers to participate in district online professional development and to sustain the knowledge or skills learned. This study identified how teachers in a suburban school district, located in the Hudson Valley region of New York state, evaluated the online professional development they received and the extent to which their learning continued beyond the initial training. Through a phenomenological study, data indicated several factors motivated teachers to participate in online professional development; the primary motivator was the relevance of the topic. The online survey and interviews indicated teachers were interested and willing to participate in online professional development when they could choose the topic and the setting in which the learning takes place. An additional motivator was the benefit of collaboration and support provided by the facilitator, both during and after the training. Teachers shared their ability to make connections and to reflect on their own experiences increased when they had the opportunity to work collaboratively with the facilitator to develop and implement a lesson using the new knowledge or skill. Teachers who identified taking relevant district online professional development with collaborative facilitators also reported specific examples of how they implemented skills in their classrooms. Teachers described how the district online professional development helped to improve their students&rsquo; learning.</p><p>

<p> In the fire service industry, training has primarily been offered in the face-to-face format due to lack of leadership support and inability to keep fire fighters in service during required training. The purpose of this quantitative, <i>ex post facto</i> study was to compare the effectiveness of the blended and face-to-face delivery methods for fire fighter training by examining student performance on written certification exams within two fire fighter training programs. The specific problem addressed was the uncertainty of the Texas A&amp;M Engineering Extension Service leadership concerning which of its fire fighter training programs was more effective, the blended or face-to-face program. Archival data from a series of five test scores for 1,100 fire fighter recruits completing training through blended and face-to-face delivery were collected. Comparative analysis using a one-way MANOVA for hypotheses 1, 2, and 5 indicated a significant difference favoring the face-to-face modality (<i>p</i> &lt; .001), and a significant difference favoring the blended modality for hypotheses 3 and 4 (<i> p</i> &lt; .001). Findings are considered mixed. Examination of MANOVA group means indicated an average difference of 2.72 points between scores in the two delivery methods. Recommendations for future research include (a) replication of the study to include collection and analysis of demographic data, (b) a survey of students to assess satisfaction and knowledge transfer following completion of training, and (c) a survey of employers to assess perceptions of knowledge acquisition and transfer for new hires completing the training programs.</p><p>

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Boise State University, 2006. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-144). Also available online via the ProQuest Digital Dissertations database.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Ohio University, June, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-160)

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-159). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-159). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S. in Information Technology Management)--Naval Postgraduate School, September 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Thomas Housel, Tony Ciavarelli, Steven Pilnick. Includes bibliographical references (p. 123-126). Also available online.