Technology is a learning and teaching tool that enhances students' communication, innovation, and critical thinking skills, also known as 21st century learning goals. Successfully using technology in the classroom to promote these learning goals, however, has presented some challenges for teachers. While research has identified a variety of obstacles that prevent teachers from using technology, little investigation has been done on the barriers of technology integration as related to 21st century learning goals. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine teachers' perceived barriers to technology integration related to 21 st century learning goals. Guided by a conceptual framework that posited a relationship between the digital divide and students' learning, the research questions in this study investigated teachers' perceived barriers to technology integration. Twenty-three elementary school teachers from a local school district completed an open-ended questionnaire, and 6 of the teachers participated in interviews to gather data to investigate the problem. Coding using the constant comparative analysis was the primary strategy for data analysis. Findings indicated that teachers perceived a lack of technology resources to allow students individual access to technology as the primary obstacle to technology integration. These findings led to the implementation of a program for to allow students to bring their own technology to school. Social change resulting from this study could include a transformation of teachers' instructional practices and student learning; this transformation might, in turn, affect student achievement of 21st century learning goals.

Increasingly, educational reform efforts are turning towards data-driven decision making strategies to help teachers improve instruction through skills-based instruction/content that is both measurable and aligned to common rigorous standards, such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Examining the impact of a formative online assessment system on a summative measurement of student achievement may provide evidence that data-driven instructional platforms can impact student achievement and learning outcomes. Guided by the theoretical frameworks of Vygotsky and Dewey, along with the concepts of multiple intelligence, constructivism, and mastery learning, this study examined the relationship between student scores from an online formative assessment administered quarterly and an end-of-year summative evaluation. A stepwise multiple regression analyzed the predictive power of the iReady formative assessment program towards archived SAT-10 reading and mathematics data among Grades 1-4 students, before and after the iReady program was implemented (N = 339). The results showed a significant relationship between the iReady program and SAT-10, explaining 11.6% of the variance in SAT-10 scores. The study's intended audience is educators, school districts, and policy makers who are using the achievement data produced by formative assessments to improve results on measures of academic achievement, leading to positive social change.

Stakeholders in a midsized rural high school district were concerned that faculty failure to integrate educational technologies into instruction was adversely affecting student performance as measured by recent state mandated test scores. The purpose of this study was to determine if relationships existed between faculty age, gender, tenure, and overall attitude toward technology, and the implementation of technology into classroom instruction. Dewey's and Knowles' theories of adult learning were used as theoretical frameworks because they emphasize the practical application of knowledge in the transfer of learning. The research design was a one-time cross-sectional survey of teachers within the district. The data were collected using the Levels of Technology Implementation survey extended to include 5 additional questions about attitude towards technology developed using existing literature and consultation with experts. The convenience sample was comprised of 103 volunteer respondents at 3 midsized rural high schools. Analysis of the data utilized Pearson's correlation coefficients, independent samples t-tests, ANOVAs, and ANCOVAs. Findings indicated that technology implementation in classroom instruction for this group is generally deficient. No significant relationships between faculty age, gender, and tenure and technology implementation existed, but attitude toward technology proved to be a significant factor for increased technology implementation into classroom instruction. These findings led to the creation of a professional development program to increase the impact of technology on the transfer of learning. Increasing faculty expertise in implementing instructional technology into classroom instruction will lead to greater innovation in the classroom and improved student outcomes.

Elementary teachers at a school in the southeastern United States received iPads and iPad training to improve teaching and learning in the content subject areas. Despite the iPad training provided by district technology personnel, teachers expressed a need for more content-specific training. Teachers need adequate and appropriate professional development to assist in preparing integrated computer-based technology instruction to increase student academic achievement. The purpose of this qualitative bounded case study was to explore the descriptions of 10 purposely selected 4th and 5th grade teachers who used iPads in content subjects and 1 instructional technology facilitator who provided district iPad training regarding the district's iPad professional development and implementation in instruction. The theoretical support for this study was the technological pedagogical content knowledge framework that provided an interaction among technology, pedagogy, and content knowledge. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews and lesson plans. Inductive analysis was used with hand coding to discover themes. Teachers recognized the need for ongoing professional development and collaboration with colleagues to create content-specific iPad integrated lessons. Based on these findings, a project was designed to provide teachers with a 3-day professional development to include modeled lessons, collaboration with colleagues, a shared Google Drive folder, and a schedule for ongoing professional development. These endeavors may promote positive social change by providing ongoing content-specific iPad professional development for elementary teachers that could improve computer-based technology instruction and student learning in content subject areas.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using the microcomputer to improve mathematics achievement for those students who did not pass the mathematics section of the State Literacy Passport Test in Grade 6.;The sample consisted of nine classes of seventh grade students who had not passed the LPT and whose parent(s) committed to the five week summer program. Students were assigned randomly to the nine teachers. The teachers were then assigned randomly to either the microcomputer or non microcomputer group with five being assigned to the microcomputer group. to control for teacher variability staff development and a detailed teacher's guide were provided. The topics covered in both groups were those which are addressed on the State LPT: numbers and numeration; relations and functions; computation with whole numbers, decimals, and fractions; measurement and geometry; and applications. The lessons for both groups included identical teacher directed activities. Students in the microcomputer group were assigned in pairs to a microcomputer and spent approximately 20% of the time using the microcomputer for follow-up activities whereas the students in the non microcomputer group worked on more conventional follow-up activities such as games and puzzles. The students attended classes for two and one-half hours, four days a week for five weeks.;A literacy passport test developed by the project director which was previously examined for content and concurrent validity and reliability was the posttest assessment. The pretest assessment was the State LPT.;The major findings of the study were: (1) Students in the microcomputer group scored significantly higher on the posttest for the total test and for the subtests of--computation with decimals, computations with fractions, and measurement and geometry. (2) Students in the microcomputer group experienced significant posttest gains on the subtest on computation with whole numbers but the posttest differences were not significant (p {dollar}<{dollar}.05). This was due to the significant differences in pretest scores in favor of the non microcomputer group.

During this session, three education game developers funded by the ED/IES Small Business Innovation Research (ED/IES SBIR) program to create commercially viable learning games will discuss why and how they have partnered with outside education researchers to build capacity for their project. The session will feature short video demonstrations of the education technology games that are being developed and brief presentations on the iterative research that are being conducted to inform refinements to the technology and the pilot studies that are being performed to evaluate the promise of the games to increase student learning. The discussion will center on the benefits and challenges related to game developer-researcher collaborations.

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The purpose of this study was to determine what factors facilitate and what factors inhibit computer use in the Student Affairs Divisions of James Madison University (JMU), Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), and Mary Washington College (MWC).;The population for this study was student affairs officials and related personnel deliberately selected from three Virginia public institutions.;The following conclusions were drawn from the findings of this study. (1) MWC is in the beginning stages of automation, JMU is moving in the direction of state-of-art technology while VPI's current status has reached the level regarded as state-of-art. (2) The status of CBISs at MWC, JMU, and VPI is affected by the time period in which automation occurred. (3) Student affairs' users at MWC, JMU, and VPI perceive CBISs positively. (4) Respondents believe using CBISs on the job simplifies tasks, helps monitor data flow, increases efficiency, makes output professional, makes data timely and accurate, improves the communication process, and does not significantly affect changes in policy. (5) No significant organizational changes have occurred at MWC or JMU while several organizational changes were identified at VPI. (6) The institution's mission and size influence the direction institutions take in regard to computer technology. (7) Respondents were satisfied with the microcomputer support and training received. (8) All users mentioned mainframe computer support was slow and uneven and many outside influences seem to impact the quality of this service. (9) It is clear that at JMU and VPI the integrator's role positively affects the use of computers. (10) The role, professional background, and personal characteristics of integrators were indentified and summarized. (11) Institutions of higher education should identify the integrators on their campuses and promote and support their role. (12) Top leadership commitment plays a crucial factor in facilitating computer use. (13) The lack of long range plans for the improved use of computers do not significantly affect the use of CBISs at MWC, JMU, or VPI.;Since very little research has been conducted on Student Affairs Divisions' use of CBISs, future research should focus on how data collected on students improve the effective operation of student affairs offices.

Using period newspapers and books, mercantile correspondence, Spanish imperial archives, and the colonial records of the Caracas City Council, Consulado, and Venezuelan Intendancy, this dissertation highlights the enterprises of those who profited from sustaining the Spanish Empire in its frail and debilitated state. Whether they had prospered from or merely survived the commercial revolutions that shook the Atlantic World after 1789, all merchants and traders calculated the economic consequences of South American independence and encouraged their contemporaries to do so too.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of light/sound technology to promote sensory integration which facilitates the learning capacity of children with autism by reducing their high state of arousal, increasing time on task and decreasing acting-out behaviors. This research extended the work of A. Jean Ayres and Lorna King who theorized that the autistic individual's brain does not register, modulate or integrate sensations that most people notice; auditory and visual inputs are ignored more than other types of sensory stimuli. This study utilized light/sound technology to stimulate and desensitize these sensory channels to facilitate processing of incoming stimuli. The technology was furnished by Dr. Harold Russell and was programmed with a microchip to control the frequency patterns. Twelve subjects were selected to participate in this eight week study; only five subjects completed. They represented schools in the Tidewater region of Virginia and Illinois. Inattention, Impulsivity, and Hyperactivity were assessed with The Attention Deficit Disorder Evaluation Scale-Home and School Versions. Comparison of the results of these measures and qualitative data were incorporated into case studies. There was improvement noted in social skills, attention and on-task behavior. The results are supportive of research conducted with learning disabled and AH/HD students conducted by Drs. Carter and Russell.