Secondary teachers of students with extensive support needs are tasked with helping their students prepare for successful post-secondary outcomes by setting and making progress toward meaningful goals related to self-determination, social and communication skills, and other individualized needs. Federal law also mandates that teachers provide academic core content instruction that is aligned with grade level standards, and recent federal rulings (e.g., Endrew v. Douglas County) have highlighted the need for instruction to be specially designed based on the unique needs of individual students with disabilities. The impact of standards-based instruction on the adult lives of individuals with extensive support needs is yet to be seen, but increased academic opportunities will provide an increased level of skills over prior generations. One way educators can meet the unique individual needs of their students is to integrate transition skills and goals within academic instruction. This presentation will provide guidance to educators on how to ensure academic core content instruction is personally relevant for secondary students with extensive support needs in the areas of literacy, mathematics, and science.

Students with intellectual disabilities and autism have been underexposed to grade aligned English/Language Arts (ELA) content, including literacy. This session highlights research to guide participants’ practice in implementing meaningful grade aligned ELA content such as vocabulary, opinion writing, comprehension of fiction and nonfiction text, and student led research for students with low incidence disabilities. A presentation of evidence-based practices such as the use of technology, grade aligned adapted fiction and nonfiction text, and systematic instruction will be featured, as well as ways to promote personalized learning in the classroom.

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Educators must meet the demand to produce a workforce better educated with using 21st-century technology tools. The purpose of this case study was to explore the usefulness of Google Docs as one of those tools by examining 2 main questions. Those questions were how high school students perceive Google Docs could benefit them and how career and technical (CTE) teachers use it to support collaborative learning as a strong part of the learning process. The conceptual framework used included Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which focuses on collaborative learning. Participants were 2 teachers and 8 students from 2 urban school districts in the Eastern part of the United States. Data sources were interviews with teachers and student focus group discussions. Data were coded using open coding, and themes and patterns were identified. Results indicated that Google Docs supports student learning by increasing opportunities for collaboration and helping students be more efficient while also preparing them for careers. Students indicated that they saw Google Docs as a learning tool and that they were more engaged while working collaboratively with their peers via the platform. Findings may help CTE teachers and students learn more about how to use web-based technologies to learn via collaboration and may assist students in becoming more successful in their CTE courses and careers.

The problem for this study is the increasing number of students identified as special need learners in U.S. schools and the critical need to prepare them for success in the 21st century workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of special education teachers while they integrate mobile tablets into the classroom. The conceptual framework was based on constructivism, andragogy, experiential learning models and Roger’s diffusion of innovation. The research questions focused on understanding the experiences of special education teachers during their implementation of mobile tablets. This study was a qualitative multiple case study involving the interview special education teachers before and after lessons during which they integrated mobile devices into their classroom. These interviews and curriculum artifacts were analyzed using thematic inductive analysis. Results identified that all the teachers were generally in favor of integrating mobile tablets and believed they were integrating them successfully. However, the teachers who believed in their personal ability to utilize mobile devices in their classrooms were able to navigate multiple issues and integrate them more effectively. The level of integration was also influenced by the usability, functionality and accessibility of the technologies. Additionally, all teachers related their ability to integrate technology successfully with the type and quality of professional development they received. Understanding how special education teachers successfully integrate innovative technologies has the potential to support special needs learners for their future success in the 21st century workplace.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) manikins are an educational technology tool employed to train nurses to perform high-quality CPR during real-life cardiac arrest events. However, a gap exists between CPR skills learned in training and those used in real life. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how CPR feedback and anxiety in registered nurses affect CPR performance on a manikin. Distributed practice and attentional control theory served as the foundations for this study. The research questions addressed the influence of demographic factors, real-time CPR feedback, and simulated hospital noises on CPR performance using CPR manikins. The study included a randomized longitudinal experimental design. Data were collected from 120 nurses via a demographic questionnaire, the Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Questionnaire, and CPR compression performance feedback via a Zoll R Series defibrillator. Data analysis involved a repeated measures ANOVA or a regression analysis. Findings indicated that participants’ age predicted CPR performance. Receiving real-time CPR feedback led to a statistically significant improvement in performance, and the introduction of hospital noises did not predict CPR performance. Findings may be used to enhance individual performance of CPR, which may benefit society through improved patient care during cardiac arrest.

Many elementary students struggle to meet expectations on mathematics assessments despite an increase in science, technology, engineering, and math instructional strategies. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore elementary math teachers' technology integration self-efficacy, their level of technology adoption, and their actual technology integration behavior. The conceptual framework used in this study included Bandura's social cognitive theory, which is often used in the investigation of self-efficacy. Additionally, the International Society for Technology Education Classroom Tool, which is in alignment with the National Educational Standards for Teachers, was used to gauge the level of technology integration in the classroom. Nine volunteer teachers in Grades 3-5 participated in surveys, observations, and follow-up interviews. Data were analyzed using open coding to identify themes and patterns. The findings from this study indicated that the teachers' perceptions were positive as they believed technology could have positive implications for the teaching and learning process. However, findings also indicated that not all the teachers in the study felt confident with using technology in their practice. These teachers indicated that there was a need for onsite support, peer mentoring and professional development geared towards effectively aligning content, pedagogy, and technology. The information from this study may add more to the body of knowledge on information and communications technologies adoption and integration. The social change potential in this study is that through confident teachers in mathematics, and technology integration, students may improve their skills to be competitive for employment and opportunities in a global marketplace.

Although varying models of blended learning are being adopted in schools, research on the effect of blended learning on students in different subjects and grade levels has not been examined. This naturalistic, quasi-experimental study examined the effect of the rotation model of blended learning at the middle school level on students' language arts performance to determine how the rotation model of blended learning compares to the traditional model of learning. The study's theoretical framework consisted of Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning and Bloom's theory of mastery learning. The population consisted of 979 non-Title 1, Georgia public middle school students within the same middle school in a metropolitan school district during the 2013-2014 school year. The sample size was 237 sixth graders, 255 seventh graders, and 272 eighth graders. The specific data collected were Criteria Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) scores for all sample students. Data analysis consisted of both stepwise multiple regression and two-way ANOVA. The study found no significant difference in academic achievement of special education or regular education students. However, gifted students who participated in the blended model of instruction performed at a lower level than those who participated in the traditional model of instruction. Educational stakeholders may use this study, and others like it, to make decisions on the adoption of educational models at the middle school level that are beneficial, as well as to avoid models for subgroups that might be harmful.

Skills inherent in the creative thinking process such as reflecting and collaborating are needed for success in many careers. However, a focus on standardized testing in K-12 schools in the United States has resulted in the restructuring, reduction, and in some cases, elimination of arts in the curriculum to the detriment of students' creative thinking process. The purpose of this study was to discover whether creative thinking and collaborative skills were positive unintended consequences of a curriculum that includes the design of wearable technologies. Jonassen's modeling using Mindtools for conceptual change and Rosen's culture of collaboration provided the conceptual framework. This qualitative case study explored students' and teachers' perceptions of collaborative and creative thinking skill development while designing wearable technologies. The data analysis used interviews with 3 students and 1 teacher and an evaluation of participant wearable technology artifacts. Rich themes and patterns were determined through open coding. The themes identified to explain the perceived development of creative thinking skills were divergent thinking, stimulation of the imagination, generation of new knowledge, and creative climate. The themes identified to explain the perceived development of collaborative skills were diverse membership, culture of collaboration, and community building. The design of wearable technologies as a Mindtool showed promise as a new way to integrate art with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This study may effect positive social change by informing educational policy and influencing school budgetary consideration toward including art as a value-added benefit to STEM curriculum.

The district under study performed in the lowest academic growth percentage of the state for 5 consecutive years. Although the district received funding for technology resources, effective technology use in the classroom continued to be lacking. The purpose of this case study was to explore the perceptions of teachers at the middle and high school under study in integrating and enhancing instructional technology practices in a 1-to-1 classroom through professional development. In the 1-to-1 classroom, each student was assigned an individual laptop. The framework guiding the study was constructivist instructional methods that promoted best practices for student-centered technology integrated classrooms. Data were collected from interviews with 8 teachers and 4 nonteaching staff and 8 classroom observations. Data were analyzed using thematic coding to explore and compare teachers' perceptions of technology integration, technology professional development, and technology use. Findings revealed that the teachers believed that professional development played a key role in their positive attitude toward a laptop technology integration and willingness to provide constructivist instructional practices in the classroom. Findings indicated that some teachers continued to show deficiency in effective technology integration after the implementation by regularly demonstrating traditional practices in the classroom opposed to constructivist practices. Technology professional development can transform teaching practices and effective technology integration that can serve as the stimulus for social change through improved quality of education and evolution of instructional practices, not only for the district but also for the local economy.