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As technological advancements and improvements are made, the concepts of school digitalization and distance teaching become increasingly interesting and relevant. While distance teaching has existed for over a decade, it was not commonly practiced until the global pandemic 2020 where schools all around the world decided that teaching would be conducted remotely reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Sweden was one of these countries and decided that teaching in Swedish upper secondary schools would transition into being conducted at a distance. This master thesis focuses on students’ and teachers’ experiences of distance teaching in upper secondary school mathematics in Sweden during the years 2020-2022. The study is divided into two parts, one with a research purpose of examining how distance teaching has influenced students’ and teachers’ experiences of teaching and learning mathematics, and the other with the intent to create a support material in the form of a handbook to facilitate and integrate distance teaching in upper secondary school mathematics. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from 80 students using an online survey and nine interviews with three being with teachers and six being with students. The quantitative data were analyzed thematically to identify focus points and resulted in the focus of five different aspects of mathematics teaching - students’ general work, student motivation, the possibility of receiving help from a teacher, classroom communication and classroom participation. The theoretical frameworks used were sociocultural theory and equivalency theory. Results from the quantitative data revealed that students’ experiences of distance teaching were mostly negative with a very small amount noting positive experiences. A small but notable amount stated that distance teaching had no effect on their learning experiences. Qualitative findings revealed that the reason for the negative experience was that most students were dependent on external factors such as outer motivation, social interaction, teacher help and classroom communication. Students who were not negatively affected were self-regulating and whose studies and learning were independent of external factors. The development part of this study aimed at developing a handbook that could help schools implement and utilize distance teaching. The handbook was created through analyzing previous findings to identify challenges and difficulties with distance teaching that the writers could provide potential solutions for, and advice on, how to prevent. The initial prototype of the handbook was exposed to a limited form of testing due to upper secondary schools having transitioned back to traditional teaching at the time of the study. Therefore, the presented version of the handbook remains a prototype. / I takt med att tekniska framsteg och förbättringar görs blir digitalisering inom skolväsenden och distansundervisning alltmer intressanta och relevanta. Även om tillgängligheten till distansundervisning har funnits i över ett decennium, var den inte vanligt förekommande förrän den globala pandemin 2020 där skolor runt om i världen beslutade att undervisning skulle bedrivas på distans för att minska risken för spridning av COVID-19. Sverige var ett av dessa länder och beslutade att undervisning i svenska gymnasieskolor skulle övergå till att bedrivas på distans. Detta examensarbete fokuserar på elever- och lärares erfarenheter av distansundervisning i matematik på gymnasieskolor i Sverige under åren 2020–2022. Studien har två huvudsakliga syften, det första syftet är att identifiera hur distansundervisning har påverkat elever- och lärares upplevelser av undervisning av gymnasiematematik. Det andra syftet är att utveckla ett stödmaterial i form av en handbok vars syfte är att underlätta utförande och integrering av distansundervisning i matematikundervisning på gymnasieskolor. Det första syftet korresponderar till studiens forskningsdel och genomfördes med hjälp av kvantitativ och kvalitativ datainsamling genom 80 elev respondenter i en webbenkät och nio intervjuer varav tre var med lärare och sex med elever. Kvantitativa data analyserades tematiskt för att identifiera fokuspunkter och resulterade i fokus på fem olika aspekter av matematikundervisningen – elevernas allmänna arbete, elevmotivation, möjligheten att få hjälp av en lärare, kommunikation i klassrummet och deltagande i klassrummet. De teoretiska ramar som användes var sociokulturell teori och ekvivalensteori. Resultaten från den kvantitativa forskningsdelen visade att elevernas upplevelser av distansundervisning var mestadels negativ med endast en liten andel som noterade positiva upplevelser. En liten men anmärkningsvärd andel uppgav även att distansundervisning inte hade någon effekt på deras inlärning. Resultaten från den kvalitativa delen visade att orsaken till den negativa upplevelsen var att de flesta elever var beroende av yttre faktorer som yttre motivation, social interaktion, hjälp från läraren och klassrumskommunikation. Elever som inte påverkades negativt var självreglerande och vars studier och lärande var oberoende av dessa yttre faktorer. Det andra syftet motsvarar studiens utvecklingsdel. Handboken skapades genom att analysera resultaten från forskningsdelen för att identifiera utmaningar och svårigheter med distansundervisning. Sedan skulle potentiella lösningar och råd om hur man kan förebygga dessa utmaningar och svårigheter ges i handboken. Den ursprungliga prototypen av handboken genomgick en begränsad form av testning på grund av att gymnasieskolan vid studietillfället redan hade övergått tillbaka till traditionell undervisning. Därför förblir den presenterade versionen av handboken en prototyp.

One-to-one computing initiatives are becoming a part of many school divisions across the United States as district leadership analyzes ways to improve student learning and create 21st century learning spaces. Studying how school divisions planned, prepared, implemented and sustained a one-to-one computing initiative is an important step that school leaders must do in order to help foster learning environments that promote critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. The research presented in this paper came from a case study conducted on City School District (CSD), a kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grade school system that implemented a one-one computing initiative for all students. A detailed analysis of archived meeting minutes, surveys, questionnaires, classroom observations, student assessments and interviews helped answer research questions that focused on the planning, implementation, and plans for sustaining the one-to-one computing initiative. The one-to-one computing initiative for CSD started with a vision created by the superintendent of schools that focused on developing an individualized education plan for all students. The vision eventually became the vision for the entire school division during the digital conversion. School leaders can use the studies' findings and recommendations to help guide them through the implementation of a one-to-one computing initiative. / Doctor of Education / Providing an electronic mobile device such as a laptop or tablet computer to all students in kindergarten through 12th grade school system is an undertaking that requires a coordinated effort from the school division’s leadership as well as the teachers, students and other community stakeholders. Beginning in 2013, City School District (CSD) began the planning process for providing every student in their school system with electronic mobile devices. After five years of planning, implementing, conducting pilot programs and expansion, CSD has been able to provide all students in grades 3-12 with an electronic mobile device. This case study focuses on three research questions. 1. How did the school division implement a one-to-one computing initiative? 2. How has the staff adapted to the innovative change of a one-to-one computing initiative? 3. How does the school division plan to continue and sustain the one-to-one computing initiative? The case study found key elements for implementing a one-to-one computing initiative by collecting data from archived meeting minutes, surveys, questionnaires and interviews. School leadership teams attempting a one-to-one computing initiative can use the findings and recommendations from this study to implement a one-to-one computing initiative.

Recent advancements in the speed and availability of the Internet have catapulted distance education into the forefront of possible economic education alternatives. Distance learning courses are taught exclusively over the Internet. Economics distance courses provide alternatives for economics students to traditional classroom instruction, and also invite new students to the discipline who may not have otherwise enrolled. An increase in the number of distance courses in the economics field has sparked a debate over the ability of distance courses to provide equivalent educational outcomes as traditional in-class courses. This study evaluates educational outcomes from a traditional section and two distance sections of introductory agricultural microeconomics courses, Economics of the Food and Fiber System (AAEC 1005), taught at Virginia Tech. The study compares student learning, attitudes and interests in economics, and perceptions of instructor effectiveness between traditionally taught students and those taught through distance education. Average exam scores, and common exam questions given to students in both course types, are the measures of student learning used in this study. Attitudes and interest are measured by student survey, and perceptions of instructor effectiveness are measured by student course evaluations. A variety of statistical tests are conducted comparing distance and traditional students in order to determine the influence of delivery method on educational outcomes. Results indicate that traditional students generally obtain higher grades on tests, and have a higher opinion of course instruction than distance students, suggesting that distance education is not an equivalent educational alternative to traditional classroom instruction. / Master of Science

This study involved a qualitative investigation of Black middle school students' experiences of teacher characteristics that they saw as influential in their learning and achievement. The sample consisted of 8 students selected from a public middle school in central Virginia . Data collection involved both in-depth individual interviews and classroom observations. Interviews focused on the participants' early educational experiences, middle school experiences with teachers, and experiences of the role that teachers play in learning and achievement. Classroom observations provided additional insight into the classroom setting, participants' actions, and participants' interactions with teachers and other students and were conducted to minimize their influence on classroom activities. A whole-text analysis of the interview transcripts and field notes generated 5 major categories: elementary school experiences, instructional environment, student motivation, student trust, and racism. For each category, subcategories were also developed. Participants were motivated by teacher trust, encouragement, and expectations. They emphasized the need for equity in the classroom as a prerequisite to academic achievement. They were also motivated to learn by teachers who shared instructional and personal time, spoke positively to them about their future, shared their own educational experiences, and demonstrated a caring attitude toward them. Participants described how they were not motivated to learn by teachers who were viewed as racist, yelled at them, refused to spend time assisting them, or displayed an attitude of apathy. They also expressed how they were sometimes denied bathroom privileges, were separated from White students during class, were treated as if they were "invisible," or were treated like second-class citizens. They also experienced racism as prevalent in teachers' grading practices. Significant findings include the following: (a) the Black middle school student participants' educational experiences influenced their learning and the classroom environment, (b) duration of instructional time influenced students' learning, (c) high teacher expectations of students and teacher encouragement of discussions beyond course subject matter increased students' motivation to learn, (d) development of a trusting teacher–'student relationship promoted their learning, and (e) various forms of racism decreased students' willingness to learn. Implications of the findings for educational practice and further research are discussed. / Ed. D.

Teacher evaluation is changing in the United States, primarily due to federal policies requiring that measures of student growth be embedded within teacher evaluation systems. Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) emerged as one way to measure teacher effectiveness. SLOs are teacher-developed goals for student achievement that reflect student learning and growth over a specified time period. Each state or district utilizing SLOs in teacher evaluation implements SLOs in a different way, and the details of SLO implementation affect the extent to which teaching is improved. This grounded theory research study investigated the influence of SLOs on teachers and teaching. The researcher interviewed 20 teachers from six regions of the United States. This research identified three dimensions of SLO implementation that influence SLOs' effect: School Leadership, School Climate and Teacher Agency. These dimensions are explored in this research, resulting in recommendations that would serve to enhance the benefits of SLOs on teachers and teaching. Additionally, future research suggestions are noted to add to the growing body of research on SLOs.

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Teachers are seeking effective teaching strategies to support an array of student learning needs. The arts hold the potential to transform the learning experience for students; however, the use of art integration is limited and unknown to many educators. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to interview and observe 8 elementary school teachers who were identified by the school administration as successfully having integrated art into the curricula, defined by teaching with and through the arts across all content areas. The intent of this study was to explore the participants' perceptions about the use of art integration in the classroom, effective practices for integrating art into the curricula, and the way art integration supports student learning and provides focus for student learning. Constructivist theory and the theory of multiple intelligence served as conceptual frameworks for this study by relating to the need for students to build learning from social engagement and experience, and to learn from different perspectives which can be facilitated through arts integration. Data collected from the 8 teacher participant pool through 8 interviews and 4 classroom observations were analyzed with open coding followed by axial coding to determine emergent themes. Results suggest that art integration enriches the entire learning experience. Teachers used art to make the curriculum visible to students. Students interacted with the curriculum through art making, and finally demonstrated understanding in an art form. Teachers credited the use of art integration for higher levels of learning due to increased student engagement through hands on activities, real life connections, document-based inquiry, and collaborative learning. The findings of this study suggest the expanded use of art integration may lead to social change in the classroom that will improve student learning.

Student academic entitlement behavior is a problem within the United States' higher education system. This behavior could affect student learning, harm institutional reputation, and inflict undue pressure on faculty. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand what faculty members identify as the causes and the implications of student academic entitlement behavior and the actions needed to inhibit the behavior. The work was supported by applying Morrow's conceptual framework that suggests student academic entitlement behavior challenges academic achievement. Completed at a for-profit university in the southern United States, the research questions of this study examined the faculty members' perceptions of student academic entitlement behavior. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 12 participants and analyzed using an eclectic coding method. The faculty acknowledged that some students enter the university with academic entitlement tendencies; however, the faculty perceived institutional practices and policies that sanctioned student consumerism as a primary enabler of the behavior. Emerged findings suggested an endorsement of learning-focused efforts, including explicit expectations of students, admittance practices, and andragogical professional development for the faculty to assist in curtailing the behavior. The findings of this study are presented in a position paper and afford an opportunity for social change by offering the faculty members' perceptions of a potentially damaging behavior. The findings are significant for educators who seek to initiate a conversation about the relationship between student academic entitlement behavior and institutional practices and how to inhibit the behavior within the institutional community.

World-wide, there has been a large increase in tertiary student numbers, not entirely matched by funding increases. Consequently, instructors are faced with large, diverse classes, and find themselves struggling to provide adequate assessment and prompt feedback, two quantities critical in an effective learning environment. Personal computers and the Internet can help solve this problem. The aim of this study was to develop, implement and validate a Web-based software package that, through providing practice and assessment opportunities, improved student learning and reduced marking and related mundane aspects of instructor workload. At the start of the study, such a package already existed in prototype form: OASIS (Online Assessment System with Integrated Study). As the study progressed, this software package was first fully rewritten and then repeatedly modified. OASIS delivers individualised tasks, marks student responses, supplies prompt feedback, and logs student activity. Staff can deliver sets of practice questions and assessments to students: assessments may involve different questions for different students, not just numerically different versions of the same questions. Given my role as teacher, the traditional research ideal of observing without affecting the research environment was both impossible and unconscionable. In particular, since preliminary evidence suggested that OASIS did enhance student learning, I could not adopt a ‘two groups’ approach to the research, with one group using OASIS while the other did not. Instead, an action research methodology was seen as most appropriate for my double role of teacher and researcher. / This methodology enabled me, in the light of my findings, to continuously modify the learning environment and enhance student learning. The action research proceeded through a spiral of one-semester cycles of planning, acting, observing and reflecting. To maximize rigour, the research ran through eight cycles over four years and involved considerable triangulation. OASIS itself collected much quantitative data. Further data were collected via interview, survey, email and informal discussion from three groups: current students, postgraduates and academics. My colleagues provided alternative perceptions and interpretations, as did Physics Department academics who were using OASIS, and an external academic who interviewed academics and investigated the implementation of OASIS. Perhaps surprisingly, academics had generally adopted OASIS to promote student learning rather than to decrease their own workloads. In some cases workloads were reduced; however, where OASIS assessments augmented rather than replaced existing traditional assessments, workloads actually went up slightly. All instructors who used OASIS reported enhanced student learning and wished to continue using it. Student surveys, interviews, focus-group discussions and informal feedback showed that students found the software easy to use and considered that it helped them improve their skills and understanding. OASIS questions were preferred over textbook questions. Students commonly requested OASIS to be available in more of their areas of study. In general students wanted hints or model answers though some argued against their provision. / The majority of students were enthusiastic about the use of OASIS for practice, and activity logs revealed that they did use OASIS extensively. These logs also revealed the motivating power of assessments: typically half the online practice activity took place in the last 36 hours prior to assessments. Interviews provided further interesting insights into the ways different students approached their studies and assessments. However, students did voice concerns about the validity of OASIS assignments, noting their peers could rely on the efforts of others to score highly in these. A number of steps were carried out in an attempt to defuse these concerns, including: disabling OASIS practice during assignments, basing assignments on previously unseen questions, and providing different assignment questions to different students. While this study has achieved the goal of developing, implementing and validating OASIS, many future opportunities exist. OASIS may be used in schools as well as universities. Non-numerical questions, where answers may be somewhere between right and wrong, are possible. OASIS can also be used to deliver concept inventories to students to support research into concept acquisition and retention.