<p> This applied dissertation responded to two public problems: digital divides and unequal access to educational opportunities via the growth of virtual schooling in kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) in the United States. A qualitative instrumental case study approach was used to explore the relative advantages and disadvantages of public K-12 virtual schools in Florida through the experiences and perspectives of 5 virtual school leaders. This research also evaluated the virtual school leaders&rsquo; level of innovativeness in relation to the innovativeness/needs paradox (INP) in Rogers&rsquo;s theory of diffusion of innovations (DOI). The INP suggests that innovativeness plays a role in social stratification issues between the higher and lower socioeconomic individuals in a system. </p><p> A demographic survey and interviews were used to gather descriptive details for the case analysis. The Innovativeness Scale collected empirical evidence on virtual school leaders&rsquo; level of innovativeness. Results participants were in the early majority category of DOI. Demographics suggested upward social mobility, high educational attainment, and tendencies toward innovativeness. Six themes emerged from the interviews: educational optimism, proinnovation bias, strategies of least resistance, fidelity to old-school norms, virtual schools are a public but private schooling niche, and the counterintuitive gauntlet of innovativeness: the legitimacy of virtual schools and stakeholder divides. </p><p> Findings suggested innovativeness in relation to the INP does have the potential to fuel underlying divides between advantaged and disadvantaged students in public K-12 virtual schools in Florida. The interviews suggested additional factors may play a role in divides in association with innovativeness, specifically, individualistic and systemic epistemologies and cultural relativism.</p><p>

<p> Despite growth in the elementary classroom, the level of technology adoption by some teachers falls short of levels sought by educational stakeholders. To address this disparity, the purpose of this correlational study was to identify if, and to what extent, a correlation exists between elementary teachers&rsquo; adult playfulness factor levels and their attitude toward technology in the teaching-learning process. The theoretical lenses of the technology acceptance model and the five-factor model of personality guided the research. A convenience sample of 106 teachers was drawn from California educational organizations who permitted their in-service kindergarten through fifth grade teachers to be invited to complete a web-based, self-reported survey. A significant, negative correlation was observed between the playfulness factor of creativity and teachers&rsquo; attitude toward technology in the teaching-learning process at the .05 error probability level (<i>r_s</i> = -.20, <i>p</i> = .040), but not significant at the Benjamini-Hochberg correction critical value of .01, nor significant at the Bonferroni corrected error probability level of .01. Although no significant relationships between the variables were found, administrators and staff developers may find the potential relationship between an aspect of personality and technology attitude helpful in encouraging increased levels of technology adoption by considering teachers&rsquo; personal characteristics. Opportunities for future research and practice are discussed.</p><p>

<p> This exploratory study uses the convergent design of mixed methods to integrate adaptive expertise theory to study how individual student participant from graphic design or non-graphic-design majors to solve a novel ideation problem in graphic design. Adaptive expertise includes six dimensions: metacognition, flexibility, dynamic knowledge, ability to welcome challenges, efficiency and deep understanding of the domain knowledge, and multiple perspectives. Those are desired qualities for a learner to stand out in the global market that are constantly changing with complex challenges. Thirty undergraduate students participated in this study. This study aims to answer four questions: types of graphic design tool and strategies selection and reasoning, similarities and differences among four participant groups, influences of participants&rsquo; performance from the prior-experiences, and other potential preconceptions and situations to their reasoning. Four results are identified. Frist, 11 rationales contributed to participants to make their tool usage decision and strategies. Second, participant with more varieties of prior experiences in graphic design would potentially have significantly higher confidence level in their adaptive expertise. Third, participants who performed better in this study, obtained more thorough reflection in design thinking. This result shows that this task requires domain-dependent expertise. Forth, participants&rsquo; performance found affected by several non-cognitive preconceptions such as uncertain challenges, adapting in the new work space, and stress management. Future studies need to increase the number of participants to potentially increase statistical significance of the results, and to identify the relationship among factors that affect participants&rsquo; performance and exhibition of adaptive expertise. Implications of this study suggests the need to expose learners to diverse types of graphic design experiences and novel tasks/contexts. </p><p>

<p> As we become more advanced technologically in our online educational courses, it is imperative that we also incorporate effective research-based practices such as the use of formative assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of formative self-assessment to academic achievement and self-efficacy in online graduate courses. The research included a review of online education, formative assessment, self-efficacy, and associated learning theories. </p><p> A mixed methods study was used that included quantitative and qualitative data for triangulation of the study results. A correlational research design was used for the quantitative approach and a phenomenological research design was used for the qualitative approach. The correlational research design was chosen to examine the relationships between variables and to describe the current state. The phenomenological research design was chosen because the study was focused on the relationship of a particular phenomenon to the participant&rsquo;s cognitive and dispositional experiences. The subjects included students that were enrolled in Master&rsquo;s in Education or Doctor of Education courses from three universities located in Southern California. The methodology included student self-assessment through a project rubric, a survey to operationalize academic achievement, and a survey and interviews to operationalize student self-efficacy. While the statistical findings did not reflect strong correlations, the non-statistical findings reflected a positive relationship between formative self-assessment as it related to academic achievement and student self-efficacy in online graduate programs. Formative self-assessment provides online educators with a tool to enhance the course effectiveness and the overall learning process.</p><p>

<p> Preparing students for 21st-century learning is a great responsibility and a challenge for many school districts across the country. A large body of research suggests that a school district&rsquo;s level of awareness with regards to education technology and particularly those technologies that are on a positive trend correlates with a successful technology implementation program. District Administrators that lead the charge of developing technology policies and oversee the various aspect of the technology implementation must possess a solid awareness of modern education technologies and their interplays with curriculum and pedagogy. In addition, district Administrators must have the technological skill to overcome network infrastructure capabilities constraints as well as the leadership skill to prioritize technology. </p><p> This study used a survey as its main method of data collection; the survey was guided by three research questions that helped gain valuable insight about California K12 school district Administrators&rsquo; familiarity with most relevant modern technologies and strategies for educating students in the 21st-century, knowledge of intermediation between (technology, pedagogy, curriculum), as well as what Administrators perceive as constraints that impede effective technology implementation. The data shows that majority of district Administrators reported to having insufficient knowledge of modern and emerging technologies or digital strategies that are most reliant on technology, in addition, the data suggest that district Administrators are finding funding, training, and infrastructure as main factors that impede implementation of technology appropriate for a 21st-century education. The results of this study propose recommendations that have implications for K12 school districts&rsquo; technology awareness, knowledge acquisition for technology preparedness, district technology plan, and minimum technology readiness requirement for school district Administrator positions for the 21st-century.</p><p>

abstract: Online training materials were introduced to the course production department at Rio Salado College with the intention that the use of standardized training materials would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the online course production department. After the online training materials had been in use for approximately ten weeks, a survey consisting of ten open-ended questions was used to document the experiences of ten production team members with the training materials. The results revealed that the standardized training materials were described as valuable by the team members. The participants also made several recommendations for improving the usefulness of the training materials as to their content, organization, and availability. Recommendations for revising and updating the training materials and the ways in which they are made available are offered. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ed.D. Higher and Postsecondary Education 2012

abstract: This study collected and examined information on K-12 teachers currently involved in online education in the United States. The purposes of this study included defining the demographics of these teachers, determining the extent to which they were formally educated and/or trained to teach online, and to compare these findings to those from a similar study conducted six years earlier. A web-based survey, including questions in both open and closed form, was used to gather data from 325 participants currently teaching at least one online class at publicly funded K-12 online schools nationwide. Survey questions covered the following six domains: a) personal demographics, b) educational background and experience, c) pre-service training, d) in-service training, and e) current online teaching assignments. The results of this study indicate that those currently teaching online to K-12 students have demographic characteristics that are similar to face-to-face teachers, particularly in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity/race; however, the online teachers generally had higher levels of educational attainment, more years of teaching experience, and were significantly more likely to teach on a part-time basis. It was found that teachers working with K-12 students online are self-motivated, place a high value on learning and education, and enjoy the challenge and process of using technology for this purpose. Based on findings, only a limited number of university-based teacher preparation programs address any aspect of the methods and techniques required for teaching online, and even fewer offer online field placement opportunities for pre-service teachers. For the most part, current online teachers were found to have received training after graduation, while working in the field. Further research is needed to specifically define and empirically validate the methods and techniques required for effective online teaching at the K-12 levels so that formal educational and training programs can be further developed to effectively prepare future K-12 online teachers. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Educational Technology 2014

<p> Every year billions of dollars are spent on development aid and training around the world. However, only 10% of this training results in the transfer of knowledge, skills, or behaviors learned in the training to the work place. Ideally, learning transfer produces effective and continued application by learners of the knowledge and skills they gained through their learning activities. Some studies suggest that technology usage can serve as an effective post-learning intervention to enhance the transfer of learning. </p><p> Currently, there is a limited body of research examining the factors that hinder and promote learning transfer in professional development, particularly the professional development of school leaders in developing countries. This qualitative exploratory study sought to address the gap in the literature by examining 6 schools, 3 in Burkina Faso and 3 in Ghana, West Africa. This investigation explored: (a) if and how learning transfer took place after the leadership training; (b) what promoted and hindered learning transfer in both countries; and (c) if the use of a text message intervention after the training enhanced learning transfer. The sample consisted of 13 West African school leaders (6 in Burkina Faso and 7 in Ghana) who attended a 3-day leadership training workshop. Data collection included in-depth interviews, document analysis, post-training site visits, and text messages to ascertain whether this mobile technology intervention enhanced learning transfer. </p><p> The findings demonstrate that learning transfer occurred in both countries in all six schools. Data indicate that most of the transfer of learning happened in areas not requiring mindset and behavioral changes. Data suggest that the facilities in which the trainings took place, the facilitators&rsquo; dispositions and knowledge as well as the adequacy of the materials and the follow-up of the mobile text messaging intervention assisted the participants in transferring knowledge to their schools following the training. Participants also indicated some inhibitors to the transfer of learning such as financial, cultural, and human behavior constraints. This study helps increase our understanding of what promotes and inhibits learning transfer in educational settings in developing countries and provides suggestions for trainers and teachers who facilitate trainings.</p><p>

<p> This exploratory dissertation investigates and describes 1) the habits of U.S. college students&rsquo; use of mobile devices in the classroom, and 2) U.S. college students&rsquo; perceptions on policy which bans mobile device usage in the classroom. The study also examines how students&rsquo; demographics influence their usage of mobile devices in the classroom and perceptions on the banning policy. The purpose of this study was to determine how frequently college students self-reported the use of mobile devices in the classroom whether for communication or for activities unrelated to class content and how college students feel about policies banning the use of such devices during class. </p><p> The following research questions framed this quantitative methods study: 1. To what extent do college students use their personal mobile device(s) during class for activities that are not related to class content? 2. Which mobile device activities not related to class content do college student access most often during class time? 3. To what extent do college students feel that mobile devices are a distraction from learning during class time? 4. How do college students perceive banning of mobile device use during class time? 5. To what extent are student demographics related to attitude about mobile devices in college classrooms? </p><p> This study utilized descriptive statistical analysis to summarize and analyze the survey results that were collected from 584 randomly selected U.S. college students. A questionnaire with 13 questions was distributed and collected through SurveyMonkey to the target audience who are: 1) 18&ndash;39 years old, 2) college students, and 3) studying in U.S. The survey results indicated a majority of college students don&rsquo;t perceive using a personal mobile device during class as a substantial distraction nor did the students who completed the survey prefer their instructors implement a policy banning the use of mobile devices for personal reasons in the classroom. In addition, the study found that most students use their personal mobile devices in the classroom for text messaging, social networking, and checking e-mail as those activities not related to the class content.</p><p>

<p> Negative public school perception is a problem for all stakeholders. Negative public school perception leads to lack of support, which leads to lack of funding. Research shows that people outside of the school community are the most critical. Mass media, political leaders, and education reformist have perpetuated the problem. School leaders are not doing enough to combat the negative stereotype of the failing school. This exploratory mixed methods study on the impact of school websites on perception of public schools was an exploration of how websites design can affect perception and addresses one way that the negative perception can be changed. Three school websites were chosen based on their level of information communication technology (ICT) integration. The principals and webmasters of each school were interviewed and the data were coded and analyzed to create a survey instrument which was distributed to a purposive sample of 58 parents of school-aged children. The results of the analysis and comparison of the data collected from the principals, webmasters, and parents revealed that school websites have an effect on the perception that parents form about the school. The data also show that information or lack of information on the website was the number one reason for the ratings given to each statement on the parents&rsquo; survey. In addition, the signals sent through the website, whether intentional or not, had an effect on the parents&rsquo; perception.</p><p>