The adoption of new technologies in K-12 classrooms usually generates claims about their effectiveness, but in many cases, these claims are not carefully studied. Furthermore, conclusions drawn from effectiveness studies generally focus on technologies as the sole responsible factor for such effectiveness, without considering other factors and conditions. Through an integrative review, this study evaluated and critiqued the current status of K-12 digital game-based learning (DGBL) to determine the implications and limitations of these effectiveness claims, as well as problems when conducting this type of research. In addition, this study explored factors and conditions, beyond the digital game, that could have had an impact on effectiveness. Findings from this study can provide teachers and researchers a guide to effectively implement and research DGBL in K-12 classrooms, as well as conceptual classifications of factors and conditions that could play an important role when adopting digital games in instruction. / Doctor of Philosophy / It is common that when new technologies are used in instruction, claims in favor of such technologies are made. However, in many instances, there is not enough or sound evidence to support these effectiveness claims. For this reason, this study has been conducted with the goal of evaluating and critiquing what has been empirically studied so far in K-12 digital game-based learning (DGBL) to determine the extent of these effectiveness claims. In addition, this study has identified research problems and flaws that have been found in empirical studies and how they can be avoided. Furthermore, this study paid close attention to factors and conditions, besides the actual digital game, to determine if they played a role on effectiveness. Finally, a research agenda has been included in this study to fills existing gaps in K-12 DGBL and to guide researchers and teachers when conducting research and adopting digital games in the classroom.

Rural America contributes greatly to the American Community, yet this population is often overlooked and underrepresented in most types of education literature. Choices about residence shape America’s public school system through the formation of school districts and schools associated with these local jurisdictions. Communities with different population densities may have different overall population composition and, therefore, may sort differently into schools. This paper examines the effect that population density, local jurisdictional sorting, homogeneity, peer characteristics, and community social capital may have on student achievement. The first part of this dissertation outlines the importance of rural research and the impact of rural education on all of America. These areas have different economies, opportunities, and peer composition than their non-rural counterparts. The statistically average person is different in rural and urban America. The second part discusses the theoretical implications of locale influence on educational attainment. This theory explains the possible causes of peer effect strength and provides a better predictive model of both rural and urban peer effects. I argue that some level of heterogeneity and high social capital foster strong peer effects, and there is a tradeoff between diverse student body composition and social capital. In the final portion of this dissertation, I explore student achievement using empirical analysis. Based on the analysis in Chapter 4, it appears that student achievement is impacted by peers with and without controlling for teacher effects and social capital (or type) of a locale without controlling for teacher effects. Chapter 5 examines peer effect differences by locale and finds differences in peer effect strength. Suburbs have significantly stronger classroom mean peer effects in elementary school than towns. Skewness influences appear to be the same across grades and locale, and social capital has a positive impact on student achievement in elementary school and a negative impact on student achievement in middle school. The analyses in Chapter 6 conclude that student achievement is impacted by both the average and the percentage of high and low achievers but not similarly by locale. The final chapter discusses the results and their implications for future research and for policy makers.

Tem havido um crescente interesse na inserção de atividades envolvendo programação física em ambientes educacionais, e há diversos trabalhos publicados que comentam sobre os benefícios propiciados por tais atividades, inclusive como forma de incentivar a criatividade em sala de aula. Entretanto, são ainda escassas as publicações científicas que apresentam análises empiricamente fundamentadas relacionadas à avaliação dos efeitos de atividades de programação física no desenvolvimento do potencial criativo de estudantes. A presente pesquisa investigou como a introdução de atividades de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, a partir de uma abordagem que privilegia processos de exploração e experimentação, impactou o potencial e sentimento criativo dos estudantes. O currículo proposto, baseado no referencial teórico construcionista, foi elaborado com o objetivo de engajar cada estudante e de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de seu potencial criativo, confiança criativa e de novas perspectivas sobre o mundo e sobre si mesmo. Foi identificada a necessidade de adaptar e desenvolver materiais para a aplicação do currículo proposto, e para isso foi criado um kit de programação física, bem como novos recursos de aprendizagem. O currículo foi aplicado a partir de sucessivas reformulações em duas escolas particulares e em uma escola da rede pública. Durante a aplicação do currículo, além das observações em sala de aula e de conversas periódicas com os estudantes, foram utilizados três instrumentos de coleta de dados: (1) realização de entrevistas, (2) aplicação de questionários de percepção criativa e motivação para a aprendizagem e (3) aplicação de um teste de pensamento divergente. Os instrumentos (2) e (3) foram aplicados também a um grupo controle, com pré e pós-teste. A partir da análise das observações de sala de aula e das conversas realizadas com os estudantes, foram identificadas estratégias que podem auxiliar na implementação de currículos introdutórios de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, bem como os desafios encontrados durante a aplicação da proposta. Os resultados indicam que o currículo proposto teve impacto positivo na criatividade dos estudantes, bem como em sua confiança criativa e motivação para aprendizagem. Os resultados sugerem ainda que os estudantes que participaram das atividades desenvolveram novas perspectivas a respeito de si mesmos e do mundo ao seu redor. / There has been a growing interest in introducing physical programming activities in educational environments, and there are several published works that comment on the benefits provided by such activities, stating they can provide a way to stimulate creativity in classrooms. However, there are still few scientific publications that present empirical analysis related to the evaluation of the effects of physical programming activities on the development of the creative potential of students. This research investigated how physical programming activities, designed from a tinkering approach, influenced the potential and creative feeling of Elementary School students. Our curriculum, based on the constructivist theoretical framework, was elaborated with the goal of engaging every student, and to develop their creative potential and creative confidence. Given the need to adapt and develop materials for the application of the proposed curriculum, we created a physical programming toolkit, as well as new learning resources. This curriculum was applied from successive reformulations at two private schools and one public school in Brazil. In addition to observing students\' behavior in classrooms and periodic follow-up interviews with them, three data collection instruments were used: (1) interviews, (2) questionnaires about creative self-efficacy and motivation for learning, and (3) a divergent thinking test. The instruments (2) and (3) were also applied to a control group, with pre and post tests. We share the learnings that emerged from the activities, the difficulties found during the development of the curriculum, and strategies that may help with the implementation of introductory physical programming curricula in Elementary School. The results indicate that the application of the activities had a positive impact on students , as well as in their creative confidence and motivation for learning. The results also suggest that students have developed new perspectives about themselves and about the world around them.

Tem havido um crescente interesse na inserção de atividades envolvendo programação física em ambientes educacionais, e há diversos trabalhos publicados que comentam sobre os benefícios propiciados por tais atividades, inclusive como forma de incentivar a criatividade em sala de aula. Entretanto, são ainda escassas as publicações científicas que apresentam análises empiricamente fundamentadas relacionadas à avaliação dos efeitos de atividades de programação física no desenvolvimento do potencial criativo de estudantes. A presente pesquisa investigou como a introdução de atividades de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, a partir de uma abordagem que privilegia processos de exploração e experimentação, impactou o potencial e sentimento criativo dos estudantes. O currículo proposto, baseado no referencial teórico construcionista, foi elaborado com o objetivo de engajar cada estudante e de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de seu potencial criativo, confiança criativa e de novas perspectivas sobre o mundo e sobre si mesmo. Foi identificada a necessidade de adaptar e desenvolver materiais para a aplicação do currículo proposto, e para isso foi criado um kit de programação física, bem como novos recursos de aprendizagem. O currículo foi aplicado a partir de sucessivas reformulações em duas escolas particulares e em uma escola da rede pública. Durante a aplicação do currículo, além das observações em sala de aula e de conversas periódicas com os estudantes, foram utilizados três instrumentos de coleta de dados: (1) realização de entrevistas, (2) aplicação de questionários de percepção criativa e motivação para a aprendizagem e (3) aplicação de um teste de pensamento divergente. Os instrumentos (2) e (3) foram aplicados também a um grupo controle, com pré e pós-teste. A partir da análise das observações de sala de aula e das conversas realizadas com os estudantes, foram identificadas estratégias que podem auxiliar na implementação de currículos introdutórios de programação física no Ensino Fundamental II, bem como os desafios encontrados durante a aplicação da proposta. Os resultados indicam que o currículo proposto teve impacto positivo na criatividade dos estudantes, bem como em sua confiança criativa e motivação para aprendizagem. Os resultados sugerem ainda que os estudantes que participaram das atividades desenvolveram novas perspectivas a respeito de si mesmos e do mundo ao seu redor. / There has been a growing interest in introducing physical programming activities in educational environments, and there are several published works that comment on the benefits provided by such activities, stating they can provide a way to stimulate creativity in classrooms. However, there are still few scientific publications that present empirical analysis related to the evaluation of the effects of physical programming activities on the development of the creative potential of students. This research investigated how physical programming activities, designed from a tinkering approach, influenced the potential and creative feeling of Elementary School students. Our curriculum, based on the constructivist theoretical framework, was elaborated with the goal of engaging every student, and to develop their creative potential and creative confidence. Given the need to adapt and develop materials for the application of the proposed curriculum, we created a physical programming toolkit, as well as new learning resources. This curriculum was applied from successive reformulations at two private schools and one public school in Brazil. In addition to observing students\' behavior in classrooms and periodic follow-up interviews with them, three data collection instruments were used: (1) interviews, (2) questionnaires about creative self-efficacy and motivation for learning, and (3) a divergent thinking test. The instruments (2) and (3) were also applied to a control group, with pre and post tests. We share the learnings that emerged from the activities, the difficulties found during the development of the curriculum, and strategies that may help with the implementation of introductory physical programming curricula in Elementary School. The results indicate that the application of the activities had a positive impact on students , as well as in their creative confidence and motivation for learning. The results also suggest that students have developed new perspectives about themselves and about the world around them.

abstract: Public institution facility operations and maintenance is a significant factor enabling an institution to achieve its stated objectives in the delivery of public service. To meet the societal need, Facility Directors must make increasingly complex decisions managing the demands of building infrastructure performance expectations with limited resources. The ability to effectively measure a return-on-investment, specific to facility maintenance indirect expenditures, has, therefore, become progressively more critical given the scale of public institutions, the collective age of existing facilities, and the role these institutions play in society. This research centers on understanding the method of prioritizing routine work in support of indirect institutional facility maintenance expense through the lens of K-12 public education in the state of Arizona. The methodology documented herein utilizes a mixed method approach to understand current facility maintenance practices and assess the influence of human behavior when prioritizing routine work. An evidence-based decision support tool, leveraging prior academic research, was developed to coalesce previously disparate academic studies. The resulting process provides a decision framework for prioritizing decision factors most frequently correlated with academic outcomes. A purposeful sample of K-12 unified districts, representing approximately one-third of the state’s student population and spend, resulted in a moderate to a strong negative correlation between facility operations and student outcomes. Correlation results highlight an opportunity to improve decision making, specific to the academic needs of the student. This research documents a methodology for constructing, validation, and testing of a decision support tool for prioritizing routine work orders. Findings from a repeated measures crossover study suggest the decision support tool significantly influenced decision making specific to certain work orders as well as the Plumbing and Mechanical functional areas. However, the decision support tool was less effective when prioritizing Electrical and General Maintenance work orders. Moreover, as decision making transitioned away from subjective experience-based judgment, the prioritization of work orders became increasingly more consistent. The resulting prioritization, therefore, effectively leveraged prior empirical, evidence-based decision factors when utilizing the tool. The results provide a system for balancing the practical experience of the Facility Director with the objective guidance of the decision support tool. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Construction Management 2019

The purpose of this case study was to examine teachers’ perceptions of what factors are most influential to the successful integration of technology. In the Junior High with the highest technology usage in a preexisting statewide technology initiative, data were collected from six teachers and one administrator through interviews and observations. Teachers primarily highlighted factors related to support and product functionality as influential. This study also examines factors such as change management, learning environment, and student motivation to understand the relationship of these factors to teacher perceptions of factors that influence technology integration. Though many influential factors emerged that all seemed highly interrelated, the most common theme that emerged across all factors was that letting teachers show each other how to use the technology to make life easier and improve learning for students may result in higher levels of technology integration.

The role of philanthropy in K-12 public education has historically ebbed and flowed in relation to public expenditures. Early K-12 education philanthropy peaked during and after the Civil War when philanthropists supported education for emancipated slaves through initiatives like Freeman’s Bureau, Slater Fund and Rosenwald Schools until state and federal governments assumed responsibility (Bremner, 1988; Finkenbine, 2003; Fleishman, 2009; Mays, 2006; Stephenson, 2012). With sufficient public support, K-12 education philanthropy did not see its next major wave of investments until the 1990s, with significant increases occurring after 2000. From 2000-2010 the number of education related grants from major national philanthropists increased from 1,200 to 2,600, and the amount of total funding, $486 million to $843 million (Reckhow & Snyder, 2014, p.3). The latest wave of education philanthropy occurs at the intersection of two key events: Funding challenges for public education and increasing philanthropic resources particularly among a new generation of philanthropists. While significant philanthropic resources have poured into K-12 public education, they are more likely to support changes in education policy than to provide direct support to the schools (Ferris, Hentschke, & Harmssen, 2008; Greene, 2015). In addition, rural communities receive very little support from national education philanthropy. Vermont is a rural state with a relatively successful K-12 public school system that faces significant funding challenges (Pache, 2017; Valley News, 2015). The questions at the core of this research are what role does philanthropy play in Vermont K-12 public education and what role might it play? To answer these questions, the literature provides a foundation by exploring the history of philanthropy in general, and specifically education philanthropy. Further literature review examines the current trends of using philanthropy to shape national education policy and fund programs that compete with public education. A gap in the research on rural philanthropy and rural K-12 education philanthropy provides the impetus for the focus on the rural schools in Vermont. The study focuses on two geographically defined regions in Vermont that utilize two different models of place-based philanthropy to support their public schools. The two case studies include interviews with 24 participants with backgrounds in and knowledge about education and philanthropy. In addition, document review was used to support and triangulate the findings. The findings, presented for each case and in a cross-case analysis, reveal the effective and unique ways these two rural areas use philanthropy to support its K-12 public schools. One model was regional with a focus on broad program support through use of local nonprofits, while the second model was town specific and provided direct support to the local schools. Both cases demonstrate the challenges and opportunities associated with place-based philanthropy. The conclusion offers further information on how schools and communities might develop their own place-based philanthropy.

The term ‘knowledge mobilization intermediary’ (KMI) is used to describe third party organizations whose role between research producers and users is a catalyst for knowledge mobilization (KM) - targeted, systematic efforts to increase connections between research, policy and practice in public services. This study analyzes 44 Canadian KMIs in education exploring types (governmental, not-for-profit, for profit, and membership), organizational features (mission, scope, target audience, size, resources, membership composition) and processes (message, strategies, functions, dissemination mechanisms). This study maps the landscape of research mediation in education and reports on these findings using a multiple-paper format. The introductory chapter sets the stage for the papers by providing the background of the study and introducing the concept of knowledge mobilization. The first conceptual paper provides a typology of KMIs and a framework of knowledge brokering characteristics with seven elements (mission, resources, staff roles, political affiliation, autonomy, message, and linkages). The second paper reports on an approach to measuring and comparing KM efforts of diverse organizations using a common matrix of elements arising from the research utilization literature: KM strategies (products, events and networks) and KM indicators as they relate to strategies (different types, ease of use, accessibility, focus of audience and so on). The third paper outlines what KMIs exist in Canada, their organizational features, and reports on their activities, ultimately providing a typology of brokering strategies utilized in research mediation and a framework of eight major brokering functions used to increase research use and its impact: awareness, accessibility, engagement, capacity building, implementation support, facilitating linkages and partnerships, policy influence and organizational development. The fourth paper presents empirical findings of online practices of KMIs such as blogging and microblogging, social networking, social bookmarking, multimedia, share buttons on websites, and RSS feeds. Overall, use of social media is not pervasive and, when it is used, the content is often not research-based. The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings in relation to each research question, summarizes the implications arising from each paper, and makes recommendations for research producers, users and intermediaries across public service sectors.

The six subsystems of Earth (atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and anthroposphere) are complex and dynamic. Because all subsystems are linked, study from an independent perspective and a composite perspective is fundamental. Unfortunately, because of current instructional methods, students tend to consider these systems unrelated and use linear cause and effect models where little to no interaction occurs between different systems and the components. The simplistic and incorrect view of systems is the fundamental reason more education about Earth systems science is necessary in the K-12 curriculum. In this study, the Cause-MaP system of studying complex Earth systems in a private intermediate school in Texas was evaluated. The objective was to ensure that students are more aware of how Earth affects them and vice versa. An added benefit of the study was the opportunity to teach scientific reasoning. Students completed a pre-unit test to measure a priori knowledge. The students then worked through a modified Cause-MaP system in which they took notes in a structured table format; then each created a concept map. Students completed these steps for two subsystems: hydrosphere and lithosphere. The individual concept maps were used to assess knowledge and understanding of the individual systems by each student. At the end of the unit, students created composite concept maps which included each system they studied in this unit, to illustrate the interconnectedness of Earth systems. Based on the number of components and processes included, the students’ maps were evaluated to determine their understanding of the interactions between multiple Earth systems. The students’ maps were grouped based on the number of components and processes included in the concept maps. A post-unit test was also administered, which included two similar questions. The pre-unit test was completed again to check the overall progress of the students involved in this study. The students showed, with practice and encouragement from their instructor, that they recognize intersystem connections in complex Earth systems. With more integration of programs like these, students will become more proficient in recognizing system interactions.

The term ‘knowledge mobilization intermediary’ (KMI) is used to describe third party organizations whose role between research producers and users is a catalyst for knowledge mobilization (KM) - targeted, systematic efforts to increase connections between research, policy and practice in public services. This study analyzes 44 Canadian KMIs in education exploring types (governmental, not-for-profit, for profit, and membership), organizational features (mission, scope, target audience, size, resources, membership composition) and processes (message, strategies, functions, dissemination mechanisms). This study maps the landscape of research mediation in education and reports on these findings using a multiple-paper format. The introductory chapter sets the stage for the papers by providing the background of the study and introducing the concept of knowledge mobilization. The first conceptual paper provides a typology of KMIs and a framework of knowledge brokering characteristics with seven elements (mission, resources, staff roles, political affiliation, autonomy, message, and linkages). The second paper reports on an approach to measuring and comparing KM efforts of diverse organizations using a common matrix of elements arising from the research utilization literature: KM strategies (products, events and networks) and KM indicators as they relate to strategies (different types, ease of use, accessibility, focus of audience and so on). The third paper outlines what KMIs exist in Canada, their organizational features, and reports on their activities, ultimately providing a typology of brokering strategies utilized in research mediation and a framework of eight major brokering functions used to increase research use and its impact: awareness, accessibility, engagement, capacity building, implementation support, facilitating linkages and partnerships, policy influence and organizational development. The fourth paper presents empirical findings of online practices of KMIs such as blogging and microblogging, social networking, social bookmarking, multimedia, share buttons on websites, and RSS feeds. Overall, use of social media is not pervasive and, when it is used, the content is often not research-based. The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings in relation to each research question, summarizes the implications arising from each paper, and makes recommendations for research producers, users and intermediaries across public service sectors.