This dissertation explored the cost and value of 1:1 computing programs in high schools in Texas. The study examines whether the total cost of ownership of these programs can be justified by the student testing gains and graduation rates. It investigates whether student learning outcomes show a definable correlation between positive gains and the implementation of 1:1 computing programs. The study also explores whether there is a measurable return on investment of 1:1 programs based on testing gains and graduation rates. The research used the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness exam scores to validate assumptions and test the hypothesis. The study found no clear link between the addition of 1:1 computing programs and the realms of student success. While there is marginal improvement in student outcomes, there is only circumstantial evidence that laptops and devices are the catalysts for the change. The dissertation also found that the total cost of ownership (TCO) is a significant portion of the district's spending, costing millions of dollars, and that the financial disclosure and budget information data was either missing, incomplete, or over-generalized, causing an issue for assessing program effectiveness or ROI. Despite this lack of transparency, there is a slight positive …

The dissertation aims to expand access through a low-cost technological innovation system S-MLS to learners in underdeveloped areas with difficulties in accessing education. Technology is advancing rapidly. However, many parts of the world need access to educational advances, which are hindered due to war, political situations, and low literacy and income. A qualitative phenomenological approach explores the lived experience using the solar-powered computing and learning management system (LMS) to support the development of educational access in underrepresented societies, developing countries, and rural areas where access to proper classroom education is non-existent. Proof of concept is used with a group of students in a rural area, a developing country, and within an underrepresented population to check the feasibility of using the equipment in a real-world setting. A technology acceptance model would be used to identify the user's perceived interest and user acceptance. The community of inquiry theory would find the first-hand experience and point of view of the learner. The student group interviews would be through semi-structured interviews. Observations, surveys, video/audio recordings, and artifacts would be gathered for further analysis. The data collected would be analyzed using interpretative phenomenology analysis (IPA), close examination, and management of development themes through thoughts, observations, …

The purpose of this dissertation was to use the technology of text mining and topic modeling to explore unobserved themes of medical case reports that involve medical imaging. Case reports have a valuable place in medical research because they provide educational benefits, offer evidence, and encourage discussions. Their form has evolved throughout the years, but they have remained a key staple in providing important information to the medical communities around the world with educational context and illuminating visuals. Examining medical case reports that have been published throughout the years on multiple medical subjects can be challenging, therefore text mining and topic modeling methods were used to analyze a large set of abstracts from medical case reports involving radiology. The total number of abstracts used for the data analysis was 68,845 that were published between the years 1975 to 2022. The findings indicate that text mining and topic modeling can offer a unique and reproducible approach to examine a large quantity of abstracts for theme analysis.

Although the Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire (DLOQ) has been widely accepted by the HRD community, it has not been tested in a startup context for reliability. The purpose of the current study is to explore if the DLOQ is a reliable instrument for startups to help them be more successful. The current study seeks to address some of the questions, which have been posed by previous researchers. The study utilizes a mixed-method design applying Cronbach alpha values to check the reliability of the instrument in a startup learning environment, with more than 600 participants and 42 startup businesses at a university in the Mountain West. The study uses objective financial measures for startup firms to explore the correlation between the seven dimensions of the DLOQ and startup companies at the university. Cronbach alphas for the instrument measured at the .80 level or higher. Four of the dimensions were found to be statistically significant resulting in a model that accounted for 30% of the variance in predicted Operating Income (p<.004) and 29% of the variances in predicted Net Income (p<.003). The study also uses qualitative analysis to explore what activities relate to the seven dimensions of the DLOQ, and …

The evaluation of the transition experiences of veterans to civilian life was conducted. The military to civilian transition (MCT) framework along with theories covering organizational, identity, and systems streams of research situated the study. A mixed methods approach was conducted in two phases: a 28-item survey and 1.5-hour interviews, which helped contextualize and explain survey findings. The multiple regression procedure examined the relationship among three variables: person-organization fit, military identity, and organizational commitment with military identity was included as a moderator. Results indicated a positive relationship between person-organization fit and organizational commitment. Contrariwise, results indicated military identity's relationship between the variables was found to be not statistically significant. Although the moderation effect of military identity was not found to influence the relationships, interviews with veterans indicated a strong connection to their military identity. Veterans shared negative and unpredictable transition stories, positive transition stories, feelings of isolation, and held prevailing military goals, while reporting a lack of backing from support agencies. Veterans perceived differences between the military and civilian environments, veteran turnover and organizational commitment were found to connect and military values and military identity were found to have connections as well. Recommendations for improving military to civilian setting transitions for …

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of computer-based simulation on prelicensure senior second semester undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students' knowledge and satisfaction. The goal was to explore the current state of nursing education in relation to the nursing student's experience with interruptions and interruption management as interruptions and interruption management are an underexplored area of the nursing education experience, yet interruptions impact nursing performance and patient safety. Including effective interruption management in nursing education is the ultimate aim of this effort. The design of the study was a descriptive case study with mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The quantitative analysis encompassed pretest and posttest drug calculation knowledge tests and a satisfaction survey. The qualitative portion of the study involved a focus group discussion relating to the nursing student's experience with interruptions and interruption management. The study results demonstrated that the participants were satisfied with the computer-based simulation. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the professional nursing education of the study participants was devoid of interruption and interruption management education in the classroom, lab, and high-fidelity simulation. The themes that emerged from this study describe the current state of the second semester nursing student's …

In the modern economy, national innovation systems (NIS) contribute to a substantial increase in economic development in numerous parts of the world. NIS has been instrumental in integrating most developing countries' economies into the global capitalist system; however, some developing countries lag the innovation capacities to develop their NIS. The inability of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to gauge their NIS is problematic and probably risky for the countries' future development. Without proper evaluation and monitoring, it is hard for governments to create policies to advance their NIS to attain their desired economic development objectives. Development experiences of the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and their insignificant standings in the global exchange of goods and services warrant a comprehensive way to measure and evaluate their NIS. This study ascertained how predictor variables: government effectiveness index (GEI), percentage of public spending on education (PSE) and labor force (LF) influenced the criterion variables: gross domestic product (GDP), gross national income (GNI) and human development index (HDI). The results categorized the countries that are performing soundly or not, and the knowledge from the assessments can aid in improving national policies for future performance of NIS in Sub-Saharan Africa. Likewise, it can help to create …

The purpose of this quantitative study was to further explore pedagogical balance using multidimensional scaling and epistemic network analysis. Teacher shortages and attrition remain a critical issue for the future, and simulated classroom environments like simSchool can provide teachers additional training to help improve teaching confidence and teaching experience. Two different data sets were analyzed at various time before and after simSchool use to see how pre-service teachers rate themselves in 8 areas of teaching as defined by the Survey of Teaching Skills. Multidimensional scaling was utilized to see how teaching confidence and teaching experience align with no simSchool use, 90 minutes of use, and 8 hours of use. Epistemic network analysis was utilized to look at the cognitive structures of different groups to determine any differences. The findings are discussed with future research directions provided.

Children of today are gaining exposure to electronic reading environments at earlier ages and in greater frequencies than prior generations, as evidenced by the ubiquity of modern technologies. Such technologies provide affordances beyond basic text by supporting the screen-based rendering of aural, visual, and gestural elements. This research investigates, by way of a fixed effects meta-analysis, the overall effect of electronic reading environments on the comprehension outcomes of children between the 4th and 8th grades. Findings yielded three published studies between 2016 and 2020. Results from a total population sample of 2,125 students across the United States, showed small but significant effects of reading technology on comprehension. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of their pedagogical applications and future research directions.

Education and academic related services have become as important as manufacturing and, in some cases, even more important. Considering the importance of these services as it relates to manufacturing, a problem exists. Products such as education and academic services are far less specific in value when comparing with manufactured goods, even though their quality depends on resources which can be measured, such as funding. At the same time, we must be able to quantify them and compare their values with predetermined expected levels for each area of expertise, as well as with each other. The quality of the services provided, specifically academic services, is an intangible concept that can be assessed through various methods. This research study applies the Academic Services Experience Survey, a modified version of SERVQUAL, to solve a complex and multifaceted problem of assessing and improving the quality of academic services in higher education institutions.

This study investigated personalized adaptive learning, teacher education, and self-efficacy to determine if personalized adaptive teacher education can increase self-efficacy. It is suggested that teachers with higher self-efficacy tend to stay in the teaching profession longer. Chapters 2 and 3 are literature reviews on personalizing adaptive learning to determine what common components are used in personalized adaptive learning systems to get a clear understanding of what previous literature suggests building this study on it. Chapter 4 investigates the data collected from 385 teachers to understand better what teachers report on factors that increase their self-efficacy. As a result, it was found that teachers' self-efficacy increases with more training, support, and resources. In chapter 5, a framework was developed based on previous findings, with components of personalized adaptive learning to provide support/help at the right time for teachers to increase their self-efficacy. An empirical study was conducted to validate this framework, where the framework was used as a guide to personalize and adapt summer teacher preservice training and survey teachers on their self-efficacy before and after the training to see its impact on teachers' self-efficacy. However, since summer preservice training was virtual, the framework could not be implemented fully, as we …

The objective of this study was to locate and describe the learning affordances used within research studies on instructional design. Allowing an instructional designer to see what was used and how applicable it might be for future design would assist with better course creation. Current and past literature supported the importance of this concept after examination of how course creation has evolved within the field of instructional design. Further, the findings elucidated how to help the field evolve in the future by expanding knowledge about learning affordances and providing the broadest set of conceptual definitions by the academics working in the field to include them in their research and instructional designs.

This dissertation uses a three-manuscript style, and the ultimate purpose was to support critical thinking teaching in K-12 education from a systematic view concerning the lack of critical thinking in the young generation. The three manuscripts included in this dissertation were entirely or partly adapted based on three published or submitted research papers. The first research paper is a literature review article with an introduction to a development framework of nine principles, which provided a new view to developing critical thinking in younger children based on conceptual understanding of critical thinking. The second research paper is a study I coauthored with J. Michael Spector, which calls for more attention to the development of human intelligence given the rapid development of artificial intelligence and proposed that developing inquiry and critical thinking is a key to develop human intelligence. The third research paper reports an investigation over middle school educators' conceptualization of critical thinking and its alignment with the established theory and research. The major purpose was to connect the established theory and research with educational practices regarding what critical thinking constitutes. The significance of this study is to reveal the issues behind the abstract understanding of critical thinking and address the …

The purpose of this convergent mixed method study was to determine whether or not there is a difference in the perceived and actual financial literacy scores of millennials. Exploring the following research questions and hypotheses helped to expand knowledge around actual financial literacy and several other characteristics, including perceived financial literacy, especially among millennials (individuals born between 1981 and 1996): RQ1: What is the difference between millennials' actual and perceived financial literacy scores? RQ2: To what extent do socioeconomic status, gender, and having a bank account predict millennials' financial literacy scores? H0: There is no relationship between millennials' socioeconomic status, gender, banking status and their financial literacy scores. RQ3: What video delivery methods (if any) are millennials using to gain financial literacy knowledge in informal learning environments? Millennial participants (N = 207) were asked to complete a survey. Participants' perceived financial literacy scores were higher than their actual financial literacy scores. While males had higher perceived financial literacy ratings, females accounted for the majority of participants who scored four or above on a 5-point scale for actual financial literacy. Although, the null hypothesis was incorrect, the independent variables used in the ANOVA tables accounted for less than 15% of financial …

Middle America is dying. The United Nations reports the average number of deaths per 1,00 population in the U.S. has steadily increased an average of 1.2 per 1,000 persons annually since 2015. Existing research offer conflicting theories regarding the factors influencing the phenomenon. the purpose of this study was to examine reliable and valid secondary data to determine if statistical evidence exists to support the prevailing theories. Statistical evidence was observed that suggests the crude death rates among U.S. non-Hispanic white (NHWs) populations was significantly higher than other U.S. population segments between 2015 and 2018. Statistical evidence was also observed that suggests U.S. NHWs sought ambulatory services for alcohol and drug use self-injuries at higher rates than other U.S. population segments. However, the evidence suggest that U.S. NHWs are not more likely to experience earlier than expected deaths from excessive alcohol or drug use than other U.S. population segments. The study's implications are that U.S. policy makers should consider long-term economic development and sustainability strategies focused on the promotion of higher education as a deterrent to self-harm among U.S. residents without college degrees or skills certifications. The study recommends future large-scale quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-use studies that examine the micro, …

This case study investigated the phenomenon of the black white test score gap by seeking to determine if there was a difference in the academic performance of African American students and their White peers. The determination of student academic performance was made using scores from second semester Algebra II classes at two high schools in the Tucson Unified School District. The data covered three academic years and was analyzed via SPSS (independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and a pairwise analysis) and content analysis for qualitative analysis. Findings revealed that there was no variance in the scores of African Americans and their White peers attending an affluent school; however African Americans attending a low-income school scored lower than all groups that were compared in this study.

The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the relationship between the digital divide and the Latino-White achievement gap in online education. Through an analysis of archival enrollment and academic performance data a comparison was conducted between online and face-to-face courses by ethnicity. Additionally, academic performance data was then compared to survey responses from online students on digital motivation, material access, internet skills, and internet usage. Findings and recommendations for future research are discussed and provided to continue the exploration of disparities of digital access and academic performance in an effort to inform decisions in higher education.

The purpose of this study was to determine if students with special needs participating in an inclusive classroom can learn the skills related to a STEM career as compared to the general student population. The study involved seventh grade students from two rural middle schools in north central Texas and was framed through a constructivist lens using a quasi-experimental design with a convenience sample. The Solenoid Invention Kit Assessment and the STEM Semantics Survey used in this study were used from a previously large existing dataset from a grant funded by the National Science Foundation for Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers. Findings suggested that there were no significant differences between the general student population and students with special needs. However, STEM coursework in an inclusive classroom may impact students' decision to pursue STEM careers.

This mixed methods study examined professional development for higher education faculty members at four-year, state supported universities in Texas and the perceptions of professional development leaders at these institutions. The quantitative data was generated through an electronic survey aligned to the second iteration of the technology acceptance model while the qualitative data was generated through semi structured interviews with those that participated with the survey. Univariate analysis was performed on the survey data and the qualitative data was categorized using pattern coding. Limitations and future recommendations were also discussed.

This validation study examined the Triple E Rubric for Lesson Design as a measurement tool to test the effectiveness of a lesson when using technology to support learning goals. This study also measured the content and concurrent validity as well as reliability of the Triple E Rubric developed by Liz Kolb.

Undergraduate nursing students face tremendous stress in regards to academic and clinical demands while emotional intelligence (EI) is a topic of interest in the nursing field. This study examined whether problem-focused coping methods for stress are related to ability and personality. In this study, EI represented ability and locus of control (LOC) represented personality. Confrontive coping, seeking social support, and planful problem-solving represented the problem-focused coping variables. A survey instrument which represented a combination of the Assessing Emotions Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Ways of Coping Scale (Revised), and the Rotter Locus of Control Scale was administered to 11 undergraduate nursing schools during the spring semester of 2019. The results indicated that EI had strong and statistically significant correlations with each of the other variables in the study which were LOC, stress, confrontive coping, seeking social support, and planful problem-solving. The results further supported that EI was a statistically significant predictor for each of the three problem-focused coping variables. It was concluded that level of stress did not mediate the relationship between EI and any of the three problem-focused coping methods. In addition, LOC moderated the relationship between EI and stress. The limitations and possibilities for future research are addressed in …

The challenges of at-risk students are not new. Newspaper articles from the 1860s presented information about communities seeking to help students to complete school and find employment to provide a livable wage. Today's solutions focus on legislation intended to affect societal change and provide equitable opportunities for at-risk students. Much research regarding how to improve academic outcomes for at-risk students addresses high school level, identifying those factors that encourage secondary learners to remain in school. However, less work has been done investigating whether earlier intervention can obviate later retention efforts by improving students' learning outcomes in the elementary grades. In this vein, engagement is a factor found to positively influence learning, particularly when students are actively engaged with instructional content. Technology can facilitate such interactions between students and content; however, research is needed to better understand the relationship between student engagement and technology, particularly with at-risk students in elementary settings. Seeking to address the gap, this qualitative study examined the occasion of a fifth-grade school that recently implemented 1:1 technology. Using a case study approach, researchers explored the effects of the 1:1 Chromebook implementation on teacher-perceived student engagement at the elementary level. This study sought to better understand how this …

This study focuses on the use of American Invention Kits from the Smithsonian Institute in conjunction with a 3D printer. In conjunction with a large dataset from a study funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), this innovative research focuses on the effect the digital fabrication curriculum unit has on gifted and talented students' knowledge and affinity toward the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Students from two rural middle schools in north-central Texas (N = 190) took part in this quantitative study; the students were divided among four subgroups: gifted-contrast (n = 12), gifted-treatment (n = 8), nongifted-contrast (n = 76), and nongifted-treatment (n = 94). The surveys utilized include the STEM Semantics Survey, TIMSS-Limited, and a knowledge assessment for the specific curriculum unit focused on the solenoid. The STEM Semantics Survey is divided into five subsets. Thirty-two separate one-way repeated measures ANOVAs were performed across the surveys and subgroups. Statistically significant results were found on four comparisons. This research holds implications in the areas of advocating for gifted education, collecting field data, utilizing large datasets, and understanding rural schools.

The purpose of this research was to examine ESL (English as a second language) students' current use of their mobile phones for English skill building activities outside of class in a U.S. school setting. In addition, this research reported on students' perceptions of the potential benefits of using smartphones in class for English learning. Also learners' current English related activities using mobile devices and time duration of using different phone features were studied. The literature review included smartphones, computer education, mobile learning, mobile assisted language learning (MALL), computer assisted language learning (CALL), theories of second language learning, second language learner attributes and the use of smartphones outside the classroom. An electronic survey was used to collect the quantitative data which were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The results concluded that students used mobile applications on a daily basis to read and write email, read books and news, check a dictionary, talk, text and video chat. Students used mobile phones outside of class to improve the English skills listed in the survey and the same participants perceived the potential benefits of using smartphones in class for the same English skills. Among the English skills, vocabulary exercises, finding example sentences of …