School districts are employing instructional technology coaches more frequently to support teachers in adopting technology in their classroom instruction. However, many school districts still face challenges with technology adoption, raising concerns about the influence of instructional technology coaches on technology adoption. This case study…

This study explored student and teacher perspectives of technology use at Franklin Elementary School in South San Jose, CA, using qualitative, quantitative, and observational methods, including interviews, observations, and surveys. Thirteen teachers responded to a survey on educational technology use. Among this group, eleven provided interviews,…

The purpose of this study was to analyze modes of professional development that prepare educators to deliver STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based instruction at the elementary school level through the integration of technology. The study demonstrates the complexity and advantages of STEM centered learning which utilize…

In the southeastern United States, many local school districts have mandated an increased use of instructional technology to address low reading proficiency among English language learners (ELLs). However, local district leaders and stakeholders concurred that additional research was needed to explore how teachers were using technology in their…

Mobile and other internet-connected devices infiltrate society, including K-12 classrooms. A large body of research indicated that these devices might distract students; however, other studies have revealed many benefits when the devices are used for educational purposes. This study aimed to examine the relationships between the use of mobile…

It is not known how school leaders describe their own technology leadership competencies at the upper elementary and middle school levels. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to describe what technology leadership competencies are present in assistant principals and principals of grades 4-8 in the state of Pennsylvania. This study…

This study investigated the understudied area of virtual reality (VR) creation among elementary-aged youth, exploring their engagement in VR creation and the ways in which educators can facilitate this creative process. Using an embedded case study, the researcher examined how the youth visualize writing using the VR creation tool, CoSpaces. To…

Though researchers have demonstrated that adaptive practice software is an effective tool to use with primary grade students, they have not fully established the impact blended eLearning tools have on upper elementary students in a suburban school setting. The problem facing one southeastern state district was that their schools had selected…

This dissertation consists of three papers. In each paper, I leverage a different quantitative method to study a downstream effect of technology on educational outcomes. In the first paper, I study the impact of an online math learning program on 3rd through 5th grade math achievement in Louisiana. Employing Zearn Math usage metrics and…

This developmental research aims to: (1) examine the developmental processes of the application called MagicSpells, a haptically-enhanced, digital, vocabulary acquisition application design for learners with dyslexia, (2) investigate the structure and design of the application, and (3) analyze the results of the reviews and usability tests…

A theoretical framework grounded in constructionism and pragmatism theories supported research on learning by doing. This framework underpinned the purpose of this qualitative case study to explore how K-8 STEM teachers facilitated projects utilizing innovative technologies to solve community-based problems. The problem was a lack of connection…

The topic of this mixed-methods case study was the correlation between technology integration and student achievement, and teacher perceptions of technology. The problem was elementary schools were beginning to invest in, and integrate, technology in the classrooms without sufficient data showing evidence of technology making an impact on student…

This study explores students' mathematical reasoning within a novel technological environment designed to support understanding of relationships between quantities and adjustable measuring units. In particular, 30 elementary students (grade 3-5) engaged in a series of measurement tasks in which they used a "dynamic virtual ruler" that…

Integrating technology into the classroom is more than just putting tools and hardware in front of children. To provide high-quality instruction, educators need to understand the relationship between pedagogy and technology. When technology is integrated into the classroom in a meaningful way, students become more engaged and they learn to take…

Technology is utilized in everyday life. As such, teachers can employ educational robots and technology to assist in growing skills in collaboration, communication, computational thinking, and problem-solving. Educational robots also appear to increase engagement and motivation in students to participate in lessons. This study employed…