In 2022, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots like ChatGPT were released to the public and were rapidly embraced by many. Educational stakeholders are divided about whether to incorporate or ban chatbot usage in classrooms. Student engagement, a meta construct comprised of behavioral, cognitive, affective, and social components, is…

Artificial intelligence in education (AIED) is an exigent topic of concern across educational settings. While artificial intelligence (AI) is not new, integrating it into K-12 schools has created a mix of positive and negative perceptions regarding how to do so effectively. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine teachers'…

ChatGPT and generative AI technologies have infiltrated our learning spaces, and, as a result, schools may be changed forever. While some educators may seek to ban the use of chatbots, motivated by a fear of the rampant plagiarism the technology might invite, I, however, write this dissertation with the intent of finding uses for AI as a…

The fast development and spread of artificial intelligence (AI) in the education field is prompting educational stakeholders to study how new AI technology will influence teaching and learning. The problem this basic qualitative study will address is the lack of teacher knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI) due to limited pedagogy, which is…

As artificial intelligence (AI) plays a more prominent role in our everyday lives, it becomes increasingly important to introduce basic AI concepts to K-12 students. Currently, most K-12 AI research focuses on introducing fundamental AI concepts using pure virtual platforms like webpages or software. However, robots, as helpful and popular tools…

As the use of artificial intelligence (AI), especially machine learning (ML), has dramatically increased, K-12 schools have begun to deliver AI education; however, little is known about teachers' views on the field. This qualitative study investigated how U.S. high school computer science (CS) teachers conceptualize AI, the role of AI in their CS…

Contributing to a growing body of research on broadening participation in computing for historically underrepresented racial communities (e.g., Black and Latinx), this qualitative study describes the knowledge (content and sources) six antiracist Computer Science (CS) teachers have about examples (and counterexamples) of modern techno-racism, a…

This study examines the impact of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) on teacher workload, burnout, and well-being at a large K-12 independent school in Hawaii. The research focused on teachers identified as innovators and early adopters to understand their experiences with GAI. A qualitative, phenomenological design was employed, using…

This study investigated middle school students' Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, focusing on cognitive and affective dimensions with regard to learning about AI. Fourteen middle school students participated in a five-day summer camp. They engaged in a project-based AI literacy program with hands-on activities, data collection and modeling,…

This study uses an experimental comparative design to accomplish two primary goals related teachers' perceptions of automated writing evaluation (AWE) performance. First, it quantitatively and qualitatively examines teachers' perceptions of the accuracy and trustworthiness of differentially performing AWE models. Second, it synthesizes interview…

Today's students are surrounded by machine learning (ML)-powered tools. Yet, few understand how they work. While there are numerous opportunities for students to learn about ML in informal settings (e.g., Alvarez et al., 2022; Druga et al., 2022) and online (e.g., code.org, Scratch), there are far fewer opportunities in the United States for…

Artificial intelligence (AI) education in kindergarten through high school (K-12) is advancing in many countries, including the United States. The purpose of this research has been to better understand the impact of participation in an AI course on the sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students' overall interest, career interest in AI, and…

With recent advances in generative artificial intelligence, it may come as no surprise that AI influences our society in profound ways. This dissertation project examines how educational and social media platforms and their algorithms shape educational practices and the identity, digital literacies and views of middle school youth participants.…

AI-enabled educational tools have great potential for enhancing learning and teaching, yet there is a notable lack of study on AI-focused professional development for K-12 teachers. This phenomenological study employed the TPACK framework to examine teachers' incorporation of AI and engagement in professional development activities. The use of a…

In the United States the number of English Language Learner students is steadily increasing. Many ELLs speak and understand limited English, resulting in achievement that lags far behind that of their classmates (Thomas, 2015). Recruiting the support of educators who come in contact with ELL students on a daily basis promoted a solution to this…