Classroom engagement is critical to academic success for high school students (Marks, 2000). Increasing student classroom engagement can improve academic performance and student self-confidence (Reeve, 2013). This study aims to determine how student classroom engagement is impacted by the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) video. This study…

The problem of practice being explored in this work was first identified at a suburban middle school in Massachusetts, where the assessment scores of students with learning disabilities were significantly lower than those of peers not on Individualized Education Plans. The collaboration between general education science teachers and special…

The intended purpose of this applied dissertation was to examine how teachers use student-owned technology devices for learning in the classroom and to determine how the use of these devices influence teacher planning and the classroom environment. The Bring Your Own Device initiative was an effort to prepare students by allowing them to use and…

Achieving effective use of new IT at the workplace can be notoriously difficult. There has been significant focus on the role of the individual in new job-related technology use, but considerations of personality differences and their role in effective use have been limited. Results have been mixed regarding the influence of personality on new IT…

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak, which led to the COVID-19 pandemic, was a catalyst for major changes for schools in America and worldwide. Specifically, the delivery of instruction through the traditional in-person learning model. In Massachusetts, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered lawmakers to propose…

Teachers need to maximize technology to support student learning by drawing upon varying pedagogical orientations; however, teacher-centered, highly structured approaches that foster low-level thinking is more prevalent. Although highly structured approaches help develop students' foundational skills and content knowledge, student-centered,…

Every demographic in the American education sector has been impacted by the forced migration from face-to-face to online learning caused by COVID-19. This research looks at six faculty members' perceptions regarding their views on social presence and what influences or drives their instructional practices at Nichols College. Social presence is a…

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis study was to understand the perspectives of Massachusetts biology teachers and discover if the 2016 changes to the Massachusetts Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE) Curriculum Frameworks impacted their instructional practices and pedagogy. Concentrating on the consequences of…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate how the use of technology may increase student engagement and learning in urban schools, as perceived by administrators, teachers, and students. Engagement Theory informed the design of the study and interpretation of findings and the literature review provides a context for pursuing this…

A student with Asperger's Syndrome faces a complex myriad of learning disabilities and social difficulties. The co-morbid conditions of dyslexia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and anxiety further complicate Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome and these conditions, singularly…

The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to identify and understand the leadership strategies used by Massachusetts high school administrators during the early implementation (first four years) of one-to-one computing. The study was guided by two research questions: (1) How do high school administrators describe their experience leading the…

Use of educational technology, hardware and software such as whiteboards, simulators, math solvers, and language programs, has been shown to enhance learning by providing a more vivid, interactive experience. Yet a number of studies in the last 5 to 7 years have reported low use of educational technology (e-technology) by high school teachers and…

As the abundance and importance of technology continues to increase, schools are attempting to stay current by utilizing technology educationally. While the technology at many schools is plentiful, few teachers are able to effectively integrate technology in their daily lessons in a meaningful way, equipping students with the 21st century skills…

This study examines perceived benefits and costs of instructors who contributed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare (OCW) project. While previous research has investigated the benefits and costs of OCW from the perspectives of the users and institution, the instructor's perspective is the focus of this qualitative…

Over the past few decades, and especially in the past ten years, computer use in schools has increased dramatically; however there has been little research examining the effects of technology use on student achievement, specifically defined by standardized test scores. There is also concern as to how technology use differs by gender and if that…