This study examines the lived experiences of K-12 Instructional Technology Leaders in rural schools and school districts throughout Mississippi. It sought to explore the challenges that were encountered, the strategies they were employed, and the lessons that were learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, as traditional classroom teaching and learning…

The purpose of this descriptive study was to investigate the status of technology integration in K-12 music classrooms after the onset of COVID-19 across four states in the southeast. Music teachers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi completed an online survey concerning their technology use, comfort levels with technology, training…

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of selected factors on the adoption of Learning Management Systems (LMSs) by Teaching English to Speakers of Other languages (TESOL) or English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers. Rogers' (2003) theory of Diffusion of Innovation was used to examine the characteristics of LMS among TESOL/ESL…

This study explores the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, focusing on the increased reliance on online learning tools as the "new normal." The study delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by Mississippi schools in integrating technology during the pandemic, examining the perspectives of teachers…

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…

This quantitative study aims to determine if there is a relationship between schools that had one-to-one technology programs pre-pandemic, and achievement test score outcomes. The study focused on the twenty-three school districts that had one-to-one programs pre-pandemic in Mississippi, and compared their performance with test scores from…

The study explored how practitioners perceived the transition to online student support services at a Mississippi community college during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized the qualitative research approach of a single case study to gather data. Data was collected through open-ended surveys designed to acquire and interpret perceptions on…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into school staff's perceptions on the effectiveness of positive interventions and supports in Mississippi classrooms. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews of 10 participants, each working at the same public high school in rural Mississippi. The study was…

As the educational system continually battle the needs of the 21st century workforce, technology has caused great tension with pedagogical practices in education (Bellanca & Brandt, 2010). With the advancements in technology, teachers are struggling to personalize instruction in part because of the learning styles of the digital natives…

One-to-one device initiatives provide access to digital learning for students; however, little is known about how this process occurs in rural schools. Implementing a one-to-one device initiative may have positive effects on student access to digital technologies as well as student and teacher efficacy when sufficient training happens beforehand.…

Teacher certification is an important topic in the history of teaching in American education. Policymakers have recognized that for students to meet high standards, their teachers must also be of high quality (Goldhaber, Perry & Anthony, 2004; McCaffrey, Lockwood, Koretz, & Hamilton, 2003). The National Board for Professional Teaching…

Tomorrow's STEM workforce consists of today's students. While it is imperative for students to gain a wider perspective of STEM careers, there are various ways in which this can be accomplished in the classroom. Classroom STEM exposure, field trip experiences, and opportunities to interview those in STEM occupations have all proven effective but…

Technology is now being utilized in schools in an effort to address the lack of engagement most students have experienced in mathematics when learning foundational skills at the elementary school level. While there are a number of studies that have described teacher perceptions of engagement through the use of technology during the school day,…

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 forced school districts to become more accountable by requiring all students to read on grade level by the year 2014. However, President Obama's educational policy shift is allowing states to develop their own accountability and improvement system. This study examined fourth and eighth grade math…

Determining if the investment in educational technology will improve student achievement is complicated and multifarious. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of teacher technology integration on student achievement as measured by the Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) and to explore the relationship between…