This applied dissertation was designed to provide concise information and research to delineate the role of the virtual school principal (VSP). The research available was outdated, scarce, or inadequate. The role of VSPs and the challenges that are faced were unclear. This researcher has found very little evidence to establish whether virtual…

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted educational systems, leading to significant learning loss and credit deficiencies among high school students, particularly in California's comprehensive high schools. This research addressed these challenges by exploring innovative strategies through a social-ecological model and ecological systems theory to improve…

In the context of a first-year composition course at an HBCU, I explored the potential of Open Educational Resources (OER) and OER-Enabled Pedagogy (OEP) to better understand how the resources and the pedagogical practices surrounding their use might innovate teaching and learning. In this study conducted with 14 participants from online, hybrid,…

The COVID-19 global pandemic caused unprecedented disruption in higher education institutions across the United States, closing college campuses and transitioning instruction to remote learning. During the spring of 2020 and upon the return to campus in the fall, faculty adjusted their teaching of in-person courses to accommodate the disruption.…

This dissertation explored the challenges and adaptations made by educators and service providers in creating an inclusive virtual learning environment for students with special needs, particularly focusing on the experiences of educators working with deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students. Grounded in the identified gaps in the literature, the…

Institutions of higher education have identified online programs as a top innovation strategy, but lack of faculty buy-in has been cited as a major challenge to launching them. In addition, leaders have identified issues of organizational culture, such as the lack of supportive leadership and a risk-averse mindset, as key barriers to their…

This dissertation detailed the ways by which stakeholder interactions affected interdisciplinary curriculum development in the novel field of esports at Mideast State University. Due to the prevalence of esports in higher education, the sudden popularity of the esports field, and the role of esports in an already overloaded curriculum space, this…

This qualitative case study investigated the challenges Information Technology (IT) professionals faced in Higher Education Organizations (HEOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought unforeseen challenges and technological disruptions to HEOs, significantly impacting IT professionals. The study aimed to deepen the understanding of…

The emergence of digital-first assessments is prompting reconsideration of, and innovation in, aspects of psychometrics, test validation, and test use. Using the Duolingo English Test (DET) as an example, this three-paper series seeks to address issues concerning the estimation of classification consistency and the reporting of results for such…

The digital divide presents a significant challenge in rural Eastern Kentucky, where the absence of broadband internet access has hindered economic development, education, health care, and overall quality of life. Broadband, characterized by high-speed internet access that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up, is a convenience and a…

This dissertation examines the lessons of the emergency remote teaching experience during the COVID-19 pandemic within higher education. It considers the experiences of highly rated faculty members at a large public research university, identifying the challenges they faced during the transition to remote teaching, and the innovations they…

The purpose of this study was to understand special education (SPED) teachers' creativity as they integrated new technologies to teach autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) learners during the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdowns of schools in the U.S. The theoretical orientation was the componential theory of creativity (CTC), which identifies components…

The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to a type of online education adopted with startling speed and a scale never before seen. The educational community adopted the term "emergency remote teaching" to distinguish this type of online teaching from carefully planned virtual instruction. The problem addressed in this study was emergency remote…

During the global pandemic of the 2020-21 school year, school districts rapidly transitioned from the traditional in-person structure of school to distance learning. This research study sought to understand how superintendents envisioned virtual learning as an option within their school district portfolio, exploring the barriers faced in its…

The utilization of technology in the elementary classroom is becoming increasingly vital in a global society. Teaching during the Coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all educators. As a result of the crisis, instructors worldwide had to quickly adapt and shift to a new way of teaching both remotely and in person. Educators were asked…