The primary goal of this study was to investigate, document, and understand the reasons that educators who use graphic novels in their classrooms choose to use them, rather than traditional text. Secondary goals were to identify the classes they teach, and to identify commonalities and shared best practices. Interviews were scheduled, to provide…

This is a study of how and why secondary and postsecondary educators use professionally produced narrative nonfiction audio podcasts in class activities and assignments. From survey and interview data, I found that educators use the podcasts in following five ways: as prompts for student responses, as exemplars of how to compose texts or engage in…

Clarifying the concept of digital college readiness (DCR) can direct pedagogical and policy shifts toward the integration of digital literacies instruction as an essential component of college readiness, especially for educators and researchers in the field of developmental education. Since the 1980s, the demands for digitally mediated literacies…

Although response scholarship has continually called for a greater emphasis on context when analyzing instructors' written commentary on student writing, textual analysis of written comments remains a primary direction for response research. Additionally, when context is accounted for, it is oftentimes done so in a rather reductive fashion, with a…

Digital textbooks are replacing print books in school districts across the United States due to their adaptability for students with special needs, enhanced student interest, and lower cost. This is also true in the rural state of West Virginia which lags the U.S. in broadband Internet saturation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to…

This qualitative multiple case study explored the factors that impact the recreational reading selections of gifted students. Eleven students in grades four and five participated in the study. The methods of data collection included in-depth personal interviews and analysis of library circulation records and independent reading program data. The…

Young students' genre knowledge and learning have been of interest to literacy researchers for some time. How students learn and recognize genres, how they deploy them, how they learn the circumstances under which to deploy particular genres are key concerns for literacy educators and researchers. While the field of Composition Studies has long…

This qualitative research study, applying aspects of van Manen's framework for hermeneutic phenomenological research, was conducted to investigate the narratives of relationally aggressive girls of color. The study focused on nine adolescent girls of color who were ages 14-17 years old and exhibited aggressive/bullying behaviors representing the…

The "college readiness" movement of the past decade coupled with the widespread adoption of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) has generated pressure on content area teachers to develop disciplinary thinking skills while also providing more opportunities for student writing. The purpose of this three-article dissertation is to understand…

Access to the Internet and technology skills are essential to the success of college students. Electronic textbooks are replacing paper textbooks. Laptops are replacing pens, pencils, and paper. Electronic forms found on school websites are replacing long registration lines. Hyperlinks are replacing handouts, and face-to-face interaction with…

The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study was to understand the benefits of teaching grammar from three different learning methods: face-to-face, online personalized learning lab and a blended learning method. The study obtained quantitative results from a pre and post-tests, a general survey and writing assignment rubrics…

Sense-making theory involves a sociological/communications science approach to the need of students to make sense of their environment and the information they are seeking to find. With many digital resources to choose from, non-traditional students often have difficulty finding the best resource for their assignments, opting for the easiest path…

This study investigates the usefulness of a Dynamic Geometry Task Analysis Framework for indicating task quality in dynamic geometry environments in general, and The Geometer's Sketchpad in particular. This research sought to first establish the validity of the framework for indicating task quality, and to second explore the effects of the…

American schools are becoming increasingly diverse, with an estimated 17 million first- and second-generation refugee and immigrant children residing in the United States. English learners navigate the challenges of learning how to read, write, and speak a new language, all while being expected to stay on grade level. Classroom teachers nationwide…

Literature suggested that the mandated filtering required by the Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000 adversely affected the educational system. The literature stated that schools imposed more restrictive filtering than the Act mandated. School systems had the responsibility to ensure that children learn to read, write, and perform…