As Wingate University has grown, it has also experienced challenges with declining student retention and graduation rates. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about abrupt changes in the higher education landscape, including effecting students' mental wellbeing. This quantitative study examines the relationship between student engagement at…

The purpose of this qualitative action research study was to explore the teachers' perceptions on the challenges they experienced using the Schoology learning management system when teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. I used a qualitative method with a phenomenological design. I interviewed 10 teachers using a semi-structured format, that use…

Research in this retrospective cohort study compared student outcome in introductory Biology at an HBCU, and the impact of COVID-19. This quantitative study utilized introductory level student biology data collected via the institution's data reporting system to analyze changes in student achievement prior to the pandemic and after the pandemic. A…

This dissertation examines the key challenges faced by collegiate aviation faculty members as they transitioned from in-person coursework to emergency remote teaching (ERT) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interpretive phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews profiled four collegiate aviation faculty members' experiences with the…

Adequacy of classroom learning spaces at the University of Guyana has historically been a challenge the institution faces. However, the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic lessened the problem when the University of Guyana responded to the crisis by making rapid adjustments to continue operations online and to remain competitive while…

Student disengagement and disconnection post pandemic has become a prominent concern in higher education. As colleges and universities navigate the post-pandemic landscape, addressing student disengagement and reconnecting them to the learning community has become a priority. Gamification has been used in education since early 2010s, however, the…

The world of education faced an unprecedented challenge in the spring of 2020 when global pandemic forced schools to shut down and transform into remote education through digital platforms. However, when the schools started to reopen for face-to-face instruction post-COVID, instead of returning to the familiarity of traditional classrooms, the…

Professional learning is defined as a context-specific, career-long endeavor that is guided by standards, grounded in the educator's individual work, and tailored to the educator's stage in career development (Schlager & Fusco, 2003). Research related to professional learning for educators conveys the need for change. Studies indicate that a…

The purpose of this action research study was to investigate challenges to college success specific for first-generation undergraduate students at a public regional institution, and to improve their lived experiences via a first-generation student intervention in the form of a one-quarter student success course. Data collection in Cycle 1 of this…

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented shift to online learning. For many school systems, online learning came with challenges to student engagement and success. The cohort in this study experienced a failure rate of approximately 30 percent compared to just one percent of their brick-and-mortar peers. This study explores engagement…

This study examined the lived experiences of teachers and administrators as reflected in their responses regarding instructional materials, instructional delivery, social and emotional well-being of students, and access to critical school services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared their experiences about how the instructional…

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the world of education. Schools were forced to rapidly adapt to new modes of teaching, learning, and assessment to continue providing education to students safely and effectively. This study examines the experiences of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on their challenges, responses, and…

The intention of this dissertation in practice is to provide structure to a peer-to-peer mentoring program to improve the academic success of students, while building students' engagement and social emotional skills through connections and relationships within the school district. This study is situated in a rural school community with an…

Teachers faced adversity in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged. This qualitative instrumental case study sought to capture the lived experiences of K-5 teachers in the Guam Department of Education, who endured teaching in three modalities over a span of two years consecutively, between February 2020 to February 2022. The purpose was to…

Disasters can cause school closures for an extended duration, causing equity and engagement gaps for students. Children and adolescents also suffer social, emotional and health problems associated with remote schooling and lack of physical and interpersonal activities. School leaders and teachers are well-practiced in traditional emergency…