To maintain its dominance as a leader in STEM, as well as to disrupt persistent economic and social inequalities, the United States must invest in Black and Hispanic students who are among the largest subgroups who have been historically underrepresented in STEM spaces. Research has shown that science self-efficacy facilitates students' interest,…

Students growing up in rural communities are situated in contexts characterized by poor economic conditions, largely ineffective K-12 educational policies, few postsecondary opportunities, underresourced schools, and limited networks to provide social and cultural capital. As a result, students in rural contexts are underrepresented in…

This study examined student perceptions towards testing mandates. The specific purpose was to gain an understanding into the perceptions students have towards testing mandates and determine their perceived value in the areas of (1) Improvement, (2) External Attribution, (3) Affective Benefits, and (4) Irrelevance. In analyzing the perceptions of…

The purpose of this action research study was to determine the impact of a Khan Academy growth mindset lesson plan on the motivation of at-risk ninth grade students in a mathematics classroom. Data were collected for quantitative analysis of students' self-reporting of perceptions pertaining to mindset beliefs before and after a mindset…

This study explored students' perceptions of classroom quality in gifted and non-gifted education settings in Saudi Arabia. The researcher used the Zone of Proximal Development theory and Expectancy Value Theory to frame the study. The research was conducted across three public schools (458 students) and two private schools (353 students) that…

Digital natives are people born after 1995 who have grown up using technology devices. The problem is that middle and high school students are not developing digital literacy skills which may inhibit success in school. In our society access to information is increasingly through digital devices and internet platforms. Students must be taught to…

This study was conducted in India, where teachers use the lecture method of communication in the classroom. It is important for the teacher to establish credibility while communicating to motivate the students in the classroom. The study examined the relationship between teacher communication, and teacher credibility, student motivation, and…

This qualitative study analyzes the effects that RENEW, a person-centered goal planning model, has on students with disabilities that are in an alternative school setting. Students in sixth through twelfth grade participated in this study to determine if RENEW can affect students' awareness of post-secondary options and assist with post-high…

The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of gender and ELL Differential Item Functioning (DIF) in a teacher-created mathematics benchmark test in one public charter school district in Northeast Georgia. DIF occurs when an item behaves differently in different subgroups, rather than measuring a test taker's true ability. The geometry…

Schools and districts across the United States have historically avoided using the term dyslexia to describe struggling readers; however, laws and supports for students diagnosed with this challenge are beginning to shift the connotation of the word dyslexia from dys-(bad) and lexia- (reading) to indicate a struggle that can be remediated with…

The purpose of this mixed methods case study was threefold: (a) to describe 7th through 12th grade science teachers' efficacy beliefs, perceptions of support, and concerns about using inquiry-based instruction and examine how they are related to one another, (b) to explore how teachers reporting different levels of concerns demonstrate levels of…

The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers are currently providing screencast video feedback for students as a means of formative assessment while they develop digital content. If this approach was already in place, the benefits of the practice were explored to support existing research on the method. If they did not use the…

The demographics of the U.S. are changing. By 2050, projections suggest that non-Hispanic Whites will no longer make up the majority of the population, and students of color should outnumber White students in schools by 2025. It is thus timely and necessary to examine youth's ethnic-racial identity (ERI) development--the meaning individuals…

Many students struggle with decoding and implementing feedback given to them on writing assignments. Researchers and instructors have used various technologies and strategies to improve students' uptake of feedback given on written assignments, one of which is a form of video feedback called screencasting. Research has been conducted on students'…

Many researchers have argued that proving is essential to doing and knowing mathematics because it is the basis of mathematical understanding (Cirillo & Herbst, 2012; Hanna & Jahnke, 1996). However, research studies conducted on students' performance with constructing proofs has found that the majority of high school geometry students are…