This dissertation investigates the multifaceted connection between technology-enhanced learning (TEL) and student engagement, with a specific emphasis on student perceptions, attitudes, and distractions associated with technology usage in the classroom. Recognizing the increasing prevalence of technology in educational settings, this study seeks…

This qualitative multiple case study explored Saudi World Language English instructional approaches from a Positioning Theory perspective, focusing on empowering learner agency in tertiary-level education in Saudi Arabia. Using a combination of semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, researcher journals, and analysis of classroom…

This study explored the strategies used by university instructors to motivate students and how they perceive their effectiveness in in-person and online modalities. Educators in higher education must understand instructors' strategies for motivating students in in-person or online classrooms, as student motivation is associated with students'…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers' and counselors' perceptions of the challenges of implementing service learning with fidelity to best practices consistently in a school district in the U.S. Virgin Islands and to identify resources necessary to support the implementation of best practices in service learning. With only…

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…

This study researched students' perceptions of their adult relationships at school within the Check and Connect™ mentoring program. This research delved into the impact on fostering students' engagement and promoting academic success within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) at a suburban high school in Canterbury County, Florida. The current…

Student demand for online learning is at an all-time high, making the identification of practical strategies for supporting student success in online learning more vital than ever. Positive emotion has been shown to promote self-regulated learning (SRL) and engagement, both evidenced predictors of student success. However, little is known about…

This study employs a mixed-methods approach to explore perceptions of academic advising among faculty, advisors, and undergraduate students at an urban university in the Midwest, focusing on its implications for student success. Utilizing Creswell's research design framework, the research integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection…

Career technical education (CTE) in the 21st century has been a highly visible component of the American public educational framework, with the majority of graduates estimated to have taken at least one CTE course during their time in school. Yet as CTE continues to benefit from atypically broad levels of support in both legislative circles as…

This study sought to develop, implement, and test an Artificial Intelligence Teaching Assistant (AITA) to enhance student engagement and instructor presence in online courses using AI models like OpenAI's 4o model and Integration Platform as a Service (iPaaS) solutions like Microsoft Power Automate. The AITA generated weekly announcements within…

Open educational resources (OER) have gained immense popularity in recent years, due to their ability to offer students and educators access to high-quality, free-to-use educational materials. The widespread use of OER has also been driven by the increasing availability of digital resources and the internet, which has made it easier to create and…

College student retention is a complex phenomenon influenced by a myriad of factors and with wide-ranging implications for university function. First-year seminar is one approach to increase first-year student retention through involvement, engagement, and integration. This quantitative study examines the influence of first-year seminar on…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if and to what extent a relationship existed between student agentic engagement and perceived instructor social engagement with students and student self-reported percentage grades. This research examines three theoretical foundations: self-determination theory, social…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of phenomena-based inquiry on students' engagement levels in my science classroom. This action research study took place in the fall of 2021 with six student participants. Participants were enrolled in an 8th grade honors science course in a middle school in South Carolina. The research was…

The Division of Student Engagement and Enrollment Services at Old Dominion University (ODU) submitted a Request for Assistance to examine the challenges sophomore students face that can lead to attrition. A doctoral research team conducted an exploratory, sequential, mixed-methods study consisting of a literature review, focus groups and…