This action research investigated the impact that culturally responsive read-aloud/text talk (a culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practice) has on student engagement, sense of belonging, and learning outcomes for elementary-age Black students at an inner-city elementary school. In Cycle 1 of this study, information pertaining to the topic of…

The gender gap in mathematics achievement has been shown to cause a discrepancy for women in higher-earning mathematics and science-related professions. This study aimed to determine the relationship between high school students' perceptions of teacher support in their mathematics classes, gender, and academic success. A self-report instrument…

Background: Data storytelling is an interdisciplinary practice that uses visual and narrative elements to engage an audience with data. Students need more opportunities across school curriculum to consider the connections between data and social and environmental contexts. Few studies have investigated how to support teachers in co-designing for…

My dissertation examines undergraduates' online learning experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic through three distinct studies. The primary goal of my dissertation is to shed light on crucial aspects of social cognitive learning theories and learning experience design (LXD) applied in distance learning. These studies, using an LXD approach…

Within the secondary level of education covering students in grades 6-12, reading comprehension continues to be an area of concern for traditional public-school educators. Because students lack the foundations of reading upon entering middle and high school, on average across the United States, many students struggle to meet high school graduation…

Online higher education has become increasingly popular over the last several decades. The COVID-19 pandemic created an additional surge in online course enrollment. While existing research emphasizes the importance of engagement in face-to-face courses, limited knowledge exists regarding design strategies promoting engagement and collaboration in…

This study examined the factors that predict the likelihood of a first-time freshman (FTF) student retaining and graduating in a timely manner at the University of Kansas (KU) based on their perceptions of the frequency and quality of student-faculty engagement, with an emphasis on exploring differences between underrepresented minority students…

This study presents a collaborative learning experience design aimed to promote Algorithmic Literacy (AL) among middle school students. Developed in partnership with middle school teachers and students, the design addresses the need to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate an algorithm-driven digital landscape. The…

There are systematic barriers to educational equity in the U.S. higher education system, and the system overwhelmingly fails Latinx undergraduates more often than other students. It is crucial that evidence-based methods be used to reduce the existing postsecondary student success inequities. Scholars have linked specific educational practices to…

As nontraditional student numbers are rising, it is critical to the students' and to colleges' success to determine what works for the nontraditional student. By using a mixed methods research design to study Tinto's Integration Theory, the researcher collected and analyzed data to determine whether there are relationships between classrooms'…

The United States must tap into its growing minority population in STEM fields to maintain global competitiveness. Despite increased diversity in STEM work-related fields within the United States, African American (AA) students are still underrepresented in STEM majors, resulting in low community participation in STEM careers compared to their…

Writing in English as a second or additional language has become an important skill that can be applied in many areas of human activity. As we become a society within which written text is an important instrument that helps create new ideas, services, and products, English text is often used as a preferred mode of communication. Traditionally…

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of Caribbean immigrant college students on the teacher-student relationship on engagement. The study was conducted at a community college located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The study focused on the lived experiences of these students who have had schooling in the Caribbean and…

First-generation students, especially in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, have low persistence rates. Research shows that one of the barriers to their low persistence is a need for a student-centered pedagogical approach. Research has shown that if an instructor incorporates a pause technique during a standard lecture,…

The use of digital game-based learning has increased in recent years. Educators have a plethora of digital tools to complement their pedagogical practices and to support student learning. This qualitative study examined how 10 high school math teachers perceived the use of Kahoot! as an instructional intervention, and how teachers perceived the…