Previous literature has indicated a lack of information available regarding virtual schooling and how it compares to traditional schooling in terms of the academic achievement of students (Angiello, 2010; Brady, 2012; Dichev, Dicheva, Agre, & Angelova, 2013; Molnar et al., 2019; Molnar, 2021). This study aimed to examine differences among…

This study explored the use of hybrid online learning methods as employed in an alternative school environment in the rural Midwest. Using Self-Regulative Theory as a theoretical lens, this study discusses how self-regulative abilities play a role in the academic success of students of varying backgrounds. Findings suggest that both alternative…

This study focused on postsecondary students who participated in solely online educational programs. The study sought to determine if there was a correlation between student personality traits and their ability to persist in online programs. In addition, this study revealed if a certain personality profile, based on the dominant trait, correlated…

Generic statements are a fundamental linguistic tool for efficiently passing along information. Yet they can leave a lot unsaid, such as how broadly they apply. In this dissertation, I examine how generic statements work as a pedagogical tool. To do so, I use the esport "League of Legends" as a naturalistic experimental setting in which…

Engagement of learners is a critical determinant of efficacy in any educational program, and presents a unique challenge in a distributed, virtual method of delivery. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore lived experiences and perceptions of K-12 teachers and administrators about cognitive engagement in distributed, virtual…

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how connective experiences are built between elementary teachers and parents in a virtual setting at the ABC school district in the southeastern region of the United States. The theory guiding this study was Siemens' connectiveness theory, as it explored the students'…

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, to decrease the risk of viral spread, universities in the United States were forced to transition traditional classroom learning to online learning formats. Instructors who were teaching face-to-face classes had to urgently transition those courses to all-online. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological…

YouTube viewers watch over a billion hours of videos monthly and have multiple choices on professional development resources. User-generated content (UGC) on YouTube is created by individuals instead of brands and uses different typologies of video production styles. This study examined 80 YouTube microlearning videos that provided insight into…

In education, machine learning (ML), especially deep learning (DL) in recent years, has been extensively used to improve both teaching and learning. Despite the rapid advancement of ML and its application in education, a few challenges remain to be addressed. In this thesis, in particular, we focus on two such challenges: (i) data scarcity and…

The impact of COVID-19 and the global social distancing restrictions in place since March of 2019 in the United States are still being studied. The current knowledge suggests that traditional learning has a positive impact on subjective perceptions on quality of life (PQoL), that ICT (Information and Communications Technology)-based learning…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Texas students stayed home and learned virtually for portions or the entirety of the 2020-2021 school year. TEA (2021b) reports indicated virtual learners scored lower than students who returned face-to-face on many assessments. Research question one asked what are the perceived factors that affected 8th-grade…

The purpose of this research was to explore master-level counseling students' lived experiences when taking online counselor education courses within the past five years (i.e., 2017-2022). Traditionally, counselor education programs and classes are offered through in-person learning modalities. However, the increased movement and utilization of…

Sub-proficient reading affects students' academic achievement and has impacts beyond the classroom. Use of online reading programs to support reading skills has been demonstrated, yet little research related to middle school students and the barriers they face exists. The problem addressed in this study is 66% of U.S. middle school students read…

The informatics competency gap for nurses has existed since the first use of technology in healthcare. Although numerous informatics competencies for nurses have been identified over the past 20 years, there is a lack of standardized educational content to help address the informatics competency gap. In a digital healthcare environment, the…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on special education student teachers while they were doing the practicum. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to analyze interviews of 11 special education teachers who completed their practicum experience in the spring of 2020, when the…