Digital media and advancements in learning technologies have dramatically reshaped the landscape of K-12 education. By 2018, 96% of public schools had the infrastructure required for digital learning. This dissertation evaluates how augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are integrated into K-12 education, focusing on…

Clinical Reasoning (CR) integrates thinking and decision-making in clinical practice (Huhn et al., 2019). CR is an established area of research in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) education (Musolino & Jensen, 2019; Jensen & Mostrom, 2012) and has been acknowledged as a core competency of physical therapist residency education (APTA…

Background: Current evaluation methods for nurse anesthesia students primarily assess didactic knowledge while lacking measures to evaluate students' critical thinking and application of clinical knowledge in decision making (Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthetists [COA], 2022; Staun et al., 2020). Purpose: This study aimed to develop an…

The purpose of this research was to establish a case for the use of serious simulation games as a tool to enhance the learning of sales leadership skills. The study provides taxonomy around serious simulation games as a specific modality at the intersection of serious games and simulation games, which have a focus toward education. A literature…

Vocabulary knowledge is essential for students' academic success. Unfortunately, students with language impairments may struggle to understand classroom vocabulary which may significantly impact a student's academic, behavioral, and social outcomes. Although most students with language impairments spend most of their school day in general…

The goal of this research was to design, develop, and evaluate VRI (Virtual Reality Instructional) and ARI (Augmented Reality Instructional) modules to supplement traditional education and training. The objectives of this research were to (1) design and develop the VRI modules for use in immersive and non-immersive environments; (2) evaluate those…

At the molecular level, chemical processes involve the rearrangement of atoms in space and time. Students often struggle with visualizing the 3D spatial characteristics of molecules and transition states, as well as recognizing the dynamic nature of chemistry. Both visual spatial skills and representational competence should be explicitly trained…

The integration of Social Emotional Learning into the secondary curriculum is recognized globally as an important set of skills to have, especially since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of combining these skills within a virtual reality program is to engage and enhance the experience the students have learning the new skills.…

This study examined the effectiveness of three instructional and assessment strategies on conceptual understanding of the DNA molecule. Specifically, a model building task was utilized to determine if physical model construction, digital model construction with a touchscreen tablet computer, or paper worksheet activity effected conceptual…

In today's technological era, understanding if and how teachers' acceptance and integration of technology evolves is critical to understanding their needs. Technology creates complicated demands on educators and research shows various factors may contribute to their limited success at integrating it (Bustos & Nussbaum, 2009). Research also…

Central Venous Catheterization (CVC) is a commonly performed medical procedure used for medication delivery to the heart. While CVC is conducted over 5 million times annually it is plagued with high complication rates, resulting in adverse effects on patients, and in the worst cases, death. These complications are directly related to the…

Embodied cognition posits that physical interactions with the environment play a crucial role in learning, including complex, abstract concepts in STEM disciplines. This is relevant for deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) learners who often utilize sign language, which is a naturally embodied, visuospatial mode of communication. My dissertation…

Background: Autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy are prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders. Autistic individuals or individuals with cerebral palsy often struggle with sensory processing that further impacts movement execution. Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a promising assessment and intervention modality to promote motor learning in…

This dissertation used three independent studies to evaluate learning adaptations, techniques, and tools in response to COVID-19. Study 1 provides a personal narrative about COVID-10 and school closures. The first-hand reflection explores technologies used for remote education and how the technologies can improve learning experiences. Study 2 is a…

This research study focuses on providing professional development for teachers using virtual reality in secondary social studies classrooms. Literature surrounding virtual reality for education focuses on the effects of virtual reality on student motivation and engagement. However, there are no current studies available to help instructional…