Establishment of online communities in distance education has been linked to improved engagement, retention, and learning outcomes. This study investigates how online community building was fostered in the text-based Discussion Board (DB) and multimodal VoiceThread (VT) in one of the postgraduate units offered by Open Universities Australia.…

This study explored the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the academic quality of a Foundation in Engineering programme. A Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) was administered before and during the pandemic to evaluate the six dimensions of academic quality--assessment, workload, teaching, academic environment, standards, and skills…

Leadership training commonly brings individuals or teams together in face-to-face settings to network and build their skills in groups referred to as "cohorts." The pandemic of 2020 forced leadership training programs to be held virtually, bringing into question how programs could foster a sense of "cohortness," or a collegial…

This study examined the effect of prompts on the shared reading interactions of parents and young children with Down syndrome. Eight parents and their children with Down syndrome (aged 4 years, 7 months to 6 years, 9 months) were recorded reading two books together, one of which included 12 question prompts which parents were instructed to ask…

This dissertation examined the relationship between participation in an academic coaching program and retention for community college students enrolled in developmental education courses. With low retention and completion rates for students beginning in developmental courses, support programs to improve student success are needed. This…

This research study synthesizes research on applications of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform and improve quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing students. Twenty studies were analyzed, spanning domains including AI-enabled captioning, interpreters, personalized tutors, social robots, and assistive apps. Key findings demonstrate…

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of workplace learning experience and intrinsic learning motive on job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In addition, the study examined the moderating effect of intrinsic learning motives on the relationship between learning experience and job satisfaction and organizational commitment.…

Introduction: The main focus of early intervention is to strengthen the interaction of parents with young children with disabilities, and to ensure that parents become active participants in the development and education of their children. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of an Early Intervention Program based on…

This study explored the interactional aspects of text messaging on mobile phones for youth with complex communication needs. A qualitative case study design was used to investigate aspects such as reasons, place, timing of communication, content and communication partners. Data were gathered from seven youth with complex communication needs…

Center-based classroom community interventions create opportunities for young children with autism to connect with peers. Yet, there has been little examination of the peer interactions of toddlers with autism who experience core challenges in social communication and play skills that may create barriers to successful peer interactions. Classrooms…

We investigate the effects of guided group work sessions on graduate student performance on a quantum mechanics assessment. Data from a single large Midwestern university were taken over a five-year period, during which guided group work sessions were offered to accompany the graduate-level quantum mechanics course. Students were pre- and…

Decades of research indicate teacher dissatisfaction with traditional professional development (PD), while a growing body of research literature indicates the value of heutagogical and andragogical learning in PD. This case study examines the experiences of 43 preservice teachers as they took part in professional development book clubs as part of…

Parent coaching interventions have been shown to be effective for increasing parent responsiveness and improving communication skills for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, few interventions have involved fathers. Challenges to father involvement include scheduling limitations, as well as evidence that strategies and activities…

This study examines the effects of interactive book reading (IBR) implementations on typically developing students' social acceptance of students with special needs. Since inter-group and within-group comparisons are to be made, a split-plot design of factorial designs was used in the study. In this study, the Social Acceptance Scale (SAS) was…

The number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) attending institutions of higher education continues to increase while typical accommodations provided by campus disability service offices often remain unchanged. Based on the unique characteristics associated with ASD, the need for supports and "soft accommodations" continues…