Teaching critical thinking (CT) to prospective teachers has been a concern for a long time, and prospective teacher training becomes an appropriate period for interventions that promote CT ability. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a model of learning that accommodates aspects of prior knowledge, motivation, and CT. This study aims to develop…

This dissertation investigates how benefits derive from information systems (IS). Using theory and research from multiple disciplines, including psychology, strategy, and IS, I investigated the roles of system use, perceived information quality and the context of organizational culture in the realization of IS benefits. The productivity paradox…

In the early 1990s, the educational system in the U.S. began to change with the advent of publicly-operated charter schools. In recent years, there has been a surge in parents opting for this type of alternative educational setting to meet the needs of their students. This increase in enrollment did not preclude students with disabilities. This…

For 30 years, science education researchers and practitioners have waited for the promise of pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) to be fulfilled. PCK has the potential to shape instruction, teacher professional learning, and instructional materials. When the field speaks about PCK in terms of these benefits, a particular kind of PCK is envisioned.…

Teacher evaluation has been a topic of conversation at the federal, state and local level in recent years. While commonly viewed as a way for administrators to inform their personnel decisions, teacher evaluation is rarely assessed on its ability to support teacher growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Connecticut SEED model of…

Interactive learning environments facilitate learning by providing hints to fill the gaps in the understanding of a concept. Studies suggest that hints are not used optimally by learners. Either they are used unnecessarily or not used at all. It has been shown that learning outcomes can be improved by providing hints when needed. An effective…

This study proposes a formal multi-step methodology for qualitative assessment of topic modeling results in the context of online learner motivation to purchase Statements of Participation (SoP). We developed Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) based topic models on open-ended responses of three post-course survey questions from 280 open courses…

Colleges and universities have experienced a decline in enrollments and growing financial instability, creating an uncertain environment throughout the higher education sector. Uncertainty can potentially decrease employee engagement. Disengaged employees typically cost U.S. corporations $350 billion annually (Osborne & Hammoud, 2017). This…

Throughout the years, Mathematical Modeling has gained international attention, not only in research but also in the development of curricula and its applications in the classroom. However, systematic literary surveys are scarce. In this paper, we present some findings from a survey of 485 international publications related to different aspects of…

This dissertation sheds light on some of the representations used in human language production. Language production consists of several distinct stages; in particular, we focus on the stages of lexical retrieval and grammatical encoding. Lexical retrieval involves retrieving the words required to express the intended meaning; grammatical encoding…

The contemporary Extension 4-H program is focused on positive youth development, providing experiences that increase the likelihood of enhanced wellbeing and optimal development for 4-H participants. Despite the longevity, reach, and success of the 4-H program, however, with few notable exceptions, there has been relatively little attention paid…

Background: It is widely recognised internationally that participation in higher education is likely to lead to increased opportunities and resources. However, only a minority of learners from Roma backgrounds continue into post-compulsory education. As important research into inclusion continues, more attention must be paid to the identification…

This pretest/posttest study investigated the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary program in which occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists used a combination of video modeling, scenario-based learning, guided discussion, and reflection on the development of interpersonal skills and work readiness among students with disabilities.…

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss the impact of an international book exchange project done with elementary students from a professional development school partnership on the understanding of project-based learning by pre-service teachers. Design/methodology/approach: A collaborative project between a school in Uganda, a…

The Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction (ARCS) model provides a basis for integrating motivational dynamics and technological affordances into the design and implementation of instructions to maintain learner motivation and interest. Little attention has been paid to this potential in teaching the complex and often demotivating…