The effects of using interactive media have been well studied among young children and adolescents but remain understudied for middle childhood (ages 6-12 years). Children and youth of this age comprise much of the pre-adult population that uses digital games and apps. The Every Student Succeeds Act says that states must give students access to…

There are two important premises at the core of the American democracy: inclusion and dissent. Focusing on the premise of democratic dissent, the overarching goal of this study is understanding how colleges may encourage desirable civic outcomes. This dissertation is proceeds in an alternative format, containing three distinct manuscripts. Chapter…

This dissertation examined possible factors that preservice teachers encounter during initial teacher preparation programs that may impact their attitudes towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, their efficacy regarding teaching students with disabilities and their epistemological development. This…

This study was designed to determine what change the i-Ready math tutorial videos had on math performance, self-efficacy, and math anxiety with middle school math students. In addition, the study determined the student perception of the effectiveness of the i-Ready math tutorial videos. The purpose was to help educators identify a specific tool…

More students with High Functioning Autism (HFA) are in inclusive settings than ever before, however, the physical combination of students with HFA and their typical peers alone is insufficient to address the social needs of students with HFA. Students with HFA in inclusive settings require evidence-based practices (EBPs) for social skills to be…

This dissertation is a case study of a school district in the Pacific Northwest that developed three-year high school science curricula using a Physics First course sequence (Physics, Chemistry, Biology), with the crosscutting concept "Patterns" as the central theme of the courses. The purpose of the study was to examine the impact of…

The purpose of this project was to determine if a self-directed, modern technology-based teaching method was as effective at teaching content as the traditional lecture and workbook teaching method. With the demographics of Living Word Baptist Church Elizabethtown being mostly Generation X and Millennials, it appeared prudent to tailor any teacher…

The Experience, Represent, Apply (ERA) heuristic is an innovation of the Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) project. It provided educators with an approach that embeds digital technologies in play-based learning in such a way that the focus of the learning remains on the child and not on the device. This paper reports on the experiences of early…

To address concerns about the public postsecondary education offerings available to District of Columbia residents, the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 (P.L. 106-98) established the District of Columbia Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG) program. The program is meant to provide college-bound DC residents with a greater array of…

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been challenging the traditional model of higher education since their appearance in 2008. Nowadays they draw a great deal of attention from all the parties involved: students, teachers, administrators and investors. Although such courses offer a wide range of possibilities and hold considerable potential,…

Research demonstrates a wide range of positive outcomes for children who are physically active, including higher academic achievement, higher likelihood to attend college, increased success in the workplace, lower heath care costs, and decreased risk for obesity and other health problems (Aspen Institute Sport for All Play for Life; Menestrel…

The construct of reading comprehension has changed significantly in the 21st century, however, some test designs have not evolved sufficiently to capture these changes. Specifically, the nature of literacy sources and skills required has changed (wrought primarily by widespread use of digital technologies). Modern theories of comprehension and…

Education Commission of the States (ECS) researched Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) policies in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to provide this comprehensive resource. States create their SLDS through a variety of means. The main methods examined in this 50-State Comparison are: statute/legislation, executive order,…

This tool is designed to be used by Student Success Center executive directors to gather input and prepare coaches to integrate and enact an equity frame in guided pathways implementation. The tool utilizes the Community College Research Initiative's (CCRI) Coaching for Change framework to apply equity and equity-mindedness (Center for Urban…

Since 2008, Sallie Mae has surveyed American families with an undergraduate student about their attitudes toward college and how they paid for it. The "How America Pays for College" research has provided insight regarding families' belief in the value of a college education, how they are making college more affordable, the relationship…