Educational technologies occupy a significant and high profile position within higher education with some technologies widely used across the sector. However, although the use of new technologies is often encouraged through institutional policy, training and funding, there is significant variation in actual practices - especially with regards to teaching and learning. Research on teacher thinking suggests that this variation is related to university teachers‟ beliefs and knowledge about technology and learning. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate university teachers‟ thinking about their use of technology. The first stage of data collection was a quantitative survey of 795 higher education teachers from a sample of 27 UK universities. This identified institutional and subject-related differences in teachers‟ perceptions of impact and use of particular technologies in their teaching. The second stage of data collection was a qualitative multi-site case study of eleven university teachers from three universities that identified their perceptions and beliefs about technology and the contexts in which they act. It investigated how these individuals formed and reinterpreted their beliefs about technology and how they made decisions about when and how to use (or not use) technology. The thesis shows how university teachers‟ thinking about technology is situated in the culture and contexts in which they live and work. It explores the relationships between pedagogic beliefs, beliefs about technology and teachers‟ perceptions of „control‟ over how they use technology. It identifies how some teachers used technology to communicate their personality and build relationships with students but, also, how some used technologies despite believing that these did not have a positive effect on student learning. It shows how, in making sense of their use of technology, academics draw on multiple sources including understandings of the impact of technology on culture and society, perceptions of higher education and their institution, their subject disciplinary background and their identity as teachers and academics.

This study investigated the value of technology education to elementary school students’ learning of technology concepts and processes as a result of technology education experiences. The research questions were (1) How do elementary school students learn technology concepts as a result of technology education experiences?, (2) How do elementary school students learn technology processes as a result of technology education experiences?, and (3) What are elementary school students’ beliefs and attitudes toward technology and technology activities? This study employed a qualitative research methodology. Evidence has been collected from several major sources for five months: participant observation; semi-structured interviews with students and teacher; and documents including students’ journals, notebooks, written works, and the teacher’s handouts. I presented the evidence through using inductive analysis and interpreted the evidence through the lens of the constructivist perspective. The findings revealed that technology education provided elementary school students with a constructivist learning context. Elementary school students were introduced to meaningful hands-on activities of technology education and encouraged to involve themselves in creative problem solving processes and social interactions. In addition, they conceptualized technology as making, invention, new things, and computers and perceived technology and technology activities as fun and exciting. This study has two major implications for educational practice and further study. First, classroom teachers’ efforts are needed to bridge the gap between elementary school classrooms and cognitive science throughout technology education activities. Second, continued examination of students’ learning of technology concepts and processes is needed in order to investigate the value of ESTE.

This study determined the level of computer use for instructional purposes by technology education teachers in Ohio public schools. The study also investigated the relationships between the level of use and selected factors: expertise; access; attitude; support; and teacher characteristics. This study derived its theoretical framework from Rogers’ (1995) model of diffusion of innovations. A survey-correlation research design was used. A questionnaire was developed and mailed to all technology education teachers (N = 1170) in Ohio public schools in the 2002–2003 school year. Validity and reliability were established for the survey instrument. The return rate of the survey was 66%. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used. The findings of this study indicated that technology education teachers have high levels of computer use in mainstream computer uses such as word processing, e-mail, Internet, and classroom management. Strong positive correlation existed between the level of computer use and teachers’ perceived expertise and teachers’ perceived attitude toward computers as tools. In addition, moderate positive correlation existed between the level of use and teachers’ perceived access to computers. Multiple regression analysis indicated a positive predictive value toward computer use with the demographic characteristics of instructional experience and modular instructional method, and a negative predictive value with age and urban geographic location. The independent variables that explain the greatest amount of variation in the level of computer use were in order of predictive value: teachers’ perceived expertise, attitude, and access. Technology education teachers have high levels of computer use in mainstream applications and low levels of computer use in specialized applications. These levels of use are slightly lower than the state levels. Those teachers that possess expertise are the ones who use the computer for instructional purposes. Positive attitudes toward computers as tools provide a starting point for adoption of computer use. To increase computer use, technology education teachers need to be given more training. In-service training needs to be a top priority. Pre-service programs should include more courses in using computers as tools for teaching and learning.

The widespread use of digital technology has had a remarkable effect on almost every domain of human life. Advanced digital technologies are used for communicating with friends and colleagues; engaging in social media; holding down jobs; paying bills; purchasing tickets for events; listening to music; watching films and making videos; and many other daily activities (Pegrum, 2011). This technological change has caused governments, educational departments, and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to recognize the need to develop educational plans that would support the social and the cultural changes that have occurred with the ubiquitous permeation of digital technology into our everyday lives. The purpose of this research was to examine several socio-cultural aspects related to the integration of digital technology and education. Specifically, this study aimed to explore how teachers’ understanding of digital technology and the practices used in the classrooms advance or constrain democratic citizenship. This dissertation aimed to bridge theory and practice by developing a philosophical investigation through empirical research. The importance of utilizing empirical research in a philosophy follows Arcilla’s (2002) claim that one needs to reconsider how philosophy can become relevant to educators. Through employing critical, qualitative research methodology, this study provides a comparative examination of teachers’ understanding of digital technologies for education, as expressed by teachers in Israel and teachers in the United States. Conducting a comparative examination helped to reveal the meta-ideological aspects of utilizing digital technology in schools. The heart of this study dealt with the promise of digital technology to transform education in the age of globalization, under the neoliberal apparatus. The analysis chapters examine several assumptions regarding digital technology and education, through critical exploration of educational policies, interviews, and class observations. Drawing from Habermas’ (1981/ 1984; 1981/1987) theory, this study examined the tensions between the promise to transform education through technology and the tendency to utilize digital technology in instrumental and technical ways. The study concludes with the proposal of a theoretical framework for developing digital citizenship.

In this inquiry it is argued that examining teacher issues and needs is profoundly important in understanding the successes and failures in the process of integrating technology into education. Given this argument, the study sought to understand those issues and needs by exploring the implementation process of four teacher educators involved in an implementation grant whose goals were to integrate technology into teacher education programs. This qualitative study (1) described the issues and needs of four teacher educators; (2) examined the processes in which the teacher educators engaged to transform their pedagogy; (3) analyzed what impeded or encouraged a beneficial transformation of pedagogy; and (4) reflected critically upon my role as a researcher-technologist-graduate student in this process. Based upon participant observation, unstructured interviews, weekly group meetings, material culture, and a researcher log, it was seen that the teacher educators implemented a variety of technological processes. Such processes were faculty development, technology exploration in the classroom, asynchronous communication, and on-line courseware. The inquiry found that the teacher educators experienced issues and needs that directly affected the success or failure of their technology attempts. Such issues were time, relevance, centrality, community, and money. It was also asserted that the researcher was often conflicted in her role as a researcher, a graduate student, and an educator. These roles often contradicted each other and affected the manner in which interaction among participants occurred. Further, it was hypothesized that the technological goals for the researcher often varied from those of the teacher educators, and it was asserted that understanding the teachers’ goals, objectives, and philosophical beliefs are essential to a technologist – teacher relationship. Conclusions drawn in this study regarding the teachers’ evolution of technology integration were slightly different from previous findings for K-12 educators. Other findings discuss lessons learned and recommendations for similar technological attempts in teacher education programs. A main conclusion of this study was that understanding the needs and issues of teachers is essential in the success of technology integration in education.

This study examined student's perceptions of different forms of technology use for instruction purposes by faculty and whether these different forms of technology can predict instructional quality. The study sought to explore whether different forms of technology: Productivity Tools, Presentation Tools, Communication Tools, and World Wide Web Tools, reliably predict instructional quality. The study also aimed at examining which of the predictors is more important in predicting instructional quality. Data were collected with an online questionnaire comprising three parts. Part I of the instrument collected demographic information. Part II was designed to measure faculty instructional quality as perceived by students. Part III of the instrument relates to the various forms of technology and the seven principles of good practice in undergraduate education (Chickering and Gamson, 1991). A large Midwestern University Teacher Education program was the accessible population from which a convenient sample was drawn. A total of 121 responses were used in the analysis. The response rate of the study was 56.6%. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results of the analysis revealed that approximately 57% of the variance of the student evaluation of Instructional Quality can be accounted for by the linear combination of Productivity Tools, Presentation Tools, Communication Tools, and World Wide Web Tools. The analysis indicated that only two of the independent variables, Productivity Tools and Presentation Tools contributed significantly to the regression. Findings from the supplementary multiple regression analysis of the independent variables: Faculty encourages student and faculty interaction scale - S1, Faculty promotes cooperation among students scale - S2, Faculty promotes active learning techniques scale - S3, Faculty gives prompt feedback scale S4, Faculty emphasizes time on task scale - S5, Faculty communicates high expectations scale - S6 and Faculty respects diverse talents and ways of learning scale - S7 was statistically significant in predicting Instructional Quality. Thirty seven percent of the variance of the student evaluation of Instructional Quality can be accounted for by the linear combination of; S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7 scale. Findings from the null hypothesis and the supplementary analysis converge to indicate combination of Productivity Tools, Presentation Tools, Communication Tools, and World Wide Web Tools can predict Instructional Quality. Among the predictors Presentation Tool emerged as the most important predictor of Instructional Quality. The combination of the independent variables S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7 was statistically significant in predicting Instructional Quality.

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Individual access to mobile devices has increased dramatically in recent years, and faculty and students are beginning to use smartphones and tablets to support teaching and learning. This correlational study surveys faculty and students at a private, liberal arts university to better understand perceptions about the devices for use in an academic setting. Student and faculty responses are compared using adopter categories and innovation attributes developed by Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovations. Two survey instruments were developed for this study. The Faculty Smartphone and Tablet Diffusion of Innovations (FSTDIS) and Student Smartphone and Tablet Diffusion of Innovations (SSTDIS) were created based on a previous survey aimed at faculty adoption of a course management system. The surveys were sent to approximately 250 faculty members and between 1,700 and 1,900 students. Results from the surveys were used to address four research questions comparing faculty and students, as well as perceptions of the value of smartphones and tablets in higher education. Findings from this study can be used by university administrators to increase the adoption of mobile devices for academic purposes. Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of theory provides a framework for technology adoption in organizations.

Research suggests that computer self-efficacy, professional development, and years of teaching experience are critical factors that influence teachers' integration of educational technology in their classrooms. Results of a pilot study conducted by the researcher suggested a strong relationship between the degree of self-confidence teachers demonstrated toward technology and its use in their classrooms. This study builds upon previous research to focus on the relationships among computer self-efficacy and the technology integration perceptions of high school mathematics and science teachers in a Midwestern metropolitan area. This exploratory study selected this particular population to examine factors that may inhibit or encourage technology integration among secondary teachers. These factors were self-efficacy beliefs, professional development, and teaching experience. Data were collected from teachers who volunteered to participate in the study through surveys, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and teaching materials. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively to determine whether relationships existed among the factors under consideration, as well as to detect other patterns that emerged. A moderate, statistically significant correlation was found to exist between perceptions of computer self-efficacy and technology integration among the participants, a finding that was supported by qualitative analysis. The results can inform future research, as well as professional development, continuing education, technology training, and teacher education programs.

This study was based on the hypothesis that gender differences and past experiences with computers and the Internet influence individuals’ perceptions of wireless laptops. The perception of wireless laptops was evaluated according to Rogers’ five attributes of innovations: relative advantages, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. An online questionnaire was utilized in the study, and the total number of participants was 248. Analyses of the data were conducted using multiple regression analysis and one-way analysis of variance. The results of the data indicated that the overall perception of participants on the use of wireless laptops was positive. A statistically significant difference in the perceptions of wireless laptops was found in the groups of graduate students and faculty members. Faculty members showed lowest interest in trying wireless laptops, worried about security problems, and were concerned about the distraction that wireless laptops may bring to learning. The relationship between the perceptions of wireless laptops to five predictors (gender, wireless laptop ownership, wireless laptop experience, attitude toward computers, and attitude toward the Internet) was significant. In evaluating the contribution of each predictor, the attitude toward the Internet was found to be the most important factor in predicting the perceptions of wireless laptops, and was followed by gender, the computer attitude scale, wireless laptop ownership, and experience with wireless laptops. The findings of this study support prior research that an individual’s past experience with computers and the Internet have positive impacts on the perceptions toward technological innovations in terms of wireless laptops in this study. The gender perception about men holding a more positive attitude toward the technological innovation does not exist. This study suggests that in order to take the best advantage of wireless laptops, the utilization and skills of computers and the Internet need to be enhanced; the issues concerning file transmission security and the distraction of using wireless laptops in class should be addressed.

There is a growing trend within secondary and post-secondary institutions to offer information technology (IT) certification programs as instructional vehicles to provide students with viable skills needed by the workforce, to satisfy state skill standards, and to prepare students for postsecondary IT studies. The use of IT certification programs in a formal education setting carries a number of salient issues and implications for educational institutions, IT teachers, administrators, students, and, ultimately, the IT workforce. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the perceived attitudes toward IT certification programs; the perceived need for a particular type of IT certification program; and the perceived need for a state-wide IT certification data collection effort among secondary school educators and business and industry IT professionals in Ohio. Additionally, this study investigated effects of selected demographic characteristics on perceived levels of attitude and need surrounding IT certification in secondary education. The population for this study utilized a census of three different populations that consisted of: a) all IT teachers in the state of Ohio working at either comprehensive high schools or area career centers, b) all principals in the state of Ohio, associated with the IT teachers, and c) all business and industry IT professionals from the state of Ohio who participated in the development of IT skill standards for the Ohio Department of Education during the 2005-2006 academic year. Three parallel descriptive cross-sectional questionnaires were developed by the researcher and sent out to IT teachers, principals, and business and industry IT professionals. The study showed: a significant difference in attitude toward IT certification programs between educators and IT professionals; a perceived need for vendor-neutral certifications programs that prepare individuals to work in multi-vendor environments; and confirmed a high perceived need for a centralized data source on IT certification program and student data. The findings also indicated that while teachers and IT professionals showed no significant differences among males and females on perceived attitude toward IT certification, principals showed significant differences. Strong significant differences were found between certified and non-certified IT professionals on perceived attitude toward IT certification.

Leveraging big data for student data analytics is increasingly integrated throughout university operations from admissions to advising to teaching and learning. Though the possibilities are exciting to consider, they are not without risks to student autonomy, privacy, equity, and educational value. There has been little research showing how universities address such ethical issues in their student data policies and procedures to date though privacy and security policies are abundant. Though privacy and security policies that students sign cover institutions legally, there is more that can be done to support the ethical use of student data analytics at higher education institutions. This exploratory study addressed why it is important to support the four values of autonomy, privacy, equity, and educational value within university student data analytics policies and procedures. A rationale for focusing on these values was discussed through the lens of Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. A comparative case analysis of data analytics policies and procedures at two large, public universities provided insight into what they emphasized and where risks to student autonomy, privacy, equity, and educational value existed. This study concluded with recommendations of how institutional leadership can use proposed principles of ethical student data analytics to evaluate their own policies and procedures and amend risks that are uncovered through analysis.