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Little research addresses the schooling experiences of non-binary students; no prior work explores their experiences in cyber schools. Using unique data from a US multi-state cyber charter school, we compare the factors parents of non-binary students and parents of other students stated as reasons for leaving their prior schools to attend a cyber charter school in fall 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic). Despite a small sample size, we found statistically significant differences, with parents of non-binary students two to three times more likely to indicate mental health, safety, and bullying related concerns as motivating their choice of cyber schooling. There were no significant differences regarding physical health, and few involving academic concerns. We also note implications, and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full time virtual schools may offer help for at-risk students through personalized learning options where students can catch up with past work in a non-traditional environment. Thus, we need to understand the reasons at-risk learners choose a virtual school as well as their expectations and experiences in such schools. This research study implemented focus groups with 16 parents of at-risk students enrolled in virtual schools to understand their perceptions of at-risk learners’ choices to attend and experiences in a virtual school. Results showed that parents of at-risk students chose a school for safety, medical/health, student behavior and academic reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyber charter schools may increase access to a range of educational offerings, but they substantially underperform traditional public schools on measured academic performance, as demonstrated in a range of studies with distinct samples and methods. Artificial testing conditions offer a possible explanation. In contrast to face-to-face students, for cyber charter students standardized testing occurs in unfamiliar locations, often hours from the location of instruction (home), possibly leading to fatigue and lesser performance. Geocoding home locations and testing sites for 2015–18 mathematics, ELA, and science test scores from 5,493 cyber school students in a northern state, we test whether drive times affect performance, controlling for student characteristics. Save for marginal statistical impacts on mathematics tests, we find no evidence that drive times affect cyber student measured academic performance. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have been widely adopted in the intervention literature for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The systematic and predictable nature of ICTs make them particularly attractive for individuals with ASD. One ICT that has potential promise for individuals with ASD is virtual reality (VR). However, to date there is limited evidence of intervention effects for individuals with ASD when delivered via VR. The aim of this study was to extend the literature on the use of VR with individuals with ASD by presenting the design, implementation, and formative evaluation of a spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) mobile app. Using Design Based Research methods, we conducted a formative evaluation to investigate the SVVR app from the perspectives of (1) user experience, (2) feasibility, (3) relevance, and (4) usability for adults with ASD. The evaluation was conducted in two phases and consisted of expert review with four content experts and structured usage testing with five adults with ASD. Results indicate that participants with ASD found the SVVR app to be easy to use and reported an overall positive user-experience; results from expert review suggest a feasible, relevant, and easy-to-use intervention. The pedagogical and theoretical footing that informed the design and implementation of the SVVR mobile app for individuals with ASD is presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) analyses find that cyber charter schools in seventeen states show consistently low reading and mathematics value-added test scores compared to traditional public schools serving comparable students. This generally accords with prior research. We hypothesize that the relatively poor measured academic value-added of cyber charters reflects artificial testing conditions for students in those schools. Accordingly, we have collected testing information from the seventeen CREDO states. State-level analyses find that cyber student persistence, which likely indicates school quality, correlates moderately and significantly with the cyber student academic value-added as measured by CREDO. Further, we find evidence of lower cyber school value-added in states which permit cybers to use narrow testing windows, perhaps reflecting testing fatigue on the part of test-takers. We discuss implications, and suggest next steps for research exploring whether testing conditions affect measured cyber charter performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss some concerns and recommendations of Saultz and Fusarelli (2017), offering nuanced and detailed views of online schooling from a different perspective. This includes addressing challenges regarding online learning such as fluctuating enrollments, financial concerns, quality assurance, and accountability. In addition, we propose recommendations related to funding, better quality data, and oversight and monitoring. We conclude with a short discussion of the need for differentiated research for specific online learning contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food safety training is utilized in the food industry to provide employees with the needed knowledge on how to prevent foodborne illnesses. However, although there is evidence that current food safety training is effective in increasing employee knowledge, employees’ observed behaviors often do not change and, therefore, the risk of foodborne illness is not decreased. In this review we discuss several motivational theories and propose a unique use of augmented reality for training to increase compliance of employees in regards to safe handling of foods. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this case study was to examine challenges faced by virtual school leaders in the United States. Through semistructured interviews, the researchers explored challenges faced by eighteen leaders of fully online or blended online programs. Analysis revealed six main challenges: funding, staff, accountability, time, parents, and professional development. The researchers found virtual school leaders face many of the same categorical challenges as leaders in brick-and-mortar schools. The nuances of the challenges, however, are distinct. The researchers concluded that the field of educational leadership must respond to the needs of these leaders through preservice training, in-service professional development, policy reform, and additional research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A literature review of 121 peer-reviewed articles, books, and conference proceedings was conducted to determine the signature pedagogies of social studies education and technology integration. The authors found that the signature social studies pedagogy is based on two primary instructional models: direct-instruction and inquiry-based, student-centered learning. Technology can be used to support both models, although its potential lies more in enabling inquiry-based, student-centered learning. Future trends and study ideas are offered in helping practitioners and researchers to advance technology integration into the signature social studies pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]