Week 3 Task

Rubric Standard #1 | Complete > Does the research plan contain all the required elements?

Title * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

Provide a concise (aim for 15 words or fewer) working title for this study. Include the main topic, variables/concepts under investigation, and the relationship between them. A title should be fully explanatory when standing alone and needs to include the most critical key words. Do not use colons and do not write a question.

Have one specific name for your concept or variables throughout your document to ensure alignment.

“Teacher Perceptions of Virtual Learning on Academic Success in Early Childhood Education ” Comment by Deborah Focarile: Do you mean the impact of virtual learning? Comment by Deborah Focarile: Be more specific than Early Childhood Education. Are you looking at PreK/K or elementary in general?

Supporting Literature * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

The first step in developing your study is to search the literature* related to the general area you want to investigate. Provide approximately 15 brief summaries of recent ( within the past 5 years), scholarly ( peer-reviewed *) articles that support/justify/informs your current and relevant problem from your discipline or professional field and/or local setting. Dissertations and other capstones are not peer-reviewed sources. Include the complete APA 7 reference entry followed by (a) an in-text citation; (b) what was studied; (c) what was found; and (d) why this research is important in relation to your study. This evidence provides the justification for your research problem. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Include DOI. Also, please review APA formatting for citing references.

1. Salifu, A. S., Nabie, M. J., & Apawu, J. (2021). College of education preservice teachers' attitude in terms of usefulness, confidence and enjoyment towards geometry by gender. Contemporary Mathematics and Science Education,  2(2), ep21012.

The study investigated the use of technology in preservice teachers' preparation for elementary classrooms (Salifu et al., 2021). As shown by the results, teachers-to-be have a favorable impression of technology overall, but they need to gain the knowledge to implement it effectively in the classroom. This research highlights the need for preservice educators to learn more about integrating technology into their instruction of young children. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Please format these as written above in the instructions (include the a,b, c, d identifiers) so that the program director reviewer can locate the specific information.

2. Rahayu, R. P., & Wirza, Y. (2020). Teachers’ perception of online learning during pandemic covid-19.  Jurnal penelitian pendidikan,  20(3), 392-406 Comment by Deborah Focarile: Journal articles are captialized. You have used the rule for the specific article capitalization for the journal itself.

Rahayu and Wirza (2020) studied the attitudes of early childhood educators toward online education during the COVID-19 epidemic. The results demonstrate that educators had numerous challenges while implementing online instruction, including issues with technology, low student engagement, and inadequate assessment. This research highlights the need for expanded professional development opportunities for educators interested in implementing online learning strategies with preschoolers.

3. Dhawan, S. (2020). Online learning: A panacea in the time of COVID-19 crisis.  Journal of educational technology systems,  49(1), 5-22. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Check APA rules regarding capitalization of journal articles.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, online schooling has been met with both praise and criticism (Dhawan, 2020). Online education, the author argues, has the ability to provide a more adaptable and personalized education, but it also has significant limitations, such as insufficient infrastructure and unreliable connections. This study's significance lies in the fact that it provides context for the benefits and drawbacks of e-learning for young children.

4. Kearney, M., Schuck, S., Aubusson, P., & Burke, P. F. (2018). Teachers’ technology adoption and practices: Lessons learned from the IWB phenomenon.  Teacher Development,  22(4), 481-496. Comment by Deborah Focarile: This article is almost outdated. Please replace with one more current. Rule is 5 years. In 6 months it will be outdated.

Kearney et al. (2018) conducted a comprehensive literature study to identify the barriers to incorporating educational technology into early childhood settings. There are pedagogical, technological, and social constraints that prevent teachers from maximizing the potential of educational technology, according to studies. This research is significant because it highlights some of the challenges associated with implementing technology-based instruction for young children. Insights like these aid in the search for answers to these issues.

5. Simamora, R. M. (2020). The Challenges of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic: An essay analysis of performing arts education students.  Studies in Learning and Teaching,  1(2), 86-103.

The challenges of online education, such as low student engagement and ineffective group projects, are discussed (Simamora, 2020). In light of the findings, it is clear that online education has promise, but caution must be exercised in its design to ensure its success. This research highlights the critical importance of meticulously planning and implementing all aspects of an organization's online infrastructure.

6. Hava, K. (2021). Exploring the role of digital storytelling in student motivation and satisfaction in EFL education.  Computer Assisted Language Learning,  34(7), 958-978.

Researchers looked at the Impact of digital storytelling on preschoolers' linguistic growth (Hava, 2021). Digital storytelling have been shown to aid in language acquisition for young infants. This research highlights the significance of exploring the potential of digital storytelling beyond its current application as a means of educating young children.

7. Yu, Z. (2021). A meta-analysis of the effect of virtual reality technology use in education.  Interactive Learning Environments, 1-21.

This systematic review investigated the Impact of virtual reality on learning and trainee satisfaction during technical skill development (Yu, 2021). Virtual reality has been shown to improve student learning and satisfaction with technical skill instruction. Further study is needed to determine how virtual reality could be used in other sectors, but this one illustrates how it could be used to educate technical skills. This study highlights the significance of investigating the potential applications of virtual reality in early childhood education.

8. Rulyansah, A., Ghufron, S., & Mariati, P. (2023). Competencies of Teachers in Game-based Pedagogy.  Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction,  13(2), 354-370. Comment by Deborah Focarile: APA formatting for article title

The research analyzed how future educators accessed and utilized a virtual professional learning community for educators (Rulyansah et al., 2023). The findings point to the online teacher community as a potential resource for training new educators to effectively integrate technology into the classroom. The study investigates the significance of training future educators to use technology in the classroom, as well as the role that online communities play in assisting current educators in their professional development. This study is significant because it demonstrates the value of online communities for fostering professional development in early childhood education and highlights the significance of providing teachers with opportunities to learn about the classroom application of technology.

9. Wineburg, S., Breakstone, J., McGrew, S., Smith, M. D., & Ortega, T. (2022). Lateral reading on the open Internet: A district-wide field study in high school government classes.  Journal of Educational Psychology. Comment by Deborah Focarile: You are missing volume and edition number

In their discussion of urban legends in education, Wineburg et al. (2022) cast doubt on the common belief that students know best. Many widely held views regarding schooling are shown to be unfounded by the findings. The article emphasizes the significance of teaching using evidence and challenging accepted dogma in the classroom. This study is significant because it debunks some of the most pervasive misunderstandings about online education and demonstrates the significance of employing research-based practices in the formative years of education.

10. Lachner, A., Backfisch, I., & Stürmer, K. (2019). A test-based approach of modeling and measuring technological pedagogical knowledge.  Computers & Education,  142, 103645. Comment by Deborah Focarile: What is this number?

The study analyzed the factors including instructor expertise, confidence, beliefs, and culture that influence the adoption of new technologies in the classroom (Lachner et al., 2019). Teachers were more willing to use technological tools into their lessons if they shared students' enthusiasm for and belief in their usefulness. This research examines the elements that influence educators' choices to implement virtual learning strategies in preschool settings.

11. Martin, F., & Bolliger, D. U. (2018). Engagement matters: Student perceptions on the importance of engagement strategies in the online learning environment.  Online learning,  22(1), 205-222. Comment by Deborah Focarile: outdated Comment by Deborah Focarile: capitalization

Issues with and solutions for students who study independently while online are discussed (Martin & Bolliger, 2018). Students who are isolated from their peers may lose interest in their studies. Yet, solutions exist, including the use of learner autonomy and social presence. The potential of online education for teaching young children is explored in this research project. It demonstrates the difficulties of online education and how to pique students' interest.

12. Vallée, A., Blacher, J., Cariou, A., & Sorbets, E. (2020). Blended learning compared to traditional learning in medical education: systematic review and meta-analysis.  Journal of medical Internet research,  22(8), e16504. Comment by Deborah Focarile: capitalization

Blended learning was investigated in this study (Vallée et al., 2020) in primary schools. The effectiveness of students' education could be enhanced by implementing blended learning strategies, although doing so is challenging for pedagogical, technological, and social reasons. This research demonstrates the potential advantages of blended learning, which mixes online and in-person training, and highlights the challenges that must be addressed before this type of technology can be successfully implemented in preschool and kindergarten settings.

13. Gjelaj, M., Buza, K., Shatri, K., & Zabeli, N. (2020). Digital Technologies in Early Childhood: Attitudes and Practices of Parents and Teachers in Kosovo.  International Journal of Instruction,  13(1), 165-184. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Use APA format for journal article titles.

Preschool educators' attitudes on technology integration were studied by Gjelaj et al. (2002o). b) The study discovered that teachers' perspectives changed depending on factors like their own familiarity with educational technology, the availability of resources, and the encouragement they received from their peers. This research demonstrates the value of providing resources to teachers of young children so that they, too, can expand their knowledge of technology.

14. Alshaikhi, H. I. (2020). Self-directed Teacher Professional Development in Saudi Arabia: EFL Teachers' Perceptions.  Theory & Practice in Language Studies,  10(11). Comment by Deborah Focarile: Use APA format for journal article titles.

This article (Alshaikhi, 2020) uses a sociocultural lens to investigate the perceptions of Saudi EFL teachers toward continuing online education. Sociocultural elements, such as cultural values and social conventions, were found to influence teachers' engagement in professional development programs. The significance of this research to your job: This research demonstrates the Impact of cultural norms and practices on students' ability to learn with and benefit from technological tools. This highlights the need for sociocultural considerations to be integrated into training plans for professionals.

15. Ikhsan, K. (2020). Technology acceptance model, social influence and perceived risk in using mobile applications: empirical evidence in online transportation in Indonesia.  JDM (Jurnal Dinamika Manajemen),  11(2), 127-138.

This research contributes to the TAM by investigating the role of peer pressure and risk aversion in consumers' decisions to use mobile payment systems (Ikhsan, 2020). It was discovered that social influence and perceived risk have a significant role in determining a user's propensity to engage in mobile payment, in addition to the TAM criteria. What this research means for your practice: This research demonstrates that the TAM may be extended to incorporate additional elements that drive technology use, such as social pressure and perceived risk.

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Rubric Standard | Justified > Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the discipline and/or professional field, and local site if applicable? The prospectus should provide relevant statistics and evidence and other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the problem.

Research Problem* (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

Now that you have read and summarized some of the recent literature to understand your problem, in one sentence what is your research problem? * Please remember that for a project study your problem must relate to a meaningful gap * in practice. A dissertation must relate to a meaningful gap in the research about a practice.

The problem for this study is that teachers struggle to engage early childhood learners in virtual learning. Educators in early childhood have often struggled to integrate virtual learning in early childhood education, limiting learners' interaction. Lack of interaction can hinder children's development and cause social withdrawal (Keller, 2020). Teachers used communication tools such as email, zoom, Seesaw, phone, or text to communicate with students and parents. A study by Zalat et al. (2021) demonstrates that integrating virtual learning has remained challenging for teachers in early childhood education. Working with technology with young children, is vital when integrating technology in early childhood learning. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Who are you including in early childhood learners. It is preferred that you use ages or grades rather than this general term. Comment by Deborah Focarile: Delete everything except the ONE sentence that is asked for.

Teachers struggle to work with technology with young children in early childhood education because technology influences lesson time and flow in the early childhood learning environment. A study by Ferri et al. (2020) found that pedagogical, technological, and social challenges deter the optimal use of such tools. To increase scores due to virtual learning, the learning tool Seesaw was used to teach students online virtually (Seesaw, 2014). In the field of early childhood education, to observe issues such as the unreliability of internet connectivity and students' lack of necessary electronic devices pose challenges to effective virtual learning. Similarly, Gillet-Swan (2017) states that virtual learning enables institutions to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to education. However, the cautions against the low engagement of learners who become physically isolated from their colleagues while using the technologies. Such barriers may include a lack of higher technical skills required to use the virtual learning tools and the inability of learners to engage in effective group work (Dhawan, 2020).

Rubric Standard #2 | Meaningful > Has a meaningful problem related to practice been identified in the research literature, and local site if applicable? Addressing the stated problem should be the logical next step, building on what is already known, and staying within the student’s area of professional practice.

Rubric Standard #5 | Original > Does this planned capstone have the potential to make an original contribution? Addressing the problem should result in an original contribution to the field and/or local site.

Rubric Standard #9| Objective > Is the topic approached in an objective manner? The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present foregone conclusions.

Please provide three pieces of evidence below to show that the problem is meaningful to the discipline and research literature. If the study is a project study or a dissertation that uses a local setting as the data collection site, evidence must also be included to justify the use of the local setting. For a dissertation not using a local site, at least three pieces of evidence from the research literature must be presented.

Further study is needed to determine the best ways for educators to incorporate technology into early childhood education. There needs to be more study on the optimal use of technology in early childhood education as the area evolves. Teachers need to be aware of the difficulties associated with implementing virtual learning into their pedagogy if they are to effectively aid their students in overcoming these obstacles and achieving learning success (Alzahrani, 2020). Virtual learning, especially at a young age, can be detrimental to a child's social and emotional development since it limits face-to-face contact (Ferri, 2020) This demonstrates the necessity to design online learning environments that provide young kids with the same level of social and emotional support they would receive in a traditional classroom setting. There is increased demand on elementary school instructors to include virtual learning because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many children were sent home to study, necessitating a rapid adaptation of teaching strategies. The challenges that educators already confront shed light on the difficulty of implementing online education for preschoolers (Peimani & Kamalipour, 2021). This demonstrates the significance of addressing these concerns if we wish to maintain the use of virtual learning in preschool settings.

Alzahrani, N. M. (2020). Augmented reality: A systematic review of its benefits and challenges in e-learning contexts.  Applied Sciences,  10(16), 5660.

Peimani, N., & Kamalipour, H. (2021). Online education and the COVID-19 outbreak: A case study of online teaching during lockdown.  Education Sciences,  11(2), 72.

Ferri, F., Grifoni, P., & Guzzo, T. (2020). Online learning and emergency remote teaching: Opportunities and challenges in emergency situations.  Societies,  10(4), 86.

Rubric Standard #3 | Justified > Is evidence presented that this problem is significant to the discipline and/or professional field, and local site if applicable? The prospectus should provide relevant statistics and evidence and other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the problem.

Purpose * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

To address your stated research problem, what is the purpose of your study? Will you describe, compare, determine, explore, examine, etc.? Complete the purpose sentence below and be sure to clarify your variables/concepts of interest. Your purpose statement should reflect and align* to your problem statement.

. The purpose of this study is to explore teacher perceptions of the challenges they encounter implementing virtual instruction with early childhood learners.

Rubric Standard #8 | Aligned > Do the various aspects of the research plan align? To ensure a solid foundation is built at the prospectus stage, alignment is needed among all study elements including the problem and purpose statements, evidence, framework, research questions, and methodology.

Framework (Conceptual or Theoretical) * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

What theory(ies) and/or concept(s) support (frame) your study and who are the original author(s)? Provide an in-text citation with your response, and the complete APA reference entry with a summary in the Supporting Literature section. Please note that a conceptual framework aligns with a qualitative study, a theoretical framework aligns with a quantitative study, and for a mixed method study it may be either depending on the design so please confer with the methodologist on your committee.

· Complete this Section

· For your prospectus document, develop the background literature section following the annotated outline in the EdD Prospectus Guide.

· These should be from peer-reviewed journal sources, presented in APA format, and provide evidence to support the existence of the gap in practice.

· Use scholarly tone and appropriate APA formatting.

How do these theory(ies) and/or concept(s) inform your research problem, purpose, and methodological decisions?

The logical connections between the framework presented and my study…. Replace this text with your response.

Rubric Standard #4 | Grounded > Is the problem framed to enable the researcher to either build upon or counter the previously published findings on the topic? For most fields, grounding involves articulating the problem within the context of a theoretical or conceptual framework.

Replace this text with your response.

Rubric Standard #8 | Aligned > Do the various aspects of the research plan align? To ensure a solid foundation is built at the prospectus stage, alignment is needed among all study elements including the problem and purpose statements, evidence, framework, research questions, and methodology.

Research Methodology and Design * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

What systematic approach (qualitative, quantitative, or mixed method) and research design (basic qualitative, case study, quasi-experimental, correlational, etc.…) do you plan to use to address your research question(s)? Please note a mixed method study requires competency in both qualitative and quantitative methodology as well as how to combine these into a mixed method design. Please discuss with your committee if a mixed method approach is the best option and remember that you can continue any additional research after graduation. In the space below, justify your choice of approach and design, with citations from the literature, and discuss how your methodology aligns to your problem, purpose, and research questions.

Replace this text with your response.

For your planned research design, discuss the type of data you intend to collect and how you plan to collect the data (i.e. secondary databases such IPEDs, self-designed interview protocol, online survey initially published by Pearson, interviews of teachers, etc.…). Briefly summarize the setting of your data collection, such as “planning semistructured interviews with approximately 10 to 12 fourth grade teachers from three school districts that have a total of 103 fourth grade teachers”.

For my planned research design, I will use the following data sources Replace this text with your response.

What limitations, challenges, and/or barriers might you need to address while conducting this study (e.g., access to participants, access to data, requirements for storing data, your role at the research site or other ethical / IRB considerations, permission to use the instrument, instrumentation fees, etc.)? Please click here * to review the most common IRB issues and how to schedule an appointment with an IRB member to discuss any concerns. If one of the barriers is to collect the data, then reconsider this study idea. Without data, you have no study. You cannot complete your program without a study.

Replace this text with your response.

Rubric Standard #7 | Feasible > Can a systematic method of inquiry be used to address the problem? The tentative methodology demonstrates that the researcher has considered the options for inquiry, selected an approach that has the potential to address the problem, and considered risks and burdens placed on research participants.

Significance * (Click on this title to be linked to more information)

How does your study have the potential to make an original contribution toward addressing a gap in practice and to positive social change?

This study is significant in that Replace this text with your response.

Rubric Standard #6 | Impact > Does this study have the potential to affect positive social change? As documented in the Significance section, the anticipated findings and project, if applicable, should have the potential to support the mission of Walden University to promote positive social change.

Rubric Standard #9| Objective > Is the topic approached in an objective manner? The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present foregone conclusions.

Partner Site Masking Self-Check *

Walden capstones typically mask the identity of the partner organization. The methodological and ethical reasons for this practice as well as criteria for exceptions are outlined here (link to posted guidance).

☐ Check here to confirm that you will mask the identity of the organization in the final capstone that you publish in ProQuest.

☐ Check here if you perceive that your partner organization’s identity would be impossible to mask or if there is a strong rationale for naming the organization in your capstone, please check this box so that your Program Director can review your request for an exception.