The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine ways to promote computer science (CS) among girls by exploring young women’s experiences and perceptions of CS as well as investigating factors affecting their career aspirations. American girls aged 10–16 participated in focus group interviews as well as pre-, post-, and follow-up surveys while attending a CS camp. The analysis of data revealed that although the participants were generally positive about the CS field, they had very limited knowledge of and experience with CS, leading to little aspiration to become computer scientists. The findings also indicated that girls’ affinity for and confidence in CS were critical factors affecting their motivation for pursuing a CS-related career. The study demonstrated that participation in the CS camp motivated a small number of participants to be interested in majoring in CS, but the activity time was too short to make a significant impact. Based on the findings, we suggest that providing CS programming experiences in K-12 classrooms is important in order to boost girls’ confidence and interest in CS.

Various factors affecting technology integration have been identified, but little research has examined the relationships between factors, especially internal and external ones, and whether they directly or indirectly influenced each other. To fill this research gap, this study examined the significance and relationships of five factors influencing technology integration. A proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling with self-reported data from 223 K–12 school teachers in the United States. The findings demonstrated that perceived benefits and an appropriate budget directly influenced teachers' technology use in classrooms, and teachers' perceived benefits were affected by their confidence in technology integration and professional development. Results from this study suggest that in order to foster teacher technology integration, educators should develop a systematic approach that holistically addresses different needs for various factors.

While virtual reality (VR) technology can provide students with first-hand and situational learning experiences, limited studies have integrated VR in a K-12 classroom, resulting in the lack of understanding of the benefits and challenges of VR use in classroom settings. To examine the impact of VR on student learning, this study employed a mixed-methods quasi-experimental research approach and integrated a fully immersive VR (i.e., Oculus Quest) and non-immersive VR (i.e., 3D website) into 9th-grade social studies classrooms. The findings demonstrated that while the quantitative data did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement in knowledge development and classroom engagement after students use VR, qualitative data showed positive learning benefits and classroom engagement. Furthermore, statistically significant growth was observed in the development of historical empathy with VR use. The findings share critical insight into the impact of VR on student learning and the challenges of VR integration in a K-12 classroom.

The purpose of this study is to examine if providing an intercultural online collaboration experience is beneficial to enhance pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy for technology integration, intercultural sensitivity, and communication and collaboration skills. The authors compared the experiences of two groups (intercultural group vs. same-culture group) by using mixed-design ANOVA and content analysis. A total of 115 pre-service teachers from two universities in the USA and one university in South Korea participated. The results indicated that students in both groups significantly improved their self-efficacy for technology integration and technology skills after participation. Although no significant difference between groups was found in quantitative data, qualitative analysis showed that students in the intercultural group demonstrated a more in-depth understanding of effective ways to communicate with people from different cultures online. We conclude that intercultural online collaboration enhanced pre-service teachers’ confidence in working with overseas partners and provided them with authentic collaboration opportunities.

This study explored an initiative that created a pervasive learning environment in a middle school in South Korea and examined its impact on student academic achievement and learning engagement. Forty students received a laptop to use for class projects, online collaboration, and lesson reviews over a 3-year period. To measure the effect of laptop use, data were collected from surveys, test scores, interviews with students, and teacher reflections. The findings indicate that students demonstrated greater learning engagement, but no significant difference was found in test scores between students who had been given laptops and those who had not. Moreover, student engagement decreased as the novelty effect waned, while the number of students who used laptops inappropriately (e.g., playing online games during class) increased as the project progressed. Detailed explanations for this lack of influence on learning and decreased engagement are provided.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the leadership development of Korean American youth who participated in a community-based participatory action research program designed to assist community members affected by COVID-19. Participants were drawn from a small town in the southeastern part of the U.S. Using a case study approach, multiple qualitative data (e.g., focus group conversations) and quantitative survey data were collected to explore the learning experiences of 15 Korean American adolescents. Qualitative data was analyzed following the six steps of thematic analysis, and descriptive statistics were performed to analyze quantitative data. Findings suggest that the program provided authentic learning opportunities in which participants researched the needs of community members and implemented action plans to help them. The program also helped participants improve communication skills and broaden their leadership perspectives. However, participants’ perceived leadership development differed depending on their self-identified ethnic identity, and those students who lacked Korean language abilities demonstrated difficulties in collaborating with fluent Korean-speaking peers in bilingual learning environments. This study addresses gaps in the youth development literature by describing how a community-based approach and culturally relevant practice can help Asian American youth develop leadership and inspire them to be change agents in their communities.