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Practitioner Experiences In Teacher Education Partnerships: Examining Practice In An Accredited Professional Development School, Jennifer J. Roth, Derek Decker, Donna D. Cooner

Journal of Practitioner Research

In this qualitative study, practitioner researchers used focus group methodology to collect clinical partnership stakeholders’ descriptions of their understanding of rich practitioner practice and the benefits of clinical partnerships as defined by CAEP Standard 2. These descriptions provided the data that was analyzed through a deductive and inductive coding process. It was found that stakeholders described clinical experiences as crucial to teacher candidates’ development of knowledge, skills, and professional dispositions, and identified clinical experiences as the space where theory and practice intersect. Findings also showed that stakeholders identified collaboration, mutually beneficial, sustaining and generative, shared accountability, and positive impact as …

An Exploration Of Adjunct Faculty Preferences For Professional Development Opportunities At A Florida State College, Ashley M. Navarro

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore adjunct faculty perceptions of factors that influence participation in faculty development at a multi-campus Florida state college. To improve Florida state college adjunct faculty participation in faculty development, it was necessary to examine their faculty development needs and the incentives and barriers that influence their participation in faculty development. This study extended the research on characteristics of adjunct faculty and their faculty development interests. This quantitative study addressed the gap in the literature related to the scheduling, format, and communication preferences of a Florida state college adjunct faculty, related to faculty development. …

New Gta’S And The Pre-Semester Orientation: The Need For Informed Refinement, Jessica L. Griffith

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In a First Year Composition (FYC) setting, many courses are taught by graduate assistants, regardless of if these instructors are truly qualified to teach. Incoming instructors must balance their roles as students with that of brand-new teachers, with each of them attempting to incorporate their own pedagogical approach. Therefore, it would benefit FYC programs to have a solid training program in place, specifically with the pre-semester orientation, in order to smoothly transition these new instructors.

To clarify, this is not to suggest that many programs are not already strong. It does suggest that programs must adapt to the changing climate …

Relationships Between Major, Performance, Time On Academic Activities, Social Activities, And Gender Of First-Year Traditional Students, Denise Darby

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher education institutions are tasked with providing opportunities in and out of the classroom that provide students opportunities for a successful college experience. First year student expectations of the college experience initially influence selection of academic and social activities. Unmet or unrealistic expectations may lead to poor academic outcomes, stunted social development, and attrition.

This study focused on traditional first year students at the onset of their college career. Through selection of anticipated field of major study, GPA, and extracurricular activities, students initially identify potential academic activities and potential social activities. This study provided quantitative data in an effort to …

Assessing Study Abroad Relationship With Perceived Global Competence Levels Of Undergraduate Business Students, Pavla Ozkul

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Educating for global competence is vital if college graduates are to thrive in today’s technology driven and globally competitive world. One strategy for introducing students to unknown cultures and gaining important life skills is participation in a study abroad experience.

The purpose of this exploratory quasi-experimental research design study was to assess the relationship between perceived global competence levels and participation in study abroad experiences of business undergraduate students. The study assessed three dimensions of personal development: cognitive, intrapersonal, and interpersonal in a multicultural environment using a total of six global competence scales. Data were gathered from business undergraduate students …

Support Received From The Dissertation Advisor And The Graduate Student Success Of Doctoral Students Majoring In The Sciences, Brittany N. Sheehy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study utilized surveys to explore how science doctoral students receive support from their dissertation advisors and its relationship to graduate student success outcomes. The survey was distributed to active doctoral students majoring in the sciences at one large, public, Southeastern University. Within examining how the support science doctoral students receives relates to graduate student success outcomes, the study also examined additional factors that could influence graduate student success such as the participant size of the laboratory group, experience with undergraduate research, and time in program.

Findings revealed that on average science doctoral students report receiving more psychosocial support …

Peer Mentoring Effect On Student Satisfaction At A Two-Year Institution, Lori Scribner

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Student satisfaction has been linked to student persistence with higher retention rates (Edens, 2012). A correlation has been established linking academics, social integration, and retention (Collings, Swanson, & Watkins, 2014). Peer mentoring contributes to student satisfaction by helping students adapt to the culture of the institution. Peer mentoring is a way to help with social integration. Mentoring connects academic integration, social integration, and goal commitment (Collings et al., 2014). A research study examined the relationship between a peer mentoring intervention and student satisfaction with a private two-year higher education institution. The purpose was to answer the following question: Did the …