Digital Commons Network^™

Communicating Collaboration And Empowerment: A Research Novel Of Relationships With Domestic Violence Workers, Elizabeth A. Curry

Elizabeth Curry

This dissertation is an experiment in thinking with the story, not about the story in order to erase the boundaries between analysis and narrative. CASA, Community Action Stops Abuse, is the context for this research on the lived realities and meaning of working with an empowerment philosophy. A University-Community Initiative (UCI) grant with CASA and the University of South Florida is the occasion to study the communicative aspects of individual and collective perceptions of empowerment. The dissertation focuses broadly on two UCI project goals: developing a collaborative relationship and producing a booklet of stories about the work of paid staff …

Transitioning From Elementary To Junior High: Action Research At Bark River-Harris School District, Jason B. Lockwood

All NMU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this action research was to identify factors related to attendance and academics that contribute to student failures and absenteeism in a rural school district. Comparing data between 2012-2013 through 2014-2015, the school district administration recognized a trend in failing grades and absenteeism in the middle school grades. Using a mixed methods design, data was collected from an on-line survey, focus group interviews, teacher interviews and student records. The seventh grade class of 57 students were recruited with twenty-four students participating. The key findings included both teacher behaviors and student behaviors which contributed to the trend in …

Problem Analysis In Community Violence Assessments: Reavealing Early Childhood Trauma As A Driver Of Youth And Gang Violence, Laurie Ross Phd, Samantha Arsenault, Sergeant Miguel Lopez

Mosakowski Institute for Public Enterprise

Problem analysis conducted by a university-based research partner can provide communities with data-driven options to address the local drivers of serious youth and gang violence. Situated in Worcester, Massachusetts, this article describes how after early childhood trauma was identified as a potential driver of adolescent and young adult violence, problem analysis using local data confirmed that being the victim or witness of a traumatic incident before the age of 12 was significantly correlated with involvement in violence in adolescence or young adulthood. While there is a robust literature on the relationship between early childhood trauma and later delinquency, local decision-makers …

Research And Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of E-Learning In The Case Of Linear Programming, Ljiljana Miletić, Goran Lesaja

Department of Mathematical Sciences Faculty Publications

The paper evaluates the effectiveness of the e-learning approach to linearprogramming. The goal was to investigate how proper use of information andcommunication technologies (ICT) and interactive learning helps to improve high schoolstudents’ understanding, learning and retention of advanced non-curriculum material.The hypothesis was that ICT and e-learning is helpful in teaching linear programmingmethods. In the first phase of the research, a module of lessons for linear programming(LP) was created using the software package Loomen Moodle and other interactivesoftware packages such as Geogebra. In the second phase, the LP module was taught asa short course to two groups of high school students. …

The Effects Of Three Seating Arrangements On Players’ Preference Of Sound In A String Orchestra, Tammy J. Clark

Masters Theses

The purpose of this exploratory, action research study was to investigate the effect of three seating arrangements on players’ preference of sound in the string orchestra. Research questions included the following: (a) How was the players’ perception of string orchestra sound affected by the repositioning of sections across the orchestra? (b) What seating arrangement do orchestra members prefer? (c) How do the preferences of orchestra members vary by section, gender, grade and years of playing experience? High school orchestra members recorded three different one-minute excerpts each in three different seating arrangements. After listening to the recorded excerpts, they chose which …

Mobilizing Practitioner Action Research To Foster Critical Pedagogy In A Large Online Undergrad University Course, Amir Kalan, Michelle Troberg

English Faculty Publications

This article reports aspects of a practitioner action research project conducted by the teachers of a large online English grammar course. The project was mobilized to create possibilities for developing online critical pedagogy. The online educators involved in this inquiry took measures to modify the syllabus they were working with in response to moments of dissonance while they were trying to comprehend students’ online identities as valuable resources to enrich the process of teaching and learning. The preliminary outcomes of the project, which is still in progress, suggest that critical pedagogy would be more accurately conceptualized by complexifying the traditional …

By Practitioners, For Practitioners: Informing And Empowering Practice Through Practitioner Research, Cordelia D. Zinskie, Dan W. Rea

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Journal

The National Youth-At-Risk Journal was developed to provide meaningful information and resources for professionals who work with youth placed at risk. In order to further this goal, we are calling on practitioners to communicate directly with their colleagues via the journal. We are especially interested in publishing practitioner reports on effective programs, strategies, or interventions that improve both the practice and well-being of youth. The editors provide an overview of practitioner research, describe three approaches to practitioner research, outline the process for conducting practitioner research, and emphasize the role of practitioner-researchers as agents of change. Resources are provided to assist …

An Investigation Into The Accessibility Of Ap Calculus, Brian Austin Dodge

Capstones, Research Projects, and Curricula

This is a mixed methods ethnographic study conducted to determine what obstacles students face when approaching AP Calculus. I focused my study on home economics, peer pressure, ELL status and home support. Overall, I found that being a student who is ELL (hereafter defined as a student who was or currently is required to take ACCESS testing) had the most negative effect of the previously listed factors. Home economics and peer pressure were inconclusive or often had no effect. Finally, having a supportive home life in the form of parents who value education, encourage goal-setting, and set high expectations had …

Leading By Design: Physicians In Training And Leadership Awareness, Meridithe Anne Mendelsohn

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Patient-centered care requires robust physician leadership in all aspects of healthcare in order to lead organizations to this ideal.Programs in Graduate Medical Education provide inconsistent and limited exposure to formal leadership development experiences for physicians in their final year of residency training.Literature addressing leadership training for residents focuses on the scarcity of effective programs that deliver adequate training and provide measurable outcomes.The purpose of this study was to explore how chief medical and surgical residents develop leadership awareness and experience training in leadership and engage chief residents, faculty mentors, and program administrators in a collaborative process, developing a leadership training …

Impact Of An Organization Identity Intervention On Employees' Organizational Commitment, Tami Cole

Theses and Dissertations

This project examined the impacts of an organization identity intervention on workers’ commitment during large-scale transformational change at a financial services company. A 21-member information technology team was recruited for the study. Commitment was measured using a quantitative instrument and the events and data collected during the identity intervention were described. Participants generally enjoyed the intervention, although team members grew increasingly negative over the course of the event due to past experiences with similar interventions. Commitment was consistent across both groups and remained unchanged across the study period. The study organization is advised to assure that its leaders support and …