Education Commons^™

Fair Trade Learning Evaluation Of A Global Partnership, Roxanne Amerson, Jade Parker-Manderson, Chloe Garrison, Sarah Finleyson, Michelle Kunkle

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

Traditionally, evaluation of global service-learning (SL) programs has been highly focused on student outcomes, rather than community impact. Less documentation exists regarding the impact of SL on the partnerships between the community and higher education. The purposes of this case study are to present the concept of Fair Trade Learning (FTL) as it relates to global SL and demonstrate how the FTL Rubric can be used to evaluate a new global partnership.

A Needs Assessment And Program Evaluation Of A Physical Therapy Service-Learning Program In China, Kerstin M. Palombaro, Samuel R. Pierce, Robin L. Dole

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

International service-learning (ISL) programs in physical and occupational therapy programs are increasing in number. This paper describes a needs assessment and initial program evaluation conducted for a physical therapy ISL program at an orphanage in China. Chinese orphanage staff and Widener University physical therapy students were surveyed. Chinese staff expressed satisfaction with the training and provided suggestions for programming needs. Students identified areas for further education of orphanage staff and suggestions for future program design.

Developmental Assets And Community-Based Youth Programs In Colombia, Guatemala, And Honduras, Claire M. De Mezerville-López

Journal of Youth Development

This paper explores the external developmental assets and how they manifest in specific youth programs from Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras. An evaluation process was created through a qualitative phenomenological with the youth programs' leadership. To triangulate the data, a survey was developed and piloted with a small sample from three youth programs, one from Honduras, one from Guatemala and one from Colombia, exploring how the staff evaluate items related with the external developmental assets. This survey was created in a way that the results display in the form of a Spiderweb and in a circular way that evokes and relates …

Preparing Youth For Civic Life And Leadership: Evaluating The Washington County 4-H Youth Officer Program, Paul A. Hill, Katarina J. Aikens

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Washington County 4-H Youth Officer Program was designed to address youth preparedness for civic life in a democratic society. This program is targeted to students in grades 6-8th, who are at a critical stage in their development as citizens. The program emphasizes experiential learning, which allows youth to learn by doing as they deliver public speeches, visit with elected officials, and facilitate business meetings using Roberts Rules of Order. A total of 24 youth participants completed the program over two years. Evaluation results showed the program was successful in achieving student learning outcomes, with significant improvements in citizenship knowledge …

Incorporating Complexity Theory In Collaborative Educational Programs, Ximeng Chen

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

The field of education has witnessed an increasing trend of inter-organizational and inter-departmental collaborations and forming of networks. Collaborative educational programs have been implemented in a variety of ways. This paper proposes to understand and study collaborative educational programs through the lens of complexity theory and to utilize nonlinear research methods. This paper also proposes to connect the dots in the literature among complexity theory, collaborative educational programs, program evaluation, and alternative nonlinear research methods.

Evaluating A Relationship Education Program With Incarcerated Adults, Terra L. Jackson, Francesca Adler-Baeder, Leah Burke, Silvia Vilches

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Research indicates healthy family relationships can reduce recidivism. More effort has been placed towards providing family life programming in prisons to promote healthy individual and relational functioning, yet only a handful of studies have evaluated and provided insight on relationship education (RE) for incarcerated adults. This study contributes to this emerging effort and examines changes following participation in a RE program, using a sample of 461 incarcerated men and women. Findings indicate significant improvements in anxiety and depressive symptoms and conflict resolution skills. Additional tests of moderation of change by gender, relationship status, and child age revealed a greater change …

Eyes Save Lives Water Safety Program For Parents And Caregivers: Program Design And Pilot Evaluation From Southern California, Rachel Love-Smith, William A. Koon, Lauren Tabios, Scott M. Bartell

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Despite expert consensus and evidence-based preventative strategies against drowning, limited formal study exists on translating recommendations into practical and effective interventions. This paper describes the design of an education-based drowning prevention intervention and reports results from a pilot evaluation of the program’s effect on self-reported water-safe behaviors, attitudes, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Parents and caregivers attending children’s swim lessons in July and August 2018 participated in a brief water-safety education program. A pre-post-test design evaluated "Theory of Planned Behavior" indicators to assess for changes. We found significant increases in scores related to water safety knowledge, attitudes on maintaining arms reach distance …

A Review Of Program Evaluation In School Counseling: Improving Comprehensive And Developmental Programs, Amanda D. Rumsey

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

This book review includes a detailed overview and discussion of Michael S. Trevisan and John C. Carey’s book: Program Evaluation in School Counseling: Improving Comprehensive and Developmental Programs, New York, NY: Routledge, 132 pages, $124.00 (hardcover), ISBN 9781138346574. The review includes strengths and potential issues regarding the text’s value and uses in graduate programs and school counseling practice. Overall, the book is a great resource and would be helpful knowledge for anyone working in the context of school counseling.

Water Safety Education Programs In Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Seattle Communities: Program Design And Pilot Evaluation, William A. Koon, Elizabeth Bennett, Sarah Stempski, Jennifer Blitvich

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Drowning is a public health concern that disproportionally affects children and minorities in Washington State. Community health educators from Seattle Children’s Hospital designed a Water Safety Education and Lifejacket Giveaway Program for low-income parents of preschool-aged children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The program was interpreted into multiple languages and parents and children in attendance received free lifejackets. The mixed-methods pilot evaluation of this program found statistically significant relationships between language and self-reported parent swim skill level (English-speaker OR 4.6; 95%CI: 1.84 – 11.54); and confidence of keeping one’s child safe (English-speaker OR 3.34; 95%CI: 1.10 – 10.4). Additionally, …

Us School Counselor State Licensure Requirements For Program Evaluation, Michael S. Trevisan, John C. Carey, Ian Martin, Narayankripa Sundararajan

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

Using qualitative content analysis (Cohen, Manion, & Morrison, 2007), we examined the expectations of states in the US regarding program evaluation content for school counselor licensure. Results show that 43 states maintain some form of program evaluation expectations for licensure, up from the 19 identified by Trevisan (2000). Twenty-eight states require licensure tests that purportedly align with CACREP, ASCA, or maintain a state developed licensure test that measures program evaluation content. Twenty-one states explicitly mention alignment of their curriculum with CACREP, ASCA, or both. The depth and scope of the program evaluation requirements that could be identified are ambiguous and …

Technically Speaking: Technical Skills Needed For Agricultural Communication Baccalaureate Graduates, Arthur Leal, Kati M. Lawson, Ricky W. Telg, Joy N. Rumble, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Debbie Treise

Journal of Applied Communications

Technically Speaking: Technical Skills Needed for Agricultural Communication Baccalaureate Graduates

Abstract

The purpose of this national study was to assess the perceived importance of 57 technical skills identified in previous literature, and to determine entry-level, agricultural communication graduates’ ability to perform those technical skills as perceived by agricultural communication graduates, communication industry professionals, and agricultural communication faculty members. Participants from the three evaluation groups (n = 193) identified three of the most important technical skills needed by agricultural communication graduates. These skills were communicating in written form, concise and clear writing, and communicating verbally. Graduates placed a higher importance …

The Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Pilot Program Designed To Enhance Wellbeing Through Self-Identified, Debra M. Sellers, Naomi R. Meinertz

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

We describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of an introductory and interdisciplinary program to increase participants’ knowledge and awareness of wellbeing and intention to implement self-identified lifestyle changes. “Wellness and Wellbeing: What About Me?” was a University Extension pilot program that was designed to introduce wellbeing as a multidimensional construct. The program was delivered by Extension professionals in 14 sites across Iowa. Program evaluation consisted of a post-program assessment at the end of the seven-week series. The majority of the 115 post-program survey respondents were female, ranging in age from 22-88 years. Almost all survey respondents (89%) reported learning something …

Kids Don’T Float…And Their Parents Don’T Either: Using A Family-Centered Approach In Alaska’S Kids Don’T Float Program, Michelle E. E. Bauer, Audrey R. Giles, Justina Marianayagam, Kelli M. Toth

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

The goal of this experiential report is to outline the adoption of a family-centered Kids Don’t Float approach. We conducted a critical synthesis of information to reflect the expansion of the Kids Don’t Float program into a more family-centered approach. The critical synthesis provided insights into why we should adopt this approach, how it was implemented, and how it influenced drowning incidents compared to the previously used child-centered approach. The adoption of a family-centered approach may contribute to reducing drowning incidents by targeting parents, providing safety information to families, and promoting parental modelling of life jackets. Program evaluators and water …

Alcohol_Focused Drowning Prevention Campaigns: What Do We Know And What Should We Do Now?, Hannah Calverley, Lauren Petrass, Jennifer Blitvich

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

Alcohol and drugs have been identified as key risk factors for youth (aged 15-24 years) and adult drownings in high-income countries (HIC). Whilst alcohol specific drowning prevention education programs have been developed and implemented, youth continue to be over-represented in drowning statistics, including those linked with alcohol. Therefore, this project aimed to: (i) review and assess all alcohol themed drowning prevention campaigns within HICs; (ii) determine whether the campaign had undergone evaluation for effectiveness; and (iii) provide recommendations to improve the effectiveness of future interventions. For each of the eighty-one HICs identified for the 2019 fiscal year, searches of peer-reviewed …

Exploring Beyond The Obvious: Social Skills Needed For Agricultural Communication Baccalaureate Graduates, Arthur Leal, Ricky W. Telg, Joy N. Rumble, Nicole Lamee Perez Stedman, Debbie M. Treise

Journal of Applied Communications

This national study sought to expand on current research to identify the importance of and graduates’ ability to perform selected social skills to aid in curricula evaluation and small program development. Using three evaluation groups – agricultural communication graduates, communication industry professionals, and agricultural communication faculty members – 193 individuals responded to the online survey. The most important social skills were those associated with having work values and transitioning into an organization to be a productive member in the workplace. Graduates placed a higher importance on social skills than the other two evaluation groups. All three evaluation groups showed some …

Youths’ Perspectives Of Experiential Learning Delivery: Findings From A Multistate 4-H Youth Program, Sarah Taylor, K. Anh Do, Shen Qin, Yan Ruth Xia, Maria Rosario T. De Guzman

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Youths’ perspectives are often unexplored in youth program development and implementation. This article examined youths’ perspectives of a 4-H youth prevention program called “Health Rocks!” that is designed to promote healthful decision-making skills, stress coping, and socioemotional skills related to substance use. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analyzed. Qualitative findings reveal that participants appreciated the fun and engaging curriculum, valued program staff who were interactive, and enjoyed the hands-on program activities. Participants also reported that the program positively impacted their knowledge and skills. Quantitative results show that participants who perceived the program as fun were significantly more likely …

An Evaluation Of The Relationship Smarts Plus Program On Adolescents In Georgia, Ted F. Futris, Tara E. Sutton, Evin W. Richardson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The present study examines the impact of Relationship Smarts Plus among 1,657 adolescents age 12-18 across 25 Georgia counties. The program, aimed at increasing awareness about healthy versus unhealthy relationships and promoting smart dating strategies and the application of healthy communication and conflict resolution skills, was offered 54 times by 23 different FCS or 4-H agents during a 53-month period. After each lesson, participants completed a 5-item retrospective pre- and post-test assessing changes in awareness and understanding of the concepts and skills learned. Overall, 949 (57%) youth responded to an overall post-evaluation administered at the conclusion of the program series …

Risk Management Education For Kentucky Farm Women, Jennifer L. Hunter, A. Lee Meyer, Sarah Lovett

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This article describes how an agricultural and farm risk management education program, known as Annie’s Project, was adapted from a midwestern focus to meet the diversity of Kentucky agriculture and shares the results of a longer-term evaluation of the Kentucky program. The Annie’s Project program is geared specifically to the needs of farm women. The program adaption process, which began in late 2006, is detailed from inception through pilot testing to the full launch of the program. Over a four year period, the Kentucky Annie’s Project program reached 425 farm women in 41 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The evaluation draws …

Parental Learning And School Readiness In The Gearing Up For Kindergarten Program, Sean E. Brotherson, Sharon Query, Divya Saxena

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Entering kindergarten is a key moment in a young child’s life, and parents are a child’s first teacher. What can guide parents as they assist children with school readiness? Gearing Up for Kindergarten is an intensive parent education and school readiness program designed to help parents and children prepare for school. Gearing Up for Kindergarten is a parent education program that combines early learning opportunities for pre-kindergarten children with parent education opportunities for adults. This study presents findings from evaluation efforts conducted with 59 Gearing Up for Kindergarten adult participants during the 2006-2007 school year. Participants in the program demonstrated …