Education Commons^™

United We Stand? Investigating The Impact Of Unified Dues Agreements Between State And National Career & Technical Education (Cte) Professional Organizations On Cte Funding In The Southern States, Justin Ryan Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers have long been active in lobbying the federal and state governments in support of CTE through their professional organizations, but these are not traditionally considered interest groups. This study sought to determine if the formal relationships—dues agreements—between the two largest national professional organizations, and their state affiliates had an impact on state funding for CTE. The impacts of professional organization unity, membership rates, and lobbying expenses on state-level CTE funding were analyzed through the lens of interest group theory, a subfield of political science. Within this population (N = 13), 1) a link …

Critical (Re)Approach To Higher Education Admission Policy: The Impact Of Open Enrollment Policy Implementation, Shirdonna Yvonne Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state policies affecting higher education, like the Morrill Land Grant Act of 1832, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Higher Education Act of 1965 have posited change regarding the proliferation of diversity and expansion of access (Thelin, 2011).

I analyzed BOT policies for enrollment and conducted a socio-diagnostic CDA on the implementation of admission policy to understand the impact of the policies’ implementation. I focused on 1) exploring how open enrollment (OE) policies were constructed, 2) how institutions adopt and interpret these policies, and 3) how individuals at the institution enact these policies, by conducting a discourse-historical analysis …

The Effects Of Professional Experience On Ethical Profiles Of Housing And Residence Life Staff, Sirena L. Cantrell, Sirena L. Cantrell

Theses and Dissertations

The intent of this study was to explore and understand the effects of professional experience on the ethical profiles of housing and residence life staff. Through a survey design, this study used the Managerial Ethical Profile (MEP) to analyze the professional experience of members of the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I). The MEP scale measures the range of influences on respondents and describes the major tendencies by placing respondents in ethical profiles. Results from this study indicated that professional experience does influence respondent ethical profiles. This study contributes to the field of higher education by …

School-Based Agricultural Education Teachers: Self-Efficacy With Face-To-Face, Remote, And Hybrid Instruction And Perceptions Of Professional Development Regarding Technology Integration, Gayle Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This three-article dissertation examined the perceptions of school-based agricultural education teachers in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama on self-efficacy and professional development activities since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first article was an examination of teacher self-efficacy in delivering instruction in three classroom settings: face-to-face, remote, and hybrid, which is a combination of face-to-face and remote simultaneous instruction. The second was a descriptive study of teacher experiences and perceptions of professional development activities related to instructional technology over the past two years. The third article examines the correlation between each of the teacher self-efficacy instructional setting constructs and perceptions …

Mobile Learning: Examining The Relationships Between The Use Of Mobile Devices And Student Performance In Ela And Math Within Technology And Non-Technology Districts, Gabrielle S. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Mobile and other internet-connected devices infiltrate society, including K-12 classrooms. A large body of research indicated that these devices might distract students; however, other studies have revealed many benefits when the devices are used for educational purposes. This study aimed to examine the relationships between the use of mobile devices and student performance in mathematics (MA) and English Language Arts (ELA). The study compared two districts, one that had implemented a 1:1 technology infrastructure for learning and one that had not. Archival data on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) standardized test were accessed from the two districts, containing fourth-grade …

The Use Of Single-Subject Research Design For Assessment, Evaluation, And Research In Higher Education, Jordan C. Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

While enrolling in a college for a degree is still considered to be more of the expectation than the rule in households across the United States it is facing public criticism regarding its overall cost versus long-term benefits. This has prompted researchers to reevaluate practices in higher education to determine ways in which post-secondary institutions can improve their overall outcomes. In part, research indicates that this should include revisions to assessment, evaluation, and research (AER) practices. Currently, higher education faces many challenges associated with rigorous AER practices, which include an institutional focus on accountability measures, organizational challenges, and difficulties in …

The Effect Administrators Have On Employee Morale Within The University Of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Sherry L. Beaty-Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between Arkansas County Extension County staff morale and their perceived relationship county staff had with their County Staff Chair. The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service (UAEX) can utilize the results from this research to identify individuals who have the capacity to build high-quality relationships with staff members, thereby promoting higher levels of morale within the organization. Administrators can use this study to identify current or future leaders within the organization by identifying those who can promote high-quality relationships with county-level staff. Results from this study may also be used …

Traditional And Virtual Hypertension Self-Management Health Education Program Delivered Through Cooperative Extension, Michelle Parisi, Ellie Lane, Cheryl J. Dye Dr., Rhonda Matthews, Danielle Mcfall, Ethan Bain, Windsor W. Sherrill

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Fewer than 25% of individuals in the United States with hypertension have controlled blood pressure (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Hypertension Management Program (HMP) adopted the Health Coaches for Hypertension Control^© (HCHC^©) curriculum and adapted it for delivery by Extension agents. Eight lessons with intermittent health coaching calls were delivered. Pre/post-participation surveys determined changes in knowledge and self-reported weight, systolic (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The pandemic forced a shift in methodology from in-person to virtual delivery, and results were compared. In both traditional and virtual programs, significant differences were found in weight, knowledge …

Full Issue, Volume 10, Number 3, Journal Of Human Sciences And Extension

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Afro Roots By Mongo Santamaria: A Listening Guide, Robert J. Damm

College of Education Publications and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Aligning Instruction With Extension Professional Competencies For An Enhanced Undergraduate Extension Education Minor, Joseph L. Donaldson, Wendy Warner, Jacklyn Bruce, Joy Morgan, Harriett Coleman Edwards, Rose Vaughan

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

This paper reports on a three-year initiative to enhance the undergraduate Extension Education minor at a state land-grant university. Specific initiatives to improve the undergraduate Extension Education minor curriculum involved (a) revising the Extension Education minor due to varied curriculum and faculty changes and (b) aligning eight Extension Education courses’ units of study with Extension professional competency domains. The described processes helped understand the Extension Education curriculum by mapping competency domains and showing which domains were and were not taught in the eight courses. A key recommendation is to incorporate the alignment of Extension Education curriculum and Extension professional competencies …

An Analysis Of Equity In Service Provided By The Snap-Ed Program: A Comparison Of Dietary Outcomes Among African American And White Participants In Louisiana, Matthew Greene, Rhiannon Kroeger, Samuel Stroope, Bailey Houghtaling, Denise Holson

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Structural racism has contributed to increased poverty, food insecurity, and obesity rates among African Americans relative to Whites. Nutrition education programs should therefore consider how well they serve this population. The objective of this investigation was to assess whether African American and White Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) participants in Louisiana had comparable dietary behavior outcomes by conducting secondary data analysis of previous program evaluations from 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 among African American and White SNAP-Ed participants (n = 434). Variables measured included pre- to post-intervention changes in dietary behaviors (e.g., self-reported consumption frequency of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat …

Consumer Embeddedness And Motivations For Farmers Market Patronage: A Qualitative Exploration In Minnesota, Usa, Alanna Norton, Hye-Young Kim, Virginia Zuiker

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The rise in popularity of farmers markets in the United States reflects consumers’ negative response to more traditional food distribution systems. Farmers markets provide consumers with a more local and often more personal food purchasing experience. The purpose of this study was to examine consumer motivations to patronize farmers markets through the lens of social, spatial, and natural embeddedness. A qualitative approach was employed utilizing semi-structured, in-depth interviews. These interviews were conducted in person using a set of predetermined questions and revealed nine themes. The findings indicate that two types of consumer choices with different properties exist in farmers market …

Action Civics In Rural Communities, Karon N. Lecompte Ph.D., Kevin Magill, Brooke Blevins, Kenley Ritter, Tori Smith, Nate Scholten, Michelle Bauml

The Rural Educator

We used an action civics curriculum and conducted a qualitative analysis of two fifth-grade classrooms in a rural setting called Green Independent School District (pseudonym). We organized the curriculum into a week-long study whereby we conducted interviews, collected student work, and analyzed teacher and student data. We focused on Baiocchi et al.'s (2014) concept of the civic imagination to analyze rural students' beliefs about themselves as citizens as they engaged in an action civics inquiry model of learning. Three primary findings emerged from our data; an emphasis on solidarity by citizens in the community, student use of problem-solving through civic …

"We'll Probably All Be In Trouble For Hugging A Kid": Rural Teacher Radicalism In Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences, Catharine Biddle

The Rural Educator

There is a tension between the principles of global education reform, with its focus on fiscal efficiency, literacy and numeracy, and the increasing interest in meeting the needs of the whole child and addressing childhood adversity within schools. In rural communities, this tension may be heightened by fractured social service networks mediated by distance and the declining economic well-being of many communities perpetuated by decades of unfavorable social and economic policy. Drawing on focus group discussions with 110 rural Maine educators, this study examines how rural educators negotiate this tension in their day to day practice to address student needs …

Rural School District Leadership And Governance: Eating Your Veggies To Stay On The Balcony, Elizabeth Wargo, Ryan Cantrell, William P. Mccaw, Ivan Lorentzen

The Rural Educator

School board trustees and superintendents must navigate overlapping roles and intersectional identities when engaging in rural school district governance work. If these individuals are not clear about the scope of their role and do not have a common understanding about the importance of high expectations for all, lack of coherent governance can negatively impact their district. Recently, one school district in rural Idaho has experienced phenomenal success. The district is in a very different place than it was just a little over five years ago. In this article insights are shared about the governance practices of trustees and the …

Crafting Better Rural-Focused Postsecondary Policy By Identifying Rural-Serving Institutions, Andrew Koricich

The Rural Educator

No abstract provided.

Filling The Third Circle With Interdisciplinary Lesson Planning: A Case Study Of Pre-Service Teachers, Garrett Steede, Rebecca D. Swenson, Troy D. Mckay

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

The three-circle model of agricultural education focuses on the importance of in-class instruction, supervised agricultural experiences, and FFA involvement. The agricultural communications career pathway is available to students through agricultural communications supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) programs and career development events within FFA. However, specific curriculum that teaches agricultural communications in the classroom is not readily available. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the interdisciplinary lesson planning and integration process of pre-service teachers with focus on opportunities and limitations to teaching communication in the agriculture, food, and natural resources (AFNR) curriculum. In this case study, four pre-service …

Nudging To Health Training Acceptability By Food Pantry Personnel Supports Clients’ Healthier Food Choices, Kelly K. Kunkel, Aysegul Baltaci, Carolina De La Rosa Mateo, Sunghun Lim, Dianne Davis-Kenning

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Nudging to Health: Promoting Health Nudges at Your Food Pantry is a multi-pronged initiative designed for food pantry staff, directors, and volunteers committed to offering healthier choices to their clients. Participants receive the education, tools, resources, and technical assistance to make changes that will encourage healthful food selection among clients.

Helping Youth Escape Vapes: An Online Evaluation Of A Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Program, Adrienne M. Duke 7037295, Jessica Norton

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Electronic cigarette use during middle school and high school has become an alarming public health concern. Educating youth about the risks of using e-cigarettes through a prevention program can be instrumental in curbing the growing numbers. Our Extension team implemented a prevention program, Escape Vapes, which adapted three Stanford University Tobacco Toolkit units. This study is an evaluation of the program that 1,347 youth in grades 5 through 12 completed. Results from the online retrospective post-pretest indicate that participation in the program significantly increased knowledge about e-cigarettes. Overall, the results indicate that Escape Vapes is an effective prevention program for …

You Want Your Students To Do Service-Learning Where? On-Campus Options For Fashion Merchandising And Consumer Studies Students, Doris H. Kincade, Oscar J. Solis, Windi D. Turner

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Increasing Rural Teacher Preparedness Through A Teacher Residency, Robin Valente, Jaclyn Tejwani, Valentin Pedroza, Selena Cartznes

The Rural Educator

This promising practice describes an innovative approach to teacher education that a partnership among three rural districts and a university implemented through a rural teacher residency program . The Kern Rural Teacher Residency (KRTR) program in Kern County, California, was a five-year, federally funded grant program at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). KRTR was a district-serving teacher education program that paired a rigorous full-year classroom apprenticeship with graduate-level educational content. In a multi-year study that utilized surveys, focus groups, document review, and extant data analysis, findings indicated that, through participation in the residency, completers felt prepared to teach in rural …

Factors That Affect School Counselor Retention In Rural Settings-An Exploratory Study, Rawn Boulden, Chris Schimmel

The Rural Educator

Teacher attrition is a well-known issue impacting K-12 schools in the United States. Sizeable research exists highlighting noteworthy factors that promote retention and attrition. However, scant research exists describing these factors within the context of school counselors working in rural settings. Considering this gap, we employed an inductive phenomenological approach to learn more about key attrition and retention factors, utilizing a sample of five rural school counselors employed in rural locales throughout the United States. Two overarching categories were identified: (a) school-based factors and (b) school community factors. Limitations and implications for rural school districts and counselor preparation programs are …

Why Youth Leave 4-H After The First Year: A Multistate Study, Kendra M. Lewis, Sarah Hensley, Marianne Bird, Jeannette Rea-Keywood, Jolynn Miller, Car Mun Kok, Nancy Shelstad

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Enrollment in US youth development programs is decreasing annually. Research has shown that youth in the 4-H youth development program experience a broad range of positive youth development outcomes, including greater community contributions, healthier choices, higher academic competence, critical life and leadership skills such as problem-solving, goal setting, communication, responsibility, and a sense of belonging and purpose. Finding ways to retain youth in the program for more than a year or two can profoundly impact society due to the skills developed and opportunities provided to youth in 4-H. The purpose of this study was to understand why youth might leave …

Evaluating Math To Mastery Using Brief Experimental Analysis Procedures, Gianna Gambera

Theses and Dissertations

Math to Mastery (MTM) is a multi-component math intervention that has demonstrated effective results in building math fluency and skill acquisition. Few studies have explored the use of brief experimental analysis (BEA) procedures to create an individualized, abbreviated MTM intervention to address skill deficits in basic math. The purpose of this current study is to analyze the utility of randomizing BEA procedures to effectively identify necessary mathematic components to create a more efficient intervention that will yield the highest math gains among participants. Researchers used an alternating treatment design with an extended analysis phase to address basic math skills. Participants …

Assessing Virtual Free-Choice Agricultural Learning: A Mixed Methods Approach, Richard John Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations

Since the mid-19th century, agricultural museums and living history sites, first in Scandinavia and then in the United States and Canada, have provided historical, cultural, and, sometimes, scientific information about farming to visitors. Many of these visitors have been school children on field trips. Assessment of this learning, however, has been scant, particularly within the free-choice style inherent in these types of educational venues. At the same time, assessment of free-choice learning, often analyzed through the Contextual Model of Learning (Falk & Dierking 2000), has taken place at educational sites like zoos, natural history museums, and science centers. This study, …

The Employability Of State Ffa Degree Recipients In Alabama, Kailee D. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Many high schools have shifted from comprehensive graduation exams to a focus on College and Career Readiness. A common method used to determine when a student is college and career ready is a Career Readiness Indicator (CRI). Many CRIs demonstrate a benchmark learning goal for students. Among academic-based CRIs are Career and Technical Education (CTE) industry credentials. Credentials are just one way that agriculture classrooms contribute to student success. This study compiled existing research on CRIs and employability skills in CTE students to determine how the State FFA Degree could potentially fit into this category as well as highlight specific …

Assessment Of Postural, Locomotor, And Physical Fitness Status In Individuals With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Alana J. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Postural control and locomotion deficits can be observed during the early years of childhood development and throughout life. For those with disabilities, these deficits can advance past the development years and into adolescence and adulthood while affecting the quality of life and daily activity. Finding interactive rehabilitative activities to delay or limit these deficits is essential for people with disabilities to improve their quality of life, inclusion, and overall movement. Adapted physical activity/sports like badminton and virtual reality could promote improvements in postural and locomotor status for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Behavioral Skills Training To Increase Stranger Safety Skills In Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Lauren M. Meyers

Theses and Dissertations

Several research studies have suggested that individuals with ID are at an increased risk of being a target of victimization (Hughes et al., 2012; Wilson et al.,1992). Therapists, caregivers, primary care providers, and school staff may also undervalue or fail to teach critical safety skills early in childhood or in the adolescent years, which increases risk of victimization in adulthood (Dembo et al., 2018). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness, generalizability, and maintenance of the use of behavior skills training to teach stranger safety skills to young adults with intellectual disabilities. Specifically, a two-step safety …

Pas Hall Of Fame 2022 Bernard Woma

College of Education Publications and Scholarship

No abstract provided.