Education Commons^™

Leading Change During Crisis: Nonprofit Leaders’ Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jose A. Diaz Jr.

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to discover which experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic led to leadership and organizational changes within nonprofit organizations located in southern Florida. Data for the study were collected by interviewing leaders of five nonprofit organizations that provided human and social services to individuals and families before, during, and after the pandemic. The participants discussed some of the challenges they experienced with social distancing protocols, service delivery continuity to service users, and the concerns among staff and volunteers. Four themes were common among the participants of the study: operational restrictions, technological adaptations, staff morale and …

Examining The Influence Of Adult Mentors On Fostering Prosocial Behaviors Among Teens, John H. Weaver Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addressed a critical public health concern stemming from the prevalence of antisocial behavior among U.S. teenagers. The study specifically tackled the lack of information regarding the components of an effective risk-reduction mentoring program for teens. The primary aim was to explore how young adult alums of a central Florida mentoring program articulated the influence of mentoring relationships that have shaped their attitudes and perceptions concerning prosocial behavior during adolescence. As a bounded qualitative case study, this research employed semistructured interviews with 11 young adult mentees from a mentoring program. Additionally, a focus group of five adult mentors who …

Pláticas Liberadoras: Testimonios Of Chicana/O Elders En La Comunidad De San Diego, Gabriel Nunez-Soria

Dissertations

There is robust scholarship inquiring about many facets of critical consciousness (CC), most of which is centered around working with teens, youth, and educators. This study explored development of CC through testimonios of the lived experiences of eight Chicana/o elders in San Diego County. All eight of these elders participated in the Chicana/o movement during the late 1960s and early 1970s and carried these experiences with them into the present moment. Development of CC, the contextualized understandings of historical, social, and systemic aspects of our collective struggle against oppression through dialogue, reflection, and action, is a fundamental aspect of liberatory …

Creating A Transformative Visual Art Curriculum, Alison M. Marchbanks

Masters Theses

This thesis explores the process of creating transformative learning experiences within a visual art curriculum that emphasizes individual reflection, creative expression, and community involvement. The strategies and philosophies discussed will facilitate student engagement with big ideas and complex messages that will inform their social consciousness beyond their formal school career. Examples of how these practices are being used in K-12 visual art settings are presented to provide an in-depth roadmap for implementing a community-based, social justice learning opportunity.

Students’ Perceptions Of Their Community Service Experience Based On High School Resources, Brooke A. Muriello

Theses and Dissertations

The research questions focused on students’ perceptions of how the school’s resources influenced students’ benefits from community service. This research is designed to provide information that identifies factors that affect students’ perceived benefits from their mandatory or credit merit community service work based on high schools varying approaches to implementing a mandatory community as a graduation requirement or awards credit toward graduation for students’ community service work in states without a statewide high school service requirement; credit toward graduation for service-learning or community service; or explicitly permits districts to adopt a service requirement for high school graduation.

The service-learning experiences …

Students' Perception Of A Required Community Service Program In Kenya, Rispa Achieng' Odongo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The use of community service to promote learning and civic responsibility in higher education has blossomed since the 1980s. The problem addressed in this study was that although the X University initiated the required community service program in 2004, it had not assessed the effectiveness of the program from students' perspectives. Using Kolb and Kolb's conceptual framework on experiential learning, a qualitative case study was used to evaluate the perceptions of 13 4th-year students who had participated in the required community service program during their 1st-year of study. The research questions were focused on students' perceptions on how community service …

Examining The Motivations And Benefits Of Student-Athletes Performing Community Service., Matthew Ryan Huml

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With over 460,000 active student-athletes (NCAA, n.d.), the student sub-population is large enough to investigate potential options for institutions to increase their academic achievement. Additionally, participating in academic-related activities is especially important because of concerns about student-athletes spending more than the 20 hours per week the NCAA allows for working on their sport (Wolverton, 2008). Studies frequently highlight a lack of effort by student-athletes to adjust to academic opportunities and expectations within higher education (Adler & Adler, 1991; Lally & Kerr, 2005; Levine, Etchison, & Oppenheimer, 2014; Miller & Kerr, 2003). To combat this adjustment to higher education, community service …

Improving High School Service-Learning To Increase Long-Term Impact On Volunteerism, Tracey Boldemann Tatkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Passage of the Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009 led to wide support for service-learning programs in high schools. The effectiveness of these programs on future volunteerism in college, however, has not been established. In the absence of research clarifying the variables that might influence programming effectiveness, it is difficult to design and adapt such programs to increase their impact. This study explored how high school service-learning programs could be improved to encourage greater student participation and to motivate continued volunteerism in college. A multiple case study methodology was used that included face-to-face interviews with 7 teachers and service-learning coordinators …

Special Needs In The Community, William Lightle

Senior Theses

Currently, there are very few summer camps for children with special needs. I co-founded a special needs camp called Camp Chip and Love for children who have mild physical and mental disabilities. The camp was created to help give special needs children the opportunity to become involved in a summer camp and introduce them to golf, tennis, and arts and crafts. Starting a camp is very challenging. I was responsible for ordering supplies, t-shirts, trophies, obtaining medical releases for the participants, and registration of campers. I made this camp free of charge by going to different corporations and asking for …

Motivation And The 40-Hour Community Involvement Program: Their Relationship To Identity Status In First Year University Students, Michael A. Mcdonald

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Purpose: The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the relationship between motivation and identity status in first year university students through examining their participation in the Ontario secondary school community involvement program. This document consists of three separate, but related studies: a scoping review, a mixed-methods research study, and a document review.

Methods: The scoping review was completed using the methodology outlined by Arskey and O’Malley (2005). The Mixed-methods research was conducted using an embedded mixed methods approach. The quantitative aspect was approached from a cross-sectional, descriptive design, with the qualitative component being addressed from a phenomenological perspective. The …

Exploring The Impact Of Youth Participation In Community Service On Health Behaviors, Kymber Nigel Williams

All ETDs from UAB

Although the majority of adolescents in the United States are considered healthy, they continue to engage in a myriad of health risk behaviors that may manifest into adulthood. The prevalence of adolescent health risks is well documented. Prosocial behaviors (i.e., community service, volunteerism) may contribute to reducing risky health behaviors among adolescents, but this connection has yet to be solidified. Previous research has suggested that volunteerism may have beneficial and developmental outcomes for adolescents. However, the relationship between adolescent community service participation and improved physical health outcomes has not been fully explored. The purpose of this study is to examine …

Attitudes Toward Volunteerism By Fraternity Men, Jennifer Serrano

Masters Theses

Many student organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, require members to engage in some type of civic engagement activity as a component of membership. This study focused on the motivations of fraternity men to engage in volunteerism, community service, and philanthropic work. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher conducted semi-constructed one-on-one interviews with four undergraduate fraternity men. The significance of brotherhood, the implications of mandated service, and the impact of completed service explain the various attitudes fraternity men have toward civic engagement. Recommendations for fraternity and sorority life personnel were provided to improve the quality and deepen the breadth of …

Evaluation Of The Union County Alternative To Suspension Program, Joyce Ann Dunlap

Education Dissertations and Projects

The schools in Union County have undergone a tremendous amount of growth in the past decade. The growth in the county has led to an increase in discipline problems. In order to provide suspended students a second chance, Union County Public Schools implemented an alternative to suspension program, the Union County Alternative to Suspension Program (UCATS). The UCATS Program provides students suspended for 2 to 10 days the opportunity to earn attendance credit by performing community service in local business agencies in Union County.

The researcher conducted a program evaluation using archival and survey data to answer the research questions: …

Service Learning And Its Effect On Students' Attitudes Towards Learning, William Thomas Conard

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to examine if students who participated in curricular service learning projects guided by a teacher would have significantly more positive attitudes about learning than those students who did service learning without the guidance of a teacher (community service)? A service learning project is generally defined as a thoughtfully organized community service experience than enhances what teachers have chosen as the objectives, standards and curriculum in their classrooms. Service learning projects focus on providing students with the opportunities to develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can be applied to real-life situations. The sample for …

Service With Friends: The Influence Of Peer Interactions And Emotions In Community Service Experiences, Jennifer Jill Kidd

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

Community service has increasingly become part of students' educational experience. It is seen both as a stand alone requirement and as a core component integrated into course objectives. Much has been learned about the effects of community service on students, but there remain unanswered questions. This study compares four structures of mandatory community service differing in the amount of peer and faculty interaction. It also examines the influence of students' emotional reactions to community service experiences. The participants for the study are college freshmen enrolled in a required environmental course. Hierarchical regressions are utilized to explore the influences of community …

Analysis Of Faith-Based And Government-Based Adult Education Programs In Western West Virginia, Chad M. Trepinski

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Faith-based and government-based organizations can provide meaningful adult education programs and services to strengthen a community. Organizations that offer adult education programs are vital partners in community development. This research identifies current adult programs and services offered by seven faith-based and six government-based organizations in Huntington, West Virginia. Using a survey of eighty-one potential services or programs, data collected from thirteen community organizations determined what types and how many adult programs are available in Huntington, West Virginia. After identifying current adult programs, interviews with each of the thirteen organizations revealed current faith-based and government-based partnerships; questionnaires with faith-based organizations uncovered …

Service Learning Across The Curriculum, Betty Fowler

All Graduate Projects

The purpose of this study was to develop handbooks that examine the value of service-learning as a legitimate educational practice. Based on an analyses of current literature, this study shows that participation in service-learning projects helps young people develop positive attitudes toward community participation that continue into their adult lives. The rationale and objectives of school-wide service-learning programs are discussed. Some existing community projects involving elementary and secondary students are described. Criteria for the development of service-learning programs are considered.

Understanding Aging, John Waldren

All Graduate Projects

In Cashmere Middle School, educators were aware that students needed guidance in many different areas, such as "self-understanding, positive self-concept, successful social relationships, good study ski l l s and positive attitudes toward school, faculty, and community'' (Advisor/Advisee - A Guidance Program, 1981) . A set of objectives was devised to meet these needs. the following:

1) Students will develop a positive self concept.

2) Students will recognize their community responsibilities.

3) Students will learn interpersonal skills while working toward group goals.

4) Students will realize that their behavior, attitude and participation in all advisory activities does have meaning and …