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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Performance Assessment For Quality Teaching: Three Critical Variables For Measuring And Improving Teaching And Learning, Kathleen L. Gallagher Phd
Performance Assessment For Quality Teaching: Three Critical Variables For Measuring And Improving Teaching And Learning, Kathleen L. Gallagher Phd
Dissertations
While outstanding teachers are any school system's most important investment, assessing the quality of instructional practice has proven to be an ongoing challenge for the profession. Despite assertions that effective teachers are the single most important school-related factor responsible for increased learning, no teacher's employment is dependent on their performance in the classroom or the quality of instruction that they provide. This problem has fueled a growing mistrust in school districts nationwide, specifically in the area of teacher evaluation. One possible explanation is that the profession lacks the scaled level of expertise needed to evaluate instruction consistently and in a …
Virtual Teamwork In A Business School Master's Program: Do Team Charters Have An Impact?, Samuel Kyungjin Chung Phd
Virtual Teamwork In A Business School Master's Program: Do Team Charters Have An Impact?, Samuel Kyungjin Chung Phd
Dissertations
A virtual team is an organizationally and/or geographically distributed group whose members use synchronous and asynchronous technologies to work collaboratively. A team charter is a document that describes how group members intend to behave and interact while working collaboratively. Team charters have been used to facilitate virtual teamwork. This study, which took place in a graduate-level business program at a private university in California, was designed to fill the gap in the literature about team charter usage by virtual teams consisting of business students. The students were required to create a team charter in the first semester of the program …
California Charter School Closures: Perspectives And Advice From Nine Former Charter School Directors, Jennifer Reiter-Cook Edd
California Charter School Closures: Perspectives And Advice From Nine Former Charter School Directors, Jennifer Reiter-Cook Edd
Dissertations
Charter schools have been categorized as "everyone's reform" (Bracey, 2004); they are a type of public school, first established in 1992, that normally has fewer restrictions than most public schools and that serves a student body that, in many circumstances, has consciously opted to attend the school. Charter schools have promised high student achievement and program options that would create healthy competition in the American educational market. Currently, in California alone, there are approximately 800 active charter schools that serve more than 340,000 pupils. As we close in on nearly twenty years of charter school reform, many charter schools could …
California Education Foundations: A Mixed Methods Study, Laura J. Deitrick Phd
California Education Foundations: A Mixed Methods Study, Laura J. Deitrick Phd
Dissertations
Limited and unstable funding for education has inspired supporters of schools to seek private funds to help pay for public education. Private funds generated at the local level could also, conceivably, reinstate at least a modicum of local control of public schools. Local control, in California at least, has been minimized over the last 30 years as a result of a number of legal decisions related to equity and ballot initiatives such as Proposition 13. One mechanism for channeling private funds to public schools is nonprofit education foundations linked to schools or districts. The total number of these foundations has …
An Investigation Of The Community-Based English Tutoring Program (Cbet), Barbara J. Pongsrikul Edd
An Investigation Of The Community-Based English Tutoring Program (Cbet), Barbara J. Pongsrikul Edd
Dissertations
Currently in the California K-12 public schools, approximately 25% (about 1.5 million) of the students know little or no English, and their numbers are increasing. Because of this diverse student population, a research study by the Gevirtz Research Center in 2005 reports that it is necessary to develop educational programs that help language-minority families understand and participate in the school system in ways that will support the academic success of their children. As a result of the Proposition 227 Initiative in California, statewide family literacy programs were established as Community-Based English Tutoring (CBET) programs to provide adult English language instruction …
Validating The Experiences Of Male Mexican American Community College Transfer Students Studying At Catholic Universities, Eliazer Ayala-Austin Edd
Validating The Experiences Of Male Mexican American Community College Transfer Students Studying At Catholic Universities, Eliazer Ayala-Austin Edd
Dissertations
California's community colleges and public and private universities must collaborate to address the Tidal Wave II student enrollment surge composed mostly of Hispanic/Latinos and Asian students in order to meet the educational needs of community college transfer students (CCTSs). Avoiding the issue will result in continued neglect of CCTS within public and private institutions; possible outcomes include delayed graduation and potential attrition of at-risk students. Using Rendón's (1994) theory of student validation as the theoretical framework, this qualitative study uncovered the validating and other university experiences of male Mexican American CCTSs. This qualitative study included individual interviews of six CCT …
What’S So Hard About Algebra? A Grounded Theory Study Of Adult Algebra Learners, Michael Steele Reese Edd
What’S So Hard About Algebra? A Grounded Theory Study Of Adult Algebra Learners, Michael Steele Reese Edd
Dissertations
In California community colleges, fewer than half of students who enroll in basic algebra courses finish with a grade of C or better. Such a low success rate creates an intense demand on institutional resources, including faculty efforts, tutorial services, classroom availability, and financial aid. Furthermore, students who do poorly in algebra also tend to struggle in other quantitative courses. While research suggests that child algebra learners tend to exhibit specific misconceptions, not much is known about misconceptions held by adult algebra learners. Research does indicate, however, that certain general learning characteristics are common among adult learners. The present study …
Connecting Art And Science: An Interdisciplinary Strategy And Its Impact On The Affective Domain Of Community College Human Anatomy Students, Kevin Petti Phd
Connecting Art And Science: An Interdisciplinary Strategy And Its Impact On The Affective Domain Of Community College Human Anatomy Students, Kevin Petti Phd
Dissertations
Educational objectives are often described within the framework of a three-domain taxonomy: cognitive, affective and psychomotor. While most of the research on educational objectives has focused on the cognitive domain, the research that has been conducted on the affective domain, which speaks to emotions, attitudes, and values, has identified a number of positive outcomes. One approach to enhancing the affective domain is that of interdisciplinary education. Science education research in the realm of interdisciplinary education and affective outcomes is limited; especially research conducted on community college students of human anatomy. This project investigated the relationship between an interdisciplinary teaching strategy …
Mentoring Of Special Education Administrators, Deborah Mcdonald Toups Edd
Mentoring Of Special Education Administrators, Deborah Mcdonald Toups Edd
Dissertations
Mentoring powerfully develops human potential but little has been known about mentoring in special education administration. Because mentoring has a centuries-long record of success, because of the importance of special education administrators, and because of the paucity of empirical knowledge on mentoring in special education administration, this study examines mentoring in the special education administration community. The population for the study was approximately 1,465 practicing special education administrators in the state of California identified by the Center of Personnel Studies in Special Education (COPSSE). Electronic mail was used to introduce the on-line survey, Mentoring for Special Education Administrators. The instrument …
The Role Of The Chief Instructional Officer Within The California Community Colleges, Patrick M. Schwerdtfeger Edd
The Role Of The Chief Instructional Officer Within The California Community Colleges, Patrick M. Schwerdtfeger Edd
Dissertations
California community colleges enroll one out of ten public college students in the United States. The Chief Instructional Officer (CIO) serves as leader within each college. Research examining CIOs in California is limited. This study investigates work performed by CIOs and the organizational factors which support or impede that work. Four questions guided this study. What is the role of the CIO—what do they do? What are the organizational factors which support or impede CIO effectiveness? How do the CIOs influence the enhancement of learning and instruction? What changes would CIOs suggest to become more effective leaders? This study relied …
Global Citizenship As A Function Of Higher Education: The Demographic And Institutional Determinants In A Graduate Student Population, Jade G. Winn Edd
Global Citizenship As A Function Of Higher Education: The Demographic And Institutional Determinants In A Graduate Student Population, Jade G. Winn Edd
Dissertations
Over the last twenty years, the explosive growth in information technologies, combined with the globalization and easy access to other cultures, has allowed people to think of themselves more as citizens of the world than of a particular nation. Although the notion of “global citizenship” is often discussed in the popular press, little scholarly attention has been devoted to its measurement. Less attention has been paid to the role higher education plays in creating global citizens. To address these problems, a survey instrument was created to measure three facets of global citizenship: environmentalism, social justice, and civic responsibility, and was …
Language Interactions Between Reading Recovery Teachers And Their English-Language Learners, Leslie Yerington Edd
Language Interactions Between Reading Recovery Teachers And Their English-Language Learners, Leslie Yerington Edd
Dissertations
This qualitative study investigated characteristics of student-teacher interactions during the new book introduction portion of Reading Recovery lessons. The new book introduction provides the student with background knowledge and story plot sufficient to render a successful first attempt reading the book that takes place directly after the introduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of student-teacher interactions during the new book introduction portion of Reading Recovery lessons in order to describe the nature of these interactions and discover the relationships, if any exist, between the interactions and student performance. The study also searched for common themes …
Implementing Student Learning Outcomes: The Link To Accreditation In California Community Colleges, Lori Waite Edd
Implementing Student Learning Outcomes: The Link To Accreditation In California Community Colleges, Lori Waite Edd
Dissertations
As the public demands accountability in higher education, regional accrediting bodies are under pressure from external governmental agencies, as well as from key stakeholders, to demonstrate their effectiveness and more specifically, provide evidence of student learning. All regional accrediting agencies now have incorporated some level of student learning outcomes into their criteria for reaffirmation of accreditation. This case study describes how three California public community colleges are implementing student learning outcomes on their campuses. Administrators, faculty and staff were interviewed about perceptions and insights related to learning outcomes. Artifact analysis was conducted to establish credibility and data triangulation. Findings suggest …
The Relationship Between Decision-Making And Accountability: A Case Study Of Two State Community College Systems, Bonnie Ann Dowd Edd, Mba, Bba
The Relationship Between Decision-Making And Accountability: A Case Study Of Two State Community College Systems, Bonnie Ann Dowd Edd, Mba, Bba
Dissertations
Inherent to college governance in many community colleges throughout the nation is the expectation that a collegial or participatory model of decision-making is the appropriate mode of governance. This type of model structures an organization to allow the opportunity for all constituencies to participate in decision-making. Some states, such as California, have mandated a participatory decision-making process, commonly referred to as “shared governance” (AB1725) while others operate in a similar manner but not by legislative mandate. Regardless of the model of decision-making used to govern community colleges, most states are being asked to address educational accountability with regard to student …
An Evaluation Study Of A Community College Administrative Leadership Development Program, Cristina Chiriboga-Hahn Edd
An Evaluation Study Of A Community College Administrative Leadership Development Program, Cristina Chiriboga-Hahn Edd
Dissertations
The general purpose of this study was to examine a model for professional development designed to meet the needs of administrators who work within the community college segment of higher education. Specifically, the research project was structured as a formative evaluation of the California community college administrative development program entitled Administration 101 offered through the state's primary professional association for administrators, the Association of California Community College Administrators (ACCCA). The study employed a mixed research methodology that included qualitative approaches to assess: 1. The usefulness of the concepts presented in Administration 101 based on the perceptions of participants and presenters, …
Higher Education Administrators And Students With Disabilities: A Survey Of Administrator Knowledge And Training Needs, Maribel S. Guillermo Edd
Higher Education Administrators And Students With Disabilities: A Survey Of Administrator Knowledge And Training Needs, Maribel S. Guillermo Edd
Dissertations
Students with disabilities enroll in two-year institutions at a higher rate than in four-year institutions. The California community college system, which is the largest system of higher education in the world, enrolled 2,609,365 students with disabilities during the 2000–2001 academic year. The purpose of this study was to focus on California college administrators and their role in: (a) setting a climate that supports students with disabilities and (b) serving as a resource to faculty and staff. Administrators were surveyed regarding their (a) current knowledge and training needs; (b) personal and professional experience with individuals with disabilities; and (c) utilization of …
Supervisor Leadership Style And Counselors' Burnout: A Comparative Study Of High School Counselors And Rehabilitation Counselors, David J. Lubofsky Edd
Supervisor Leadership Style And Counselors' Burnout: A Comparative Study Of High School Counselors And Rehabilitation Counselors, David J. Lubofsky Edd
Dissertations
This quantitative study investigated whether the perceived leadership style of high school principals and rehabilitation supervisors had an effect on the burnout of high school and rehabilitation counselors. Demographic and work related characteristics were also assessed to determine if these factors affected burnout rates. Survey data from the three separate scales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) were combined with demographic data to estimate a series of three regression models. The models focused on the effects of demographic, work-related and leadership variables on counselor burnout. Data were collected from 96 high school counselors and …
The Balancing Act: Work Environment Issues For Women With Children In Student Affairs, Mary Kimberly Braun Padulo Edd
The Balancing Act: Work Environment Issues For Women With Children In Student Affairs, Mary Kimberly Braun Padulo Edd
Dissertations
Increasingly in the past two decades, student affairs work at American's universities has been undertaken by women. This work with the co-curricular life of the students in higher education requires administrators at all levels to have a flexible schedule with the ability to commit evenings and weekends to their work. Challenges for academe and for women in the profession have emerged as more women enter the field. One of the most problematic areas is the retention of highly educated and experienced female administrators once they have children. Workplace environment, including work schedule, job demands and employer support, have been suggested …
The Effect Of Professional Growth Opportunities As Determined By California Public High School Instrumental Music Teachers, Charles Friedrichs Edd
The Effect Of Professional Growth Opportunities As Determined By California Public High School Instrumental Music Teachers, Charles Friedrichs Edd
Dissertations
Improving the quality of teaching and instruction is a continuing challenge for schools and teachers. To meet this challenge the State of California requires all teachers to participate in professional growth activities by showing evidence of 150 hours of professional growth every five years (Ed. Code §44277-2b). The purposes of this study were to examine the professional growth habits and needs of high school instrumental music teachers in the state of California, and the effectiveness of current professional growth opportunities as perceived by those teachers. In addition, this study examined the implications of professional growth opportunities for these music teachers …
A Comparative Study Of Leadership Characteristics Of Principals In Charter Schools And Traditional Schools, Roger M. Mestinsek Edd
A Comparative Study Of Leadership Characteristics Of Principals In Charter Schools And Traditional Schools, Roger M. Mestinsek Edd
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to examine the similarities and differences in preferred leadership qualities among a random sample of principals of traditional elementary schools in California, traditional elementary schools in Alberta, Canada, and selected charter schools in the United States. The intent of the research was to identify the preferred leadership practices of each study group to determine and report significant differences and similarities. Seventy-five principals were randomly selected, 25 from each of the three study groups, to complete the survey. Forty-two principals (56%) returned surveys. Of the surveys returned, 40 were usable for the study. The theoretical …
The Community College Coach: Leadership Practices And Athlete Satisfaction, Jodi P. Coffman Edd
The Community College Coach: Leadership Practices And Athlete Satisfaction, Jodi P. Coffman Edd
Dissertations
Community college coaches and athletes completed the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), to assess the leadership practices of coaches of various sports. Soccer coaches and their athletes were also surveyed to assess the impact of the congruence of leadership practices ratings upon athlete satisfaction. Two samples were taken from Spring and Fall, 1998 sports: (a) 225 full-time head coaches of team sports in which there was a male and female equivalent in California's community colleges, and (b) 280 men's and women's soccer athletes. The descriptive statistics conducted indicated that there were more similarities than differences between the male and female coaches, …
California African-American Infant Mortality Prevention: A Prospective Study, Clara H. Eder Edd
California African-American Infant Mortality Prevention: A Prospective Study, Clara H. Eder Edd
Dissertations
Infant mortality continues to be a significant national public health problem. African-American infant mortality in the United States remains as high as or higher than those of some developing countries. In the state of California the continuing gap between African-American and Caucasian infant mortality rates is cause for alarm among public health providers. Studies repeatedly indicate that the underlying causes of infant mortality are social, economic, environmental, cultural, political, racial and historical, though not in equal measure. Children born at a socioeconomic disadvantage have less chance of survival than have children of any particular race. To address the disproportionate gap …
Voices Against Discrimination And Exclusion: Latino School Leaders' Narratives For Change, Jaime J. Romo Edd
Voices Against Discrimination And Exclusion: Latino School Leaders' Narratives For Change, Jaime J. Romo Edd
Dissertations
Many scholars, practitioners, and policy makers know very little about individual Latino administrators' cultural and professional experiences, responses to discrimination, and patterns or institutional conditions which relate to K-12 ethnic minority administrators' success. Moreover, many are also unaware that as ethnic diversity increases, the relative proportion of minority administrators, many of whom could be role models, shrinks. Once we can recognize this as seeds for inequity in society, we might be able to consider the ways in which our educational institution reinforces or counters societal inequities. By specifically exploring Latino administrators' experiences, because of the large Latino California presence, we …
The Political Behavior Of California Community College Nursing Facilities In Response To Budget Cutbacks, 1982-1987, Karen J. Berger Edd
The Political Behavior Of California Community College Nursing Facilities In Response To Budget Cutbacks, 1982-1987, Karen J. Berger Edd
Dissertations
This study explored the political behavior of community college nursing faculties during a unique period of California history, 1982-87, when the community colleges were struggling to adapt to the economic and political consequences of Proposition 13. Using a two-phase qualitative design, it examined the effects of budget cutbacks on the nursing programs at 38 community colleges statewide, including twelve targeted for faculty layoffs, and identified the political behavior of their nursing faculties in response. It then focused on six districts, varying in size, structure, and location, for a series of in-depth case studies. In four districts, nursing programs were targeted …
Leadership In A Quality School, Peter J. Bray Edd
Leadership In A Quality School, Peter J. Bray Edd
Dissertations
Education in Western countries has been under attack in recent years. Numerous individuals and groups have made attempts to reform or restructure the system in which students are schooled. Such change is difficult and on many occasions the attempts at reform resulted in very superficial modifications. Significant change can come from a complex interaction of people where leaders and collaborators work interactively to achieve common purposes. This research examined one school, which is part of William Glasser's consortium of Quality Schools, where significant changes took place. Glasser's control theory has played an important role in the change process. The challenge …
A Survey Of Teaching Strategies Used In California Community College Nursing Programs To Foster Critical Thinking, Nicki Harrington Edd
A Survey Of Teaching Strategies Used In California Community College Nursing Programs To Foster Critical Thinking, Nicki Harrington Edd
Dissertations
This study explicated critical thinking teaching strategies being utilized by California Associate Degree Nursing (ADN) faculty, and their perceived effectiveness, to serve as a model for faculties in nursing and other disciplines. Questions addressed by the study included not only teaching strategies in use and their perceived effectiveness, but also exploration of common threads among nursing educators in their definitions of critical thinking, and common themes of "especially effective" techniques. The study involved a pilot of the survey instrument, utilizing one sample school's nursing faculty, with subsequent distribution to all 69 other ADN program senior nursing course lead faculty. The …
An Analysis Of Selected California Community College Faculty Members' Perceptions Of Challenges Experienced During The First Year Of Hire, Kristen M. Stonebreaker Edd, Ma, Ba
An Analysis Of Selected California Community College Faculty Members' Perceptions Of Challenges Experienced During The First Year Of Hire, Kristen M. Stonebreaker Edd, Ma, Ba
Dissertations
This study examined the challenges and sources of support encountered by new faculty the first year of hire. Nineteen participants were interviewed from three community colleges. Interview sites were chosen to include three institutions of different sizes. Site 1 was an urban-centered college and a part of a multi-college district. Sites 2 and 3 were both single-college districts. All participants were hired in the Fall of 1989, and were full-time, tenure-track, teaching faculty. Interviews were audiotaped and analyzed by the researcher. From participant comments, themes were generated and summarized in frequency response tables. Some of the major findings of the …
Profiles In Faculty Leadership: The Experience Of 1985-1986 California Community College Senate Presidents, Candice Ann Francis Edd, Ms, Ba
Profiles In Faculty Leadership: The Experience Of 1985-1986 California Community College Senate Presidents, Candice Ann Francis Edd, Ms, Ba
Dissertations
The Problem: Very little has been written about leadership in community colleges from the faculty perspective. California, with its highly evolved system of community colleges, 20 year history of faculty senates and recent reform legislation mandating shared governance is a logical platform from which to explore the issue of faculty leadership. This study was conducted in an effort to learn more about those who have served as California community college senate presidents. Of particular interest were the individual's motivations, expectations and reflections on the experience as well as the individual's involvement in college governance activity in the five years following …
Human Sexuality Programs In Catholic Secondary Schools In The 80'S, Maria Teresa Klein Edd
Human Sexuality Programs In Catholic Secondary Schools In The 80'S, Maria Teresa Klein Edd
Dissertations
Human sexuality programs, or sex education programs, have been a controversial issue for many years. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of human sexuality programs within Catholic secondary schools. This study investigated the effect of comprehensive or non-comprehensive sexuality programs upon students' Positive Sexual Attitudes, awareness of Catholic Church Teachings, integration of Catholic Church Values, integration of current Social Values, and Biological Knowledge. Comprehensive human sexuality programs were defined as those containing three or more full semesters of classes related to sex and sexuality. Non-comprehensive human sexuality programs were defined as those containing less than two …
California Pioneers In Speech Pathology: 1915 Through 1951, Looking Back For The Future, Sandra L. Singleton Edd
California Pioneers In Speech Pathology: 1915 Through 1951, Looking Back For The Future, Sandra L. Singleton Edd
Dissertations
Speech pathologists are the only professionals educated and trained to treat human communication disorders. They work in a variety of settings such as schools, hospitals, and private practice. Despite the essential and integrated role speech pathology holds in society, it is continually threatened by internal concerns and external pressures. Regardless of the issues, those who cannot find resolve often call for leadership. When current situations do not yield solutions readily, an historical perspective may serve to provide answers or guidance. Historical documentation was available in detail regarding the foundation of speech pathology in Iowa and Wisconsin, in addition to published …