Digital Commons Network^™

Rural School District Consolidation, Joe Bard, Clark Gardener, Regi Wieland

Academic Leadership: The Online Journal (2003-2012)

This paper, developed by the NREA Consolidation Task Force, provides a review of the literature on rural school consolidation, defines consolidation, addresses current research and issues related to consolidation with respect to school size, economies of scale, and student achievement, and concludes with proposed recommendations for the NREA Executive Board.

Evaluating Work Keys Profiling As A Pre-Employment Assessment Tool To Increase Employee Retention, Ruth Zimmer Hendrick

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Twenty-first century changes in the nature of work, the workforce and employment practices, along with increased employer need to select employees who will have the best "fit" with particular jobs in order to increase return on investment, are leading employers toward greater use of pre-employment assessments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of one of those tools, the Work Keys skill assessment battery, on employment retention. Research questions centered around the effects of Work Keys testing on employment.

Job applicant assessment scores and retention information were obtained from and interviews were held with 12 employers who …

Exploring Cultural Competence In The Lived Experience Of Instructional Designers, Paul Clinton Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

There has been a limited amount of research concerning culture and online education. Although human beings have the ability to transcend past and current environments, helping professions are recognizing the influence of cultural epistemologies on themselves and those they intend to serve. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of additional challenges and concerns present when designing online instruction in a cross-cultural context. The data collected in this study stands as preliminary work to creating a substantive theory regarding the importance of cultural influences in the thinking, practice and lived experience of instructional designers, specifically those who …

Nrea Report: Rural School Consolidation: History, Research Summary, Conclusions, And Recommendations, Joe Bard, Clark Gardener, Regi Wieland

The Rural Educator

The consolidation of rural schools in the United States has been a controversial topic for policy-makers, school administrators, and rural communities since the 1800s. At issue in the consolidation movement have been concerns of efficiency, economics, student achievement, school size, and community identity. Throughout the history of schooling in America, school consolidation has been a way to solve rural issues in the eyes of policy makers and many education officials. Today, faced with declining enrollments and financial cutbacks, many rural schools and communities continue to deal with challenges associated with possible school reorganizations and consolidations. This paper, developed by the …

Ccu Newsletter, March 6, 2006, Coastal Carolina University

Coastal Carolina University Newsletter

Coastal Carolina University's weekly on-campus newsletter.

March 6, 2006 Reporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Change Agents’ Orientations To Change, Mir Afzal Tajik

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

This study explores five field education officers’ (FEOs) understanding of their dual roles as educational reformers and community developers in the rural, mountainous district of Chitral, Pakistan. In particular, it examines their specific actions and methods (strategies) and their underlying assumptions and core values (orientations) of change. These FEOs work as change agents in schools and in the local communities where schools have been established by the Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKES,P). The study’s findings derive from empirical data collected through qualitative research methods, such as semi-structured interviews (individual and focus-group), non-participant observations, post-observation discussions, informal conversations and analysis …

2005-2006 Financial Summary, Morehead State University. Budget & Financial Planning Office.

Morehead State University Financial Summaries Archive

2005-2006 Financial Summary of Morehead State University.

Southern Adventist University Graduate Catalog 2006-2007, Southern Adventist University

Catalog, Graduate

Southern Adventist University's graduate catalog for the academic year 2006-2007.

Confirmative Evaluation Of Training Outcomes: Using Self-Report Measures To Track Change At The Individual And Organizational Level, Tomas R. Giberson, Monica W. Tracey, Marguerite T. Harris

Administrative and Organizational Studies

This article explores the use of an evaluation model of learning and development utilizing formative, summative, and confirmative steps, along with a framework for developing evaluation tools aligned with organizational change goals. A case study is presented in which formative, summative, and confirmative evaluations were used to assess materials and learners following implementation of a new performance management process, tools, and supporting training. A specific model for developing evaluation tools and techniques is introduced as a way to integrate the evaluation process with the specific content of a learning and development intervention, as well as link to higher-order cultural change …

Advertising Practioners’ Educational Prerequisites: Differentiating The Needs Of Creatives From Non Creatives, Katherine Toland Frith, James Chen, Malcolm Chung

EDU-COM International Conference

Singapore‘s advertising industry is one of the clusters identified as an important growth area in the country‘s creative economy. The growth of the media industry, in particular the advertising industry has thus added urgency to call for higher institutions in Singapore to help nurture a pool of creative manpower by providing a well-rounded and comprehensive relevant education on advertising. An effective education policy is therefore a prime instrument in facilitating developments in this industry. A joint research initiative was conducted with the participation of a few advertising companies in Singapore. These included both creative agencies as well as media buying …

Retention In Elementary Schools, Kathleen Scaggs

Urbana University Master’s Theses

No abstract provided.

An Interactive And Iterative Evaluation Approach For Creating Collaborative Learning Environments, Anita Mirijamdotter, Mary M. Somerville, Marita Holst

University Libraries Librarian and Staff Articles and Papers

Inspired by a three‑year Creative University 'arena' initiative at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden, an international team of faculty researchers conducted an exploratory study in 2005, which aimed to investigate the efficacy of an interactive design and evaluation process for technology‑enabled collaborative learning environments. This applied research approach was designed as a collaborative evaluation process for co‑creation of technology‑enabled, learning‑ focused physical and virtual 'learning commons.' Faculty researchers from Sweden and the United States used Soft Systems Methodology tools, including the Process for Organisational Meanings (POM) model, to guide sixty‑two students' participatory co‑design and evaluation activities. In this paper, …

Survey Of Advice For Beginning Environmental Education Instructors, Scott Charles Rennie

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the research done in this study was to collect techniques, methods and advice from environmental education professionals and create a concise summary of the results. The study showed the importance of using constructivist techniques in environmental education, essential to be successful in teaching in the outdoors.

Leading To Develop A Culture Of Learning : A Reflective Essay, Stacie A. Henderson

Graduate Research Papers

As a principal, being the.instructional leader is a tremendous challenge. An instructional leader is a principal who knows the students in the school and is a constant advocate of what is best for them. Carrying the title of Principal does not automatically qualify you as an instructional leader. Instructional leaders set high expectations for the school community and support those members in reaching the expectations. This is done by being on the front lines, attending to student needs, researching best practice and learning and practicing strategies with the teachers. It is only in this capacity that an instructional leader can …

Reflective Practitioner As The Leader Of Learning : A Reflective Essay, Julie A. Amendt

Graduate Research Papers

The role of the principal has changed significantly over the last twenty years. Today's principal is always multi-tasking, changing gears and changing roles over the course of a day. Leadership must come from the inside out instead of top down. To fulfill this role, an effective principal must adhere to their personal philosophy and belief of education as well as live and model with ethical consideration. Philosophy and ethics will guide specific qualities of leadership that will prove to be effective in the management of an effectively run school. The principal must be a reflective leader who can promote and …

A Preferred Vision For Leading Schools : A Reflective Essay, Tashona R. Marshall

Graduate Research Papers

An excellent leader understands that the life jacket of education for many of our students is often not given to students while they are out in the canoe of life. Many times schools have stood at the shore with the life saving apparatus, urging students to come to shore to access it. Yet all the while, children are sinking and drowning because no one has considered what would happen if educators dared to go out in the water and bring them in.

L.A. Butler (1997), a school principal in a poor minority school that transformed her school from a low …

Personality Approach To Person-Organization Fit: Applying Holland's Theory Of Vocational Choice At The Organizational Level, G. Stoney Alder

Journal of Business & Leadership: Research, Practice, and Teaching (2005-2012)

Researchers frequently recommend that organizations consider person-organization fit when making hiring decisions. The purpose of this paper is three fold. First, the paper provides a review of existing research on person-organization fit. This review concludes that several limitations hinder the usefulness of current approaches to person-organization fit. Second, this paper seeks to address these limitations through a conceptual analysis that integrates research on vocational choice with person-organization fit research. The result is an approach to person-organization fit that may be more readily applied by organizations. Finally, the paper suggests a process for empirically testing the proposed approach to person-organization fit.

Empirical Study Of Public Bureaucratic And Private Non-Profit Organizations And The Adoption Of A Market Orientation, Leslie Tworoger, Thomas Tworoger

Journal of Business & Leadership: Research, Practice, and Teaching (2005-2012)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the uses of power bases by leaders of private non-profit organizations and leaders in a bureaucratic governmental organization and the adoption of a market orientation by the firm. The study was conducted on a state bureaucracy and the corresponding newly privatized agency taking over the developed services. Today, in till attempt to make government bureaucracies more efficient and economical, there is a major shift in governmental services to the private non-profit sector (O'Connell, 1996; Rosenthal, 2000; Alexander, 2000). These private agencies are expected to employ more business-like methods (Alexander, …

About Synergy And Dissynergy: Change, Strategic And Chaotic Decision Choices, And Resultant Outcomes, Chris Crawford

Journal of Business & Leadership: Research, Practice, and Teaching (2005-2012)

Change occurs at a rate quicker than most organizations can strategically respond. In fact, like any gambler, decision making in the current business environment is little more than playing the odds in some cases. Nonetheless, organizations attempting to succeed must try to minimize the chaotic element of decision making through the introduction of strategic thinking. Moving toward strategic thought can sometimes propel organizations into a synergistic spiral of decision making - where one decision reveals further opportunities. Likewise, organizations that fail to prepare for the chaotic will find themselves falling into a dissynergistic spiral where failure breeds even more failure. …

A Preferred Vision For Educational Leadership : A Reflective Essay, Amy M. Beach

Graduate Research Papers

Educational leadership is a calling. Changes in the world are reflected within the school walls; principals must be ready to accept the challenges the lie ahead. Effective leadership means embracing the desire to accept this calling, reflecting upon practice and experience for continuous improvement, modeling effective instructional strategies, inspiring learning in students and adults and being a catalyst for positive change. The responsibilities are vast, but the success of our students and community is dependent upon steadfast leadership.

About The Authors, Volume 24 (2006)

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

About the editors and authors of volume 24 (2006) of To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development.

Key Themes And Issues In Educational Development: A Critical Perspective On The Ied Model, Iffat Farah, Barbara Jaworski

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Teacher Education And School Improvement: A Case Study From Pakistan, Anil Khamis, Shahida Jawed

Book Chapters / Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Volume 10, No. 1 (Winter 2006), Office Of University Advancement, Bryant University

Bryant Magazine (1997-2019)(2024-present)

No abstract provided.

The Evolution Of Catholic Schools In The Diocese Of Grand Rapids, Michigan: A Case Study, Bernard T. Stanko

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This longitudinal case study examined the origins, growth, and development of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The purpose of this study was to understand how the Catholic schools evolved over time.

Four eras between 1833 and 2005 were investigated and described. Each era corresponds with changes to the physical size of the Diocese of Grand Rapids. These periods also correspond to sociological events that were also occurring. Data on Catholic schools were collected for each era. A conceptual framework was applied that considered the institutional environment in which the schools were founded and the task environment …

Two-Year College Faculty And Administrator Perceptions Of The Transition To A Learning-Centered College, John Michael Brackin

Theses and Dissertations

A single qualitative case study design was used to determine the perceptions of administrators and faculty from a community college that is considered to be transitioning to a learning-centered college. The researcher conducted the case study to describe, explain and evaluate the phenomenon, and also recorded facilitators or roadblocks identified during the process. A conceptual framework model was used to produce an auditing procedure that identified the progress, perceptions and status of the community college as it transitioned to become a learning-centered college. Interviews of administrators and faculty, a survey of full-time faculty, and document reviews were the primary means …

Change Processes In Selected Private Institutions Of Higher Education, Ronald Dean Herr

Dissertations

Problem. Some higher education institutions are responding to internal and external forces created by the Information Age due to changes in technology, shifts in education delivery, and increasing financial pressures. Are there common processes among a number of selected institutions of similar size and control that could be emulated by peer institutions?

Purpose. The purpose of the study was to describe change processes in private institutions of higher education that are successful based on selected academic and financial data. The institutions selected initially for superior academic and financial statistics over a 5- year period were all church-related and therefore the …

Why Does Policy Fail? Understanding The Problems Of Policy Implementation In Pakistan - A Neuro-Cognitive Perspective, Sajid Ali

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

Education policy in Pakistan, as in other developing countries, faces the challenge of poor implementation. The article explores the history of education policy in Pakistan and describes the conventional accounts of policy failures. It particularly highlights the issues of unclear goals, political commitment, governance, centralisation, resources and foreign aid. Generally, it is assumed that overcoming these conventional challenges will result in better policy outcomes. Although this is partially true, Spillane, Reiser and Reimer (2002) direct our attention to the cognitive factors that play a critical role in policy implementation. They argued that implementing agents try to make sense of policy …

Ursinus Magazine, Winter 2006, Wendy Greenberg, Meaghan Nelsen, Carol C. Cirka, Steven Bowers, Jill Yamma, Patricia R. Schroeder, Jenn Diamond, David Chamberlain, Patti Galupo

Ursinus Magazine, 1995–Present

The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art calendar • Bomberger Hall is taking its place this spring • Alumni forum • Alumni Advantage for legacy families • Gift of sculpture graces Ninth Avenue entry • Student / faculty achievement • Fred Klee: Building relationships • Transitions • New faculty • In memoriam: Richard P. Richter, President Emeritus 1931-2005 • The new business class • Field day • Turf field dedication • Catch of the day • Restoration: How Hurricane Katrina saved my family • Class notes • Ursinus College inducts seven into Hall of Fame for Athletes • Alumnus …