Digital Commons Network^™

Promoting Staff Development At Midway School, Noreen C. Glading-Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Midway School loses forty percent of its teaching staff on a yearly basis. The purpose of this study was to identify specific factors and their relationship to the absence of a professional development program. The study was designed to answer the questions of how professional development affects the attitudes and outlook of teachers, and was staff development the most effective way of achieving positive attitudes or enthusiasm for the teaching profession.

The researcher used six teachers from three distinct groups, all with at least ten years in the teaching profession. All six teachers had experienced either traditional or individual forms …

Gender Bias And Women In Leadership, Rose Mary Judge

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to describe and evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a stronger equity plan to career major areas whose students have experienced inequity in a vocational program that perpetuates gender bias and harassment of female students. This particular sample involves twenty-two students who are in non-traditional career major areas.

Interviews involved the Building Principal, the Affirmative Action Officer, a Guidance Counselor, and two Career Major teachers. Surveys were used to collect data from students in non-traditional career majors. Questionnaires were given to all academic teachers. Data analysis consisted of using the information from the interviews, surveys, …

Behavioral Change Encouraged Noncoercively: An Effectiveness Study Of Riverside Middle School's Time Out Room, Dennis S. Perry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the newly implemented time-out room in changing the negative behavior that is exhibited by some middle school children. The time-out room is similar to the traditional in-school suspension room. The rooms differ in the duration of time that a student spends in the room and the services that the child receives while there. The student who was sent to the time-out room for behavior deemed unacceptable developed a plan to prevent any future reoccurrence of a similar offense. The student who spent time in the time-out room also received …

Professional Development Through The Use Of Technology, Joan M. Geraci

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to introduce the Gloucester County Special Services School District educators to the concept of using technology for the purpose of professional development.

A descriptive research method was used in the study that included a Technology Survey of the Compensatory Education Teachers. Surveys were distributed prior to and following the inservice component of the study. The technology survey instrument utilized was developed by the Intern and pretested by administrators and educators in the district. The frequency of responses were recorded and calculated into percentages for purposes of data analysis.

After experiencing exposure to the Internet …

Discipline That Builds Student Self-Discipline, Lory O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore the effectiveness of a discipline method that builds student self-discipline in the interaction of high school teachers and their students using an action research design. Implementing a discipline system that builds student self-discipline means increasing the effectiveness of teacher management of disruptive students and decreasing the number of disciplinary referrals that are sent to school administrators.

A strategy for training seventeen volunteer teachers in a new disciplinary technique was planned, implemented and evaluated. The teachers involved in the study participated in three workshop sessions designed to teach them a discipline strategy that …

The Multiage Classroom, Gertrude E. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to gain a thorough understanding of the multiage classroom and to compare the academic and social performance of students in the traditional type classroom to students in a multiage classroom.

The subject of this study were 24 students in the traditional fifth grade classroom at the Hurffville Elementary School and the 30 multiage students in the fourth and fifth grade multiage classroom at the Thomas Jefferson School.

The academic performance was evaluated through the use of curriculum based tests in the area of Reading and Math. Student surveys were used to compare the development …

A Study Of The Educational Climate Of A Suburban Middle School And The Effects Administrative Decisions Have On That Climate, Joseph C. Beierschmitt

Theses and Dissertations

Statement of Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to discover the organizational climate of Collingswood Middle School by using a survey of the students and the staff to evaluate the institutional climate. The data was used to target specific behaviors to make institutional changes that would hopefully improve the climate of the school. The result of these changes were then evaluated with a second survey to determine the effectiveness of the organizational changes.

Description of Methodology:

The study for the assessment of the organizational climate involved surveying the views of the school's administration, the staff, and the students of …

The Effects Of Professional Development On Student Performance Of At-Risk Students, Carol Mizrahi

Theses and Dissertations

The study focused on effective instructional strategies that could be used to improve student performance in the classroom and result in a classroom failure rate of less than 25%. The effects of a professional development workshop presented on instructional strategies were examined as they related to student performance.

The sample of this research consisted of eleven teachers who were required to attend a district-developed instructional strategies workshop based on a midterm failure rate more than 24% during the 1997-98 school year. Four methods of data collection were used: evaluation form, participant observations, interviews, and review of students' grades. The data …

Agenda & Meeting Minutes, Wku Council Of Academic Deans

Council of Academic Deans

Meeting regarding optional retirement, organizational changes, budget and faculty evaluations.

Call For Proposals

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

Contents: 1999 POD Conference Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals: Pathways through the Field

The POD Network

The POD Network Annual Conference

POD Mission

Conference Theme

Suggested Topics and Issues

Desired Qualities of the Conference and Its Sessions

Format Options for Conference Sessions

POD 1999 Conference: Session Format Options At-a-Glance

Criteria for Proposal Review and Selection

Instructions for Submitting Proposals

Proposal Cover Sheet

"Blind Review" Proposal Form

POD and Its Support for Faculty Development, Instructional Development, and Organizational Development

Seeing with the Heart: Sustaining a Meaningful Faculty Learning Environment, by Naomi Okumura Story

Registration Information

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

The Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network in Higher Education: Mission Statement

Letter, by Laura L. B. Border (Conference Coordinator), Virleen Carlson (Program Chair), James Eison (President)

Collaborations, Connections, and Community: Preliminary Conference Schedule for the 1998 POD Conference

Keynote Address: Patricia Raybon

Plenary Session 1: Ted Marchese and James Rhem

Plenary session 2: Kaylynn TwoTrees and Naomi Okumura Story

A Sample of Concurrent Sessions Planned for the 1999 POD Conference

Information on Advance Book Sessions at Conference

Pre-Conference Workshops: Full-Day Workshops, Half-Day Workshops

Educational Expeditions

The Resort at Split Rock: Room Reservation Information

Airline and Ground Transportation Options

Roommate …

Strategic Planning For A Communication Department: Process And Promise, Catherine Konsky

Journal of the Association for Communication Administration

This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of planning, most notably strategic planning, and describes a process for developing a department strategic plan by involving the entire faculty in its creation. Principles of business planning and small group communication are joined to address academic department planning needs. Moreover, planning needs to capitalize on the essential soft information lacking in separate groups of planners such as planning departments frequently used in business settings. Soft information refers to experiential knowledge that comes, in this case, from faculty, doing the job as opposed to relying on the numerical data that drive many business …

A Qualitative Study Of Four University Teaching And Learning Centers: Activities, Funding, And Evaluation Of Professional Development For Faculty, Melba L. Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activities, funding, accountability, and evaluation of selected teaching and learning centers relative to the professional development of faculty in four-year public institutions of higher education. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted with directors of four teaching and learning centers. In accordance with the concept of purposeful sampling, the centers chosen for study were located in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The following research questions were investigated: (1) What is the primary mission or purpose of teaching and learning centers relative to faculty development? (2) What types of activities …

An Internship Study Of Character Education In A Middle School Setting, Laureen J. Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

This internship experience focused on the study of the effectiveness of a formal approach to character education in a small New Jersey middle school. This effort projected student outcomes to include observable student demonstration of positive character traits. The character traits emphasized consist of respect, reliability, responsibility, and resourcefulness. Hence, the name of the project is the "Four R's."

The entire student body of 254 in grades five through eight participated in this study. The integration of one of the four R's into the current curriculum of each quarter served as the means by which the character traits were presented …

A Study Of The Feasibility Of Block Scheduling At Buena Regional High School, Bruce R. Arcurio

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this study has been to determine the feasibility of implementing some form of block scheduling at Buena Regional High School. Due to the small scope of the project, the entire population of professionals who would be responsible for the implementation of a block schedule was used. The data collection instruments utilized were a questionnaire and various forms of interviews. Data analysis consisted of calculating percentages for quantitative questions on the questionnaire and an analysis of trends for the qualitative questions and interviews. The research indicates that it is unlikely that a block schedule can be created that …

Parents As Partners In Progress: A Study Of Parent Involvement In An Urban Elementary School, Janine P. Riggins

Theses and Dissertations

The research project focused on parent involvement in the context of the urban school setting. The target population included one parent or guardian for each BSI student in grades 1-3 during the 1997-98 school year. Subjects completed a pre-survey during the first semester of the 1997-98 school year using a 6 item interest inventory. Responses to individual items were summarized using percentages. This data served as the basis for the development of the internship activities. A post-survey was administered during the second half of the 1997-98 school year using a similar inventory. Post-survey data was summarized and compared to patterns …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Pyne Poynt Family School, Camden, New Jersey, Carol W. Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to improve parent involvement in the school as a result of an increase in school to home communication through the Parent Network.

In order to identify barriers to parent involvement in the school, both parents and teachers were surveyed. The parent survey, written in English and Spanish, was designed to ascertain their attitudes toward the school. The responses of sixty-six parents were analyzed. It was found that although a majority of the parents had a positive attitude toward the school, most felt that they did not have skills that could be helpful. Fifty-five teachers …

An Internship In School Administration At The William Davies Middle School, Mays Landing, New Jersey, Robert Baker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this internship was to provide the intern with an opportunity to acquire and utilize professional administrative skills necessary to become a successful school leader.

The internship at William Davies Middle school included the implementation of the PRO plan, a discipline strategy designed to reduce the amount of discipline referrals.

The PRO plan included three main elements: 1) the institution of a teacher-mentor program, 2) the utilization of the Project Success Program and 3) the development of a school discipline committee.

The results of the PRO plan included a forty-three percent reduction of discipline referrals. Additionally, there was …

A Study On Parental Involvement: Getting Parents Going, Lois W. Lantz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether kindergarten and first grade parents would be more inclined to be actively involved in their children's educational endeavors if provided with workshops and training sessions that would make them more knowledgeable and comfortable in the academic setting. Specifically, the study addressed the following areas: (1) would there be an increase of parental participation in the workshop and training sessions, (2) would more parents be inclined to become active educational partners, and (3) would student achievement increase.

To investigate these areas of the study, a sample of eighty (80) parents of kindergarten …

A Report On The Internship Experience In Educational Leadership At Eastern Camden County Regional School District, Audry Cser

Theses and Dissertations

The current system of record-keeping for the various student activity accounts was assessed and revised in order to establish a more accurate and efficient accounting policy of all monies. Internal audits will be implemented in order to demonstrate a more critical accounting for all student activity accounts. In addition to monthly and year ending reconciliation statements it will be necessary at the end of each fiscal year to provide district auditors with accurate financial documents exhibiting the receipt of student monies for various activity accounts.

Prior to developing a revised accounting system for student activity accounts, current practices, procedures and …

An Internship Experience In Educational Leadership In The Pitman School District, Eileen P. Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to study the observation instrument and job description of an instructional aide, evaluating each for its relevancy and updating where necessary. Instructional aides and administrators were inserviced to ensure everyone's understanding of job expectations and indicators for evaluation. Classroom instruction would be enhanced by achieving uniformity in evaluation and knowing the value of the job.

All twelve instructional aides completed a survey and were interviewed, answering questions about the responsibilities of his/her job. Through this process, the intern determined the need for a revised job description and evaluation instrument. Samples of job descriptions and …

An Internship Experience To Improve The School Climate At Upper Pittsgrove School Through The Teaching Of Courteous Behaviors And Service, Susan Perna

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to support the statement that all students will be able to follow a basic code of courteous behaviors and participate in service learning during school to improve the climate of the school and to produce a caring community. Surveys were administered to the staff and students at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the year to assess the current school climate conditions. A daily tabulation of behavior incidents was used as a statistical comparison to last year's to determine whether the program had any effect on reducing the number of behavior …

Professional And Organizational Development Network In Higher Education: Mission Statement

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

No abstract provided.

23rd Annual Conference Program

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

Welcome, by Kay Herr Gillespie (President, POD Network), G. Roger Sell (Conference Coordinator), Joyce Weinsheimer (Program Chairperson)

1998-99 Core Committee

Executive Directors/Presidents

Acknowledgments

Conference Overview

Index of presenters

POD Network Mission Statement

Session Cancellations

Announcements

Call For Proposals

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

Contents: 1998 POD Call for Proposals

Collaborations, Connections, and Community

Session Format Options At-a-Glance

Proposal Cover Sheet

"Blind Review" Proposal Form

POD and Its Support for Faculty Development, Instructional Development, and Organizational Development

Registration Information

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Conference Materials

Mission Statement

Invitation, by Kay Herr Gillespie (President), G. Roger Sell (Conference Coordinator), Joyce Weinsheimer (Program Chairperson)

Preliminary Conference Schedule

Keynote Address: Margaret J. Wheatley, Bringing Life to Our Work

A Sample of Concurrent Sessions Planned for the 1998 POD Conference

Information on Advance Book Sessions at Conference

Plenary Sessions

Pre-Conference Workshops

Educational Expeditions

Snowbird Room Reservation Information

Cliff Lodge Snowbird Reservations

1998 POD Conference Registration Form

POD Network Institutional Membership List

Additional Important Information

Editorial Matter 1998

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Ordering Information

Permission to Copy

Instructions to Contributors for the 1999 Volume

Reviewers for the 1998 Volume

Mission Statement

Membership, Conference, and Programs Information

Contents

Foreword, by Matthew Kaplan

Introduction, by Matthew Kaplan

About POD

Planning Multicultural Audits In Higher Education, Mark A. Chesler

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Colleges and universities are struggling with issues of diversity and multiculturalism-in classrooms, social interactions, staff relations, admissions and hiring processes, and overall campus climate. As part of organizational change efforts, many institutions are calling on faculty development offices to help plan, staff, and implement cultural audits or assessments. This article suggests tested procedures for designing and carrying out such audits, with examples of specific data-gathering techniques (and in some cases evidence) from various institutions. Cultural audits will be most successful, accurate, and useful when these procedures are considered carefully and built into the audit design at the beginning.

The Role Of Educational Developers In Institutional Change: From The Basement Office To The Front Office, Nancy Van Note Chism

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

Educational developers can play a crucial role in helping colleges and universities respond to change. Among the roles they can play are researcher, assessment resource, friendly critic, messenger, translator, and coach. To perform these roles, developers need certain characteristics and special knowledge bases as well as enabling conditions within their environment. The current state of higher education may be calling for a paradigm shift in educational development as well.

Section Iii: Fostering Organizational Change And Development

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development

No abstract provided.