Digital Commons Network^™

Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of A Training Program Using In-Service Training And A Computer-Assisted Instruction Program For The 344th Air Refueling Squadron, Mark David Lilly

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Over the past several years, the Air Force has realized a decline in the experience levels of its workforce. This decline, in conjunction with the influx of replacement personnel, has resulted in training gaps within the ranks of the United States Air Force.

The problem is that the 344th Air Refueling Squadron, as a training oriented organization, has realized gaps in its aircrew experience levels based on the continual personnel turnover of its aircrew workforce. The purpose of this project was to develop, implement and evaluate an inservice training program and a computer-assisted instruction software program for aircrew members of …

Improving Student Achievement And Attitude In Middle Grade Social Studies Classes Through Learning Style Instruction And Design, Jennifer D. Vincent

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to improve student achievement and attitude in a middle school social studies class. Students were not performing well on tests and exams after experiencing traditional visual and auditory instructional methods. The Jack of diversity and creativity in delivery of instruction resulted in limited academic achievement and poor attitude towards social studies learning. Furthermore, long-term memory was also negatively affected because the traditional teaching approaches did not emphasize higher level thinking that promotes greater retention. The study integrates theoretical research concerning how students learn to the development of a strong historical rationale for implementing learning styles …

Training Teachers To Meet The Needs Of Children With Exceptionalities In A Preschool Inclusion Program, Judith N. Levin

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to implement a teacher-training program for regular education teachers to meet the needs of pre-kindergarten children with exceptionalities in inclusion classrooms.

The writer planned seminars, workshops, and hands-on activities in which regular education teachers could participate. In addition, the writer presented information to the teachers about how to conduct observations of children, and how to develop accommodations to support Individual Education Plans.

An analysis of the data revealed that the teachers had a more positive attitude towards the value of inclusion after seeing the increased cognitive development of the children in inclusion classrooms. The teachers …

Evaluating The Acquisition Of Empathy And Assertiveness Skills By Students Taking A Required Communication Skills For Pharmacists Course: Application Of The Instructional Design Process And Incorporation Of New Technologies, Diane R. Johnson

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The research question addressed by this study was: What were the differences in student performance of empathy and assertiveness skills that resulted from the application of the instructional design process with the subsequent inclusion of more active learning methodologies, skill-building application activities, and new technologies for course delivery? Prior to teaching the fall 2001 Communication Skills for Pharmacists, a first year Pharmacy course within a traditional Doctor of Pharmacy Program, the course was redesigned using the instructional design process. A Performance Evaluation Form, an instrument based on documented skill criteria, was utilized with a True Experimental Posttest-Only Control Group Research …

Reducing Course Development Times By Subject Matter Experts In An Online Veterinary Community, Margi Sirois

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation was designed to provide mechanisms to reduce time required for online course development. The project involved several components, including preparation and implementation of an online training course for instructor new to online teaching. The course was designed to allow instructors to iv experience online learning from the perspective of a student. The course focused on identifying and improving skills related to online course authoring and teaching. Additional activities related to this project included measurement of the impact of instructor training on student success.

As a result of this project, course development times were greatly reduced. Course developers …

Improving Teachers’ Ability To Create A Student-Centered Approach To Learning In Grade 7 Classes, Fredricka Fairclough

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This dissertation was designed to provide better understanding of the student centered approach to learning and to assist teachers in operationalizing different approaches across the disciplines thereby overcoming the difficulties they previously encountered. The 15 Grade 7 teachers were not previously trained to use the student centered approach to learning. They were challenged in the various classes because the new curriculum is student centered. As a result, they found it difficult to identify creative ways to design dynamic learning environments that involve students in doing and thinking.

The writer developed a plan that provided not only training but also support …

Improving The School Climate: Ventura Elementary School, Mike Smith

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This practicum studied the dissatisfaction of the school staff with the front office and the subsequent loss of a significant number of instructional personnel. This study took place at Ventura Elementary School.

A change in the principalship and corresponding leadership style, a constant turnover of assistant principals, and a new office staff brought in by the new administration were some causes of the dissatisfaction.

This practicum identified sources of dissatisfaction through the use of a school climate survey. Research-based strategies that have been credited with improving school climate were implemented. The principal played a significant role in the implementation. The …

A Discipline Intervention Program At Jones Elementary School, Mike B. Campbell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Will a staff-development program that includes an emphasis on conflict resolution, positive-discipline approaches, and proactive supervision lead to a reduction in discipline referrals for the school? In addition, will the development of the planning-room concept as a replacement for in-school suspension lead to fewer repeat offenders? Those were the research questions that guided this study. The school climate was measured through the discipline referral reviews and administrative observation.

The setting for this applied dissertation implementation was an elementary school serving 700 students in kindergarten through 5th grade. The school is located in a small community that is included in the …

Ameliorating The Cycle Of Teenage Pregnancy Among Minority Families, Gloria H. Myrick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This report describ.es a program to ameliorate the cycle of teenage pregnancy among Black females in a suburban high school, thereby decreasing the dropout rate of these at-risk students. The younger siblings of childbearing teens were the targeted population for the pregnancy prevention program. Twenty at-risk siblings in Grades 9 through 12 participated in this program. An analysis of a survey conducted by the guidance department and the teenage parenting program indicated that 31% of the students at the targeted high school became teenage parents and eventually dropped out of school before graduating.

A major goal of this program was …

Evaluation Of The Vocational Curriculum For At-Risk Students At Westinghouse Career Academy, Burchell Love

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was whether or not the curriculum model and/or delivery methods used at Westinghouse Career Academy has an effect on at-risk students completing a four year vocational program. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the vocational curriculum at Westinghouse Career Academy. There were two research questions addressed in the study. First, "What were the specific factors that contributed to at-risk students being unable to successfully complete a four-year program." Second, "What were the changes that could be made to improve upon the effectiveness of the vocational curriculum for at-risk students at Westinghouse …

Analysis Of Job Satisfaction Between Full And Part Time Faculty Teaching At South Puget Sound Community College, Lee Paavola

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was to determine if the perceived loss of job satisfaction by the part-time faculty was an accurate assessment of the situation. The purpose of this study was to use inferential statistics to compare the level of job satisfaction of part-time faculty to fulltime faculty currently teaching at the college. The research question to be answered was, "Are the perceived levels of job satisfaction of the part- time faculty equal to the perceived levels of job satisfaction of full-time faculty?" Validation followed these procedures. First, a review of the literature was conducted to discover research relevant to …

Development Of An Alternate Curriculum For Bachelor Degree Completion Students In The Lead Program At Ohio Dominican College, William A. Vensel

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

In the Learning Enhanced Adult Degree (LEAD) program at Ohio Dominican College (ODC), a cohort based accelerated delivery format, students who complete the Associate of Science (AS.) degree had only one bachelor's degree program to choose from, the B.S. in Business Administration. Because Ohio Dominican is a bachelor degree granting institution, classified as Baccalaureate General by the Carnegie Commission, it is desirable to see all enrolled students through to the bachelor degree. The problem addressed by this practicum was that with only one degree program to choose from at the bachelor level, retention of AS. students who desired the accelerated …

Assessing The Inservice Needs Of Instructors At Sheridan And Atlantic Technical Centers, Tripat Pal Kaur

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study was conducted to determine the inservice training needs of the teachers at two of the technical centers in Broward County, Atlantic Technical Center, and Sheridan Technical Center. There were two research questions for the study. First, how have instructors rated their need for inservice training on specific competencies? Second, how important was the instructional behavior related to inservice training needs?

Six procedures were employed in this study. First, a literature review was conducted to determine the current condition of teacher preparation and the views on professional development to meet the changing needs of teachers. The next steps involved …

A Comparison Of Student Learning Outcomes In A Web-Based And Face-To-Face Applied Research Methods Course, Trula Morehead Nicholas

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem of focus in this study related to student learning outcomes in the Human Services Department, Bellingham campus at Western Washington University. The purpose of this study was to compare learning outcomes of students in a web-based applied research methods course to those of students in a face to- face applied research methods course.

The research question was "Do students who take the face-to face applied research methods class have higher quiz scores than students who take the web-based applied research methods class?" Using the research methodology literature focusing on distance education and web-based learning was reviewed.

A total …

The Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of The Current Student Orientation At Herzing College, Atlanta, Sondra L. Savage

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem investigated was that an analysis of exit interviews of students dropping out of Herzing College suggested that the current student orientation program was not providing them with sufficient information about the college in which they needed to become well-informed about the school's policies, procedures, and services offered. Not being adequately informed was 2 a factor in students' decisions to withdraw from the program. Exit interviews are required when the students decide to withdraw from the program. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current student orientation through the administration of a needs assessment instrument to analyze …

Evaluation Of The Revised Personal Training Certificate Program At Camden County College, Nicholas J. Dicicco

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The success of programs at Camden County College is determined using an outcome-based evaluation process. Revisions were made to the Personal Training Certificate program over 18 months ago and no evaluation had been performed since that time.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the revised certificate program to determine if the revisions have resulted in achieving program objectives. There was one research question: Have the revisions made to the certificate program resulted in the attainment of the program objectives as described in the Camden County College Academic Program Review document?

The evaluation was performed based on a review …

Development Of An Online Medical/Surgical Course For Selected Students At Aurora University, Vi Wilkes

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem was that several students in the baccalaureate nursing program at Aurora University (AU) experienced problems fitting required courses into their schedules. These students requested an alternative to class attendance in the course, Nursing Care of Person with Acute Health Problems (NUR 380). The purpose of this practicum was to develop an online version of NUR 380 for selected students enrolled in the nursing program at AU. Two research questions for this study were (a) what is the best design for the online course? And (b) can this method of delivery be partially integrated into the traditional classroom?

.Six …

Development Of A Desensitization Program For The Mentally Retarded Clients At Gracewood State School And Hospital, John L. Wallace

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to develop a desensitization program for the mentally retarded clients at Gracewood State School and Hospital. The program was developed to teach the mentally retarded clients alternate ways of expending negative behavior when they become agitated. Due to increased injuries to clients who displayed self-injurious behavior, this program provides techniques for reducing self-injurious behavior.

The research questions were: what is the appropriate design of a desensitization program at Gracewood State School and Hospital? And what should be included in a desensitization program for mentally retarded clients at Gracewood State School and Hospital?

The procedures …

Development Of An Adjunct Handbook For The Graduate Teacher Education Program At Nova Southeastern University, Sandrine Lavallee

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) regularly hires new adjuncts. The problem was that new and returning adjuncts complained that they did not understand various procedures. The purpose of this study was to develop an adjunct handbook for new and returning GTEP adjuncts.

The development methodology was utilized for this study. The research questions were {a) what is the appropriate and valid content for a GTEP adjunct handbook that will inform new and returning adjuncts about procedures and processes? (b) What is the appropriate and valid content for a GTEP adjunct handbook • that will assist employees? (c) What the …

The Development Of A Survey Insttument To Identify The Perceived Needs For Professional Development Of Credentialed Ministers Of The Assemblies Of God In Australia, Victoria, Brendan Roach

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that it is unknown what are the perceived needs for professional development of credentialed ministers of the Assemblies of God in Australia, Victoria. The purpose of the study was to develop a survey instrument to measure what are those perceived needs. The research question was, "What should be contained in a needs assessment survey to identify the perceived needs for professional development of credentialed ministers of the Assemblies of God in Australia, Victoria?"

A literature review was conducted to identify the competencies required by credentialed ministers to develop in their ministry function. The findings of …

Development Of A Syllabus For A Beginning Clinical Course In A Ms Degree Program In Nursing Program At Dominican University Of Californiadevelopment Of A Syllabus For A Beginning Clinical Course In A Ms Degree Program In Nursing Program At Dominican University Of California, Ron Morrison

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

A new Master of Science in Nursing at Dominican University, a program preparing Registered Nurses to perform the duties of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) was implemented in the fall semester, 2000. A unique feature of this program was the focus on the practice of integrative therapies, utilizing advanced clinical experiences. The purpose of this study was to develop the clinical course syllabus for the first clinical course in the program. The research question for the project was: What is the appropriate content for a clinical course syllabus for a beginning clinical course in a Master of Science in Nursing Program …

Evaluation Of An Inter-Programmatic Training Program Provided To The Staff Of The Office Of Infant And Child Health Services, Gloria V. Chen

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The Family Health Branch of the Georgia Division of Public Health has been going through a transition by changing its mode of operation from an administrative to a facilitative and supportive role. There have been several changes in managers of Offices within the Branch, along with reduction in staff at all levels. Some program managers from the Office of Infant and Child Health spend a great portion of their time out of the office doing site visits, attending meetings or presenting workshops. During their absence no one is available to address specific issues related to their programs. An inter-programmatic training …

Development Of An Introductory Experimental/Adventure Education Course For Exercise Science Majors At Southern Connecticut State University, Patricia Ann Payne

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

As part of the self-study process, core courses and field experiences of the Exercise Science Teacher Education Preparation Program (Exstep) were closely evaluated for their effectiveness in preparing pre-service teachers for student teaching and future employment. The problem was a lack of effective facilitation methods by the pre-service teachers in the Exstep program especially in the area of adult education principles, which include the affective domain of teaching and learning (SCSU Exstep self-study, 2000). An introductory course in experiential/adventure education would facilitate the principles of adult education, thereby enhancing students understanding of"affective" teaching methodologies, as well as philosophies, by giving …

Development Of The Content And Format For The Resort Recreation Management/Tourism Practicum Handbook At At Slippery Rock University, Phyllise Wilkins-Church

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem addressed in this project was that the practicum handbook available for resort recreation management/tourism students and the site supervisor was not specific to their needs. The purpose of this study was to delineate the requirements, expectations, and format appropriate in an option specific practicum handbook. The research question for this study was: "What is the appropriate content information and format for the resort recreation management/tourism practicum handbook?"

Results from the literature review and input from the formative and summative committees supported the need for a practicum handbook specific to resort recreation management/tourism. The professional literature assisted in identifying …

Development Of A Curriculum For Mercyhurst North East Students Enrolled In Technology Crime Classes, Art Amann

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that adult students engaged in law enforcement work were not receiving adequate education and training regarding technology crime. Information received by way of input from regional police chiefs and other criminal justice administrators supported this premise. The purpose of this study was to develop a curriculum for technology crime that would be available to criminal justice students at Mercyhurst College North East. The two research questions were: "What are the appropriate and valid criteria for the development of a curriculum for criminal justice technology training?", and "What are the valid and appropriate components and delivery …

Evaluation Of Student Satisfaction With Flight Training Schools At The Indiana State University Department Of Aerospace, Gregory Lee Schwab

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

At Indiana State University, many students indicated their dissatisfaction with the contracted flight schools' ability to provide a quality customer service product. This was not only what students expected but also was required as part of the university's contract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of service provided by the university's two contracted flight schools, as determined by a voluntary student survey and verbal feedback from students, staff and faculty, and the airport managers of the two contracted flight schools.

There were two research questions for this study. The first question was, "What quality of service …

Comparison Of Final Math Grades Between Bethel College Elementary Education Majors With High As Opposed To Low Act Mathematics Test Scores, Linda Probert

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The problem under investigation was that some Bethel College students had difficulty passing the initial math courses for elementary education majors. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the final grades for the course Math for Elementary Teachers (MAT201M) of Bethel College elementary education students who had high scores as compared to low scores on the ACT mathematics test. The research question was, "Is there a significant difference between the final grades for MAT201M of students who had high scores on the ACT mathematics test as compared to students who had low scores …

The Development Of A Workshop To Promote A Team Approach To Fundraising At Tri-County Community College, Terrie Kelly

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

Tri-County Community College is operating in an environment of severe economic hardship, just at a time when the college community needs the college the most. The state of North Carolina is grappling with a projected 900 million dollar budget shortfall (McKnight, 2002). This fiscal year, all North Carolina community college budgets have suffered a four percent budget reversion with another reversion of up to eight per cent expected before the year ends (North Carolina Association for Community College Presidents, 2002).

At the same time, Tri-County Community College enrollment has soared due to several manufacturing plant closures. Since the year 2000, …

Development Of An Instrument To Assess Employee Education Program Customers’ Satisfaction, Molly A. Miller

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The nature of the problem was the lack of evidence that Monroe County Department of Social Services (MCDSS} Employee Education Program (EEP} was effective in terms of the usefulness of its content, design, and format. There was a need to assess the program from the customers' perspective.

This study's purpose was to develop an instrument to assess customers' satisfaction with the EEP. The instrument provided Monroe Community College (MCC} with a tool to identify deficits and strengths of the program.

The research questions were: What was the appropriate content for an instrument to assess employee education program customers' satisfaction? What …

A Study To Determine The Relationship Between Where African American Students Graduated High School In New Jersey And Their Participation In Co-Curricular Activities In College, Jocelyn D. Briddell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

African American women at Douglass College do not seem to be involved in mainstream campus organizations and activities. It has been suggested the students who come from urban areas in New Jersey are less involved in co-curricular activities because of a lack of state funding. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine whether there is a relationship between where African American Douglass women graduated from high school in New Jersey and their participation in co-curricular activities.

There was one research question for this study: Is there a relationship between student participation in co-curricular activities based upon whether the …