Digital Commons Network^™

Necessary Pre-Entry Competencies As Perceived By Florida Extension Agents, Matt Benge, Amy Harder, Hannah Carter

Journal of Extension

It is important to focus attention on the pre-entry competencies of new organization members and to identify the competencies needed by Extension agents to determine adequate education curricula and training, and to improve retention. Current professional development models disregard the competencies needed by agents entering Extension. This article describes Florida Extension agents' perceptions of necessary pre-entry competencies. The most necessary competencies reported by respondents were: self-management, program development process, communication skills, interpersonal skills, technical/subject matter expertise, and teaching skills. UF/IFAS Extension administrators and personnel should build upon the competencies new Extension agents possess when entering Extension.

Heard On The Net: Fear And Self-Loathing In Libraryland, Jill Emery

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This column explores the argument that the future of librarianship is in peril, and hope is futile and librarians are not doing enough to maintain our professional relevance in the 21st century.

Use Of Information Resources And Services At Delhi Public Library (Dpl): A Survey, Sunil Tyagi

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research sought to determine the use of Information Resources and Services at Delhi Public Library, Delhi. A well structured 120 questionnaires were distributed among DPL users during the academic session 2010-11 to find out the use Information Resources and Services at Delhi Public Library. The questionnaires were checked and out of 109 filled questionnaires returned 105 (96.33%) were found fit for analysis and out of which 04(03.67%) were considered unusable. The present study demonstrates and elaborates the various aspect of use of information resources and services, physical facilities available and collection of DPL. Identifies the levels of use of …

The Missouri Miner, September 29, 2011

The Missouri Miner Newspaper

No abstract provided.

Country At A Crossroads: An Insight Into How An Economic Crisis Led To Dramatic Policy Change, John Hogan, Ana Maza

Articles

In this paper, we try to understand the nature of the changes to Mexican macroeconomic policy in the early 1980s using a critical juncture framework. The framework argues that three elements - crisis, ideational change, and radical policy change - must be identified in order for us to be able to declare, with some certainty, whether an event constitutes a critical juncture. Utilizing this framework, we will ascertain if the changes to Mexican macroeconomic policy constituted a clean break with the past, or were a continuation of previously established policy pathways.

Volume 49, Number 4: September 14, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Journal Usage By Subject For Fiscal Year 2011, Michael A. Cerbo Ii

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Journal holdings for the University Libraries are listed alphabetically by subject than authority title. Usage statistics for the fiscal year are included along with a cost per use where available. The information is taken from each vendor and incorporated in Serials Solutions 360 Counter.

Professional Development Implementation: Perceptions Of Elementary And Middle-School Teachers And Administrators, Brenda M. Topley

Theses and Dissertations

In a Midwestern school district, teachers and administrators have specific concerns and opinions about professional development (PD) related to differentiated instruction. Carol Ann Tomlinson, the guru of differentiated instruction (DI), refers to DI as meeting the needs of students by adjusting instruction in order to address how they learn through their interests, the way in which they want to learn, and when they are ready for the next level of learning. Sometimes the content, the process of instructional delivery, or final assignments may need to be altered to differentiate instruction. In this case-study approach, teachers in eight elementary and middle-school …

A Road Map For Leadership Driven Systemic Change In Interscholastic Athletic Programs, Thomas Craig Perry

Theses and Dissertations

The relationship between the leadership services of the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) and the leadership needs of the MSHSL members provides an opportunity for the MSHSL to create systemic change which, when implemented, should prove to be effective for the members' future management of their interscholastic programs. The purpose of the study was twofold: 1. to identify the importance MSHSL members place on existing leadership programs, resources, and services available for use by each MSHSL member school; and 2. to identify the leadership styles currently being used by interscholastic athletic directors.Data were gathered from two separate surveys. The …

Full Participation: Building The Architecture For Diversity And Community Engagement In Higher Education, Susan Strum, Timothy Eatman, John Saltmarch, Adam Bush

Imagining America

No abstract provided.

An Occupational-Based Experimental Study Of Collective Vs. Personal Efficacy To Encourage Sun Protective Behaviors In Head Start Preschool Teachers, Elizabeth A. Holzhauser

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background. Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the United States. An analysis of literature shows that skin cancer can be partially mitigated through personal behavior changes (Glanz, Buller, & Saraiya; 2007, Canadian Centre of Occupational Health and Safety [CCOHS], 2010). Currently national sun-safety educational campaigns promote sun-protective behaviors to individuals who receive exposure due to their work environment (Task Force on Community Preventive Services, 2004). Preschool teachers employed with San Bernardino County Head Start are inadvertently exposed to sunlight during mandatory recess periods posing risks to their health.

Purpose. This study evaluated two instructional …

Family Involvement, Clinician Beliefs And Child Psychiatric Rehospitalization, Sherma J. Charlemagne

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Psychiatric rehospitalization is estimated to fall between 30% and 50% among children and adolescents and is said to be the result of complex relationships between clinical and non-clinical child, family and service system factors. Psychiatric rehospitalization has been noted as an unfavorable outcome of inpatient treatment because of the associated economic to society and the family and emotional costs to the family and patient. Therefore, several attempts have been made in the relevant literature to identify and understand factors that will reduce the risk of rehospitalization in this population. In the context of parent professional collaboration, clinician beliefs and family …

Participatory And Action-Oriented Dissertations: The Challenges And Importance Of Community-Engaged Graduate Research, Emily Van Der Meulen

The Qualitative Report

Graduate students commonly experience isolation and estrangement when conducting their final research projects, which can contribute to difficulties in completion. A creative and socially beneficial way to offset academic isolation is for graduate students to engage in participatory and action-oriented research projects with local communities. Facilitating a research study with a local partner can be a richly rewarding experience. This article argues that students who enjoy working in collaborative environments and want their final research projects to lead to beneficial social change can find fulfillment in action research (AR) methodologies. Critiqued by some for its lack of tangible and practical …

The Anchor, Volume 125.01: August 31, 2011, Hope College

The Anchor: 2011

The Anchor began in 1887 and was first issued weekly in 1914. Covering national and campus news alike, Hope College’s student-run newspaper has grown over the years to encompass over two-dozen editors, reporters, and staff. For much of The Anchor's history, the latest issue was distributed across campus each Wednesday throughout the academic school year (with few exceptions). In recent years The Anchor moved to monthly print issues and a more frequently updated website. The Anchor is now published in print twice per academic semester. Occasionally, the volume and/or issue numbering is irregular.

Through The Lens Of A College Success Seminar: Developing Workshops For Eof Students, Yesenia Madas

Theses and Dissertations

The body of research on first-year seminars has grown considerably and there is much evidence to support that college success seminars have increased student persistence and degree attainment (Fidler, 1991; Keenan & Gabovitch, 1995; O'Gara, Karp, & Hughes, 2009; Zeidenberg, Jenkins, & Calcagno, 2007). While most success courses come packaged with content such as study skills, test-taking, and time management, little assessment of the effectiveness of these areas has been conducted. Therefore, this study investigated the specific course components of the College Success Seminar that contribute to student success and used that information to create workshops for students in the …

Open Source Software As Applied In Higher Education: At One Four-Year University, Muneerah Wakeel

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of my study was to explain the implementation process of open source software (OSS) in a higher education setting, including any challenges that the faculty encountered during professional development, and implementation during instruction. This study was conducted at a four-year university in the southern region of New Jersey. In addition, as a participant observer I investigated my leadership throughout the research process so that I could employ reflective practice in order to determine if my espoused beliefs were aligned with my theory-in-use. I reviewed literature that discussed both OSS and distance education and connected them to the social …

Characterizing The Local Food Environment In Albuquerque, New Mexico: A Dual Perspective Of Retailer And Consumer, Kathryn Lenzer

Geography ETDs

This research used local produce as a way to investigate the construction and meaning of the local food environment by food retailers and consumers in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The research consisted of three components. First, the observed local food environment was defined through store surveys that were conducted in 193 food retail outlets and farmers markets in the Albuquerque study area. These surveys were performed in order to collect information, through signage and other advertising materials, about how retailers defined 'local' produce. The subsequent qualitative text analysis on these materials allowed for several themes to emerge that characterized the observed …

The Montessori Method In America: Montessori Schools In New York And Rhode Island From 1910-1940, Katari Coleman

Dissertations (6 month embargo)

During the very early twentieth century, Dr. Maria Montessori produced a pedagogical approach that permitted the developmental delayed, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and the youngest of children to advance their cognition and adaptive skills to conventional standards. Her renowned "Montessori Method" was unleashed in 1906 in her home country of Italy and found its way to the shore of the United States soon after. This research will compare the implementation of the Montessori Method in two states, Rhode Island and New York. Both states invested time and money into the instructional ideals of Dr. Montessori in response to the advice of educators …

Utilizing Teacher's Perceptions Of Professional Development To Inform District Level Programming, Gina Friedman

Theses and Dissertations

Teachers' beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes toward professional development initiatives have a powerful impact on the effectiveness of those programs after implementation. Specifically, teachers in first order change schools perceive inhibiting factors (i.e. lack of faculty buy-in, scheduling conflicts, limited time for trainings within the calendar, lack of leadership support, etc.) as a hindrance to the success of program implementation. Concurrently, Cedar Creek teacher's perceptions identify many of the same inhibiting factors to effective professional development that are found on a national level. These perceptions suggest a first order mental model perspective. This mixed methods action research study identified a second …

Mph Principles Of Public Health: Fall 2011 Syllabus, Nina Wallerstein, Robert Rhyne, Jonathan Eldredge

Principles of Public Health 2010-2017

No abstract provided.

The Professional Staff And Librarian Learning Community At Rowan University, Katherine Boland

Theses and Dissertations

As powerful forces of change continue to exert pressure on institutions of higher education, scholars are calling for strategies to sustain our most valuable asset, the academic community. One promising response is Milton Cox's work. He created the Miami University model for faculty and professional learning communities, a nationally-recognized strategy for supporting faculty development, addressing institutional needs, and promoting meaningful change. This mixed methods action research project introduced a new version of Cox's technology, a project-based learning community. This project-based version was the basis of my work with the Professional Staff and Librarian Learning Community (PSLLC). The PSLLC engaged in …

Supporting Online Faculty: Developing A Supporting Website Resource, Peter John Anthony, Eric Nordin

Higher Learning Research Communications

Current trends in post-secondary education enrollment indicate that colleges and universities are likely to experience an increase in the number of online students. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the type of resources and support features online faculty need, desire, and expect in a support website. The method used to collect research findings was an online survey. The participants for this study consisted of the online faculty population at an institution of higher learning in the southwestern United States. Participants were invited by email to participate in a 13 question survey which asked participants to rate the importance …

A Study To Examine Teacher Perceptions Of Leadership Characteristics That Middle School Principals Should Have To Be An Effective Instructional Leader., Gary Dail Mccann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to investigate teachers' perceptions of the role middle school principals played as instructional leaders in 2 rural schools in southwest Virginia. The 2 middle school participants in the study included only teachers in schools classified Fully Accredited by the accountability standards of the No Child Left Behind for changing the academic status of their schools from Needs Improvement in 2005 to Fully Accredited for 2006 to 2009 inclusive. This study examined teachers' perceptions of the principal's role as an instructional leader for school improvement in changing the status of the schools from Needs Improvement to Fully …

The Transformation Of Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum: A Multicultural Approach To Optimize Clinical Competence, Sharon Burke

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study sought to address the need for multicultural awareness in nursing education. The purpose of this action research study was to improve baccalaureate nursing students' cultural competence and multicultural awareness through infusing multicultural awareness education in the JSN curriculum. Education sessions were implemented to increase multicultural awareness to improve nursing practice. This mixed method action research project was conducted during the 2009-2010 academic year. Data collection techniques included surveying nursing faculty, administrators and baccalaureate students in the Jefferson School of Nursing as well as conducting student focus groups. Descriptive statistics and thematic coding were used to analyze …

Ua51 Wku Libraries: An Introspective Review 2011, Connie Foster, Chair

Library Annual Reports, Reports, and Statistics

No abstract provided.

A Case Study Of The Community College Baccalaureate: What Happened In Ten Years?, Bonnie S. Hofland

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A growing number of community colleges are offering bachelor degrees in addition to maintaining their traditional functions. This case study examined one community college that began offering bachelor degrees in 1999. The purpose for conducting the study was to provide a historical “portrait" of Great Basin College, from 1997-98 through 2009-2010, as it developed five baccalaureate programs. Specifically, I explored, through archived data and interviews with 20 administrators and faculty, how offering four-year programs impacted the students, faculty, curriculum, governance, and culture of the community college.

Several conclusions were drawn from the data. The interviewees were adamant Great Basin College …

Merrill Lynch Business Financi V. Arthur Kupperman

2011 Decisions

USDC for the District of New Jersey

The Comparison Of Effective Social-Emotional Learning Programs Use In P-12 Schools: A Meta-Synthesis, David Hebert

Special Education Masters Program Theses

This meta-synthesis of literature analyzed 59 journal articles pertaining to social-emotional learning programs for P-12 students. The articles underscored the importance of the involvement of peer support, parent support, teacher and parent training, behavior intervention, positive reinforcement, school-wide programs, and individualized programs being utilized in a consistent way as well as the individual programs being used with fidelity across the whole environment of the student for a successful implementation.

The Relationship Between Staff Nurse Perception Of Nurse Manager Leadership Behavior And Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction In A Hospital Applying For Magnet Recognition Status, Lorraine B. Bormann

Nursing Faculty Publications

Hospitals are challenged to understand factors related to staff nurse retention in the context of the nursing shortage slowdown (Huselid, 1995; Mancino, 2008; Mancino, 2009). Leadership is a major factor in organizational success (Gandossy & Guarnieri, 2008; Gettler, 2003; Wooten & Crane, 2003) and nurse managers are the direct link between the executive nurse leaders and the registered nurses (RN) in the staff position (Taunton, Boyle, Woods, Hansen, & Bott, 1997).

Studies show that nurse manager leader behaviors influence staff nurse job satisfaction (Blegen, 1993; Irvine & Evans, 1995; Lashinger & Finegan, 2005). A primary role of the nurse leader …

The Relationship Between Staff Nurse Perception Of Nurse Manager Leadership Behavior And Staff Nurse Job Satisfaction In A Hospital Applying For Magnet Recognition Status., Lorraine B. Bormann

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hospitals are challenged to understand factors related to staff nurse retention in the context of the nursing shortage slowdown (Huselid, 1995; Mancino, 2008; Mancino, 2009). Leadership is a major factor in organizational success (Gandossy & Guarnieri, 2008; Gettler, 2003; Wooten & Crane, 2003) and nurse managers are the direct link between the executive nurse leaders and the registered nurses (RN) in the staff position (Taunton, Boyle, Woods, Hansen, & Bott, 1997). Studies show that nurse manager leader behaviors influence staff nurse job satisfaction (Blegen, 1993; Irvine & Evans, 1995; Lashinger & Finegan, 2005). A primary role of the nurse leader …