Education Commons^™

Understanding Student And Faculty Perceptions Of The Accommodation And Support Procedures For Students With Ld In Ontario Universities: A Mixed Methods Approach, Sarah Copfer Terreberry

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

With recent advances in disability policies, practices, and inclusive education mandates, students with learning disabilities (LD) are choosing to attend higher education at a rate that is greater than ever before. Despite these positive advances, however, the transition from secondary to higher education and the adjustment to post-secondary environments for students with LD continues to present a number of unique academic, social, and emotional challenges for this population, especially as this relates to obtaining access to accommodation and support for their learning needs. This study investigated how the needs of students with learning disabilities (LD) are currently being met at …

Undergraduate Nurse Educators’ Perceived Structural Empowerment, Self-Efficacy For Teaching, And Perceptions Of Uncivil Classroom Behaviours In Academic Settings, Molly A. Hunter

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Background: This study examined the relationship among structural empowerment in academia, nurse educators’ self-efficacy for teaching, and their perceptions of the types and frequencies of uncivil classroom behaviours.

Methods: 56 participants, registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), responded to a mail-out survey package containing four tools corresponding to each study variable. The analysis includes study descriptives, ANOVA analyses, correlations of total and subscales, and mediation analyses of the major study variables.

Results: A moderate level of structural empowerment and a high level of self-efficacy for teaching was found within the study. A significant indirect relationship was seen …

Oise-Cidec-Ciesc 50-Year Relationship: Lessons Learned In Leadership, Mentorship, Partnerships, Identity And Innovation, Mary A. Drinkwater, Stephen Bahry, Teodora Ajanovska Gligorova, Melissa Beauregard, Wales Wong

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

As we approach the 50^th anniversary of CIESC, we heed Vandra Masemann’s call to “gather and reflect on our historical memory” and to strive to “build our identity and broaden our reach”. Data for this paper were gathered through a combination of interviews and document analysis. Interviews were conducted with 9 current and former OISE-CIDEC faculty and staff. Documents reviewed included: CIDEC newsletters, annual reports, director/co-director reports, CIE Journal and other academic journal article reviews, and book reviews. In order to trace the evolution of the relationship between OISE-CIDEC and CIESC, we undertook a chronological analysis broken into three …

Improving Adult Learners’ Experience With Continuing Professional Education: A Transformational Path To Andragogy, Sylvain Gagne

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

The topic of this organizational improvement plan is to improve the learning satisfaction of adult learners in professional programs who return to universities to attend formal academic courses or programmes in class while pursuing their employment. Its purpose is to promote and support the teaching faculty involved in such courses and programmes in adopting andragogical methods to support those adult learners and improve their learning experience. The research is informed organizational leadership, organizational change, and by andragogic theories. This study will impact adult learners, teaching faculty, administrators, and organizational culture as it relates to Continuing Professional Education (CPE), with particular …

Through A Prism: A Reflection Of The Culture Of Leadership, Catherine A. Beaton Ms

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Leadership in education presents from both an informal and formal change agent perspective. An exploration of how an informal leader from a constructivist leadership stance could effect change through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in a hierarchical organization was undertaken. Using Bolman and Deal’s (2013) theoretical frames to develop an understanding of the lens through which people view the workings within an educational institute, I chose to use Cawsey, Deszca, and Ingles’ (2016) Change Path Model to develop an organizational change plan. The plan is to attempt to effect change through Professional Learning Communities. Using the Provincial Education Program of Studies, …

Knowledge Production In International Research Collaboration: A Comparative Study Of Canadian And Colombian Research Networks, Clara I. Tascon

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Given the increasing interconnectivity in today’s globalized world, academics from different disciplines, countries, generations, and cultural backgrounds are urged to work together on common research projects that cross national boundaries. Producing knowledge in collaboration with other scholars internationally has the potential to create rich and groundbreaking research practices to understand complex phenomena. Thus, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of international research collaboration (IRC) among scholars and how this transnational initiative contributes to knowledge production. The theoretical framework of this study draws upon ‘post-foundational’ spatial approaches to inform the analysis of my findings. Post-foundational approaches engage with epistemological …

Curriculum Congruence Of An Hr Baccalaureate Degree Program To Industry Requirements, Wesley D. Sallenback

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

Undergraduate students of business commonly view their time in school as a career-readying training ground preparatory to advancing into professional practice within industry settings. In preparing learners for success beyond the classroom, it is critical for post-secondary institutions (PSIs) to demonstrate alignment between program curriculum and workplace knowledge and skill requirements. This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) outlines a potential solution to improve the relevance of business degree programming (at a large, Canadian-based, polytechnic institution), according to marketplace requirements. More narrowly, this OIP presents a process of program review which not only ensures alignment of program curricula and workplace-required competencies, but …

Aboriginal Offender Parole Outcomes, Truman Paul Tremblay

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This paper outlines an Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) and addresses a current Problem of Practice (PoP) in Aboriginal federal corrections. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is a federal department mandated by the Corrections and Conditional Release Act. Notably, this Act mandates the CSC to be responsive to the special needs of Aboriginal offenders. Aboriginal offenders have long been over-represented within the Canadian corrections system; consequently, there is tremendous pressure on the CSC to address the gap in outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders. The PoP considers the role of the Aboriginal Initiatives Directorate within CSC and describes the impact …

Enhancing Employability Skill Sets: The Obligation Of Community Colleges To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Their Parts, Linda C. Hill Ms.

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

The pressure upon post-secondary institutions in Ontario to address the persistent gap between the employability skill sets of their graduates and the changing needs of the modern workplace has never been greater. Forces such as the complexities of participating in a globally competitive economy, and advancements in information and communication technologies have shifted workplace expectations. Parents, students, and employers want to be assured that a diploma is indicative of the full range of skill sets necessary to achieve entry into a chosen occupation. The case method of analysis was used to examine one college’s quality assurance strategies for teaching and …

Impact Of Islamophobia On Post-Secondary Muslim Students Attending Ontario Universities, Hassina Alizai

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This study investigated the experiences of Muslim Canadian students attending institutions of higher education in the context of increasing Islamophobia. This study utilized qualitative case study methodology to investigate the following questions: (1) What are the experiences of Muslim Canadians attending institutions of higher education in the current context of Islamophobia? (2) How is the rising anti-Muslim sentiment impacting the academic performance of Muslim students? (3) How do Muslim students negotiate or navigate their identities subsequent to recent national and international tragic events (e.g. Paris Attacks, San Bernardino and other terrorist atrocities)? The students’ responses resulted in three major themes …

The Relationship Between Federal Citizenship And Immigration Policies And The Internationalization Of Higher Education In Canada, Rashed Al-Haque

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Using Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as a way to do Critical Policy Analysis (CPA), this instrumental case study explores the relationships between citizenship and immigration (CI) policies and the internationalization of Canadian higher education. By utilizing a critical-sociomaterial approach, the research exposes actors and actor-networks that are otherwise overlooked in these policy areas. Moreover, this lens underscores the impacts and consequences of policy and how the enrollment and/or exclusion of actors in actor-networks enables certain actors to exert control, power, and primacy over others.

While most research on internationalization identifies the academy as the site for internationalization policy enactment, this research …

Improving Principal Professional Practice Through Communities Of Practice, Lisa Clarke

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Project (OIP) explores a problem of practice (PoP) where the Association Office (AO), within a large, private school district (District), wishes to facilitate professional development of leadership skills, collaboration, and cooperation amongst the principals. Perspectives on the problem are gained through a thorough assessment of the District and its existing culture and practices. In addition, this OIP examines the District’s readiness for change and how both the internal and external forces for change can be used to create momentum to address the PoP. Various leadership approaches, including adaptive, agile, and servant leadership, and possible solutions are considered …

Democratic Implementation Of Anywhere, Anytime, Anyway Learning Through Blended Synchronous Delivery In A Postsecondary Institution In Canada, Donald Moen

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This organizational improvement plan considers the implementation of anywhere, anytime, anyway learning in the context of competing stakeholder values in a postsecondary institution in Canada. Quinn’s (1983) competing values framework is used to juxtapose the values of students, faculty members, innovators and administrators in the context of educational technology implementation (Yang & Melitski, 2007). A case for anywhere, anytime, anyway learning through web-conferencing in a blended online format is made to each group in the context of that group’s value system. Bourdieu’s (1984) forms of capital are used: administrators valuing economic capital, faculty members valuing cultural capital, and students valuing …

Employer Perspectives On Eal Employee Writing Problems, Jim Hu, Alana Hoare

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

In academic disciplines, content rather than writing accuracy is usually emphasized (Hyland, 2013), leaving many English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) students unmotivated to improve writing accuracy. However, the workplace may demand accurate and clear writing. Thus, Ferris (2002, 2011) calls for research into employers’ perspectives on inaccurate and unclear writing of EAL employees to help raise academic faculty and EAL student consciousness. To respond to Ferris' call, this study investigated: 1) employers’ expectations regarding writing accuracy of EAL employees, 2) EAL employees’ language problems in work-related writing, and 3) the impact of writing problems on EAL employees’ employment and career opportunities. The study …

Who Governs The Internationalization Of Higher Education? A Comparative Analysis Of Macro-Regional Policies In Canada And The European Union, Merli Tamtik

Comparative and International Education / Éducation Comparée et Internationale

The internationalization of higher education has become a politically strategic and economically promising policy area. As a result, the traditional authority and governance boundaries related to internationalization are becoming fluid. This paper focuses on the macro-regional internationalization strategies in Canada and the European Union (EU) in order to understand the changing dynamics of internationalization governance. By applying multi-level governance theory, the paper analyses and compares how internationalization is understood at the macro-regional level, revealing fundamental differences in the normative values. The findings indicate that while Canada is formulating an aggressive marketization approach to benefit from the intensified global competition, the …

Flourishing Firefighters: A Plan For Optimal Organizational Deviance Using Healthy Human Systems, Sajel Bellon

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

The purpose of this Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) is to offer the potential groundwork to enhance the current support services of a union representing firefighters in Canada. The hope is to address the growing number of firefighters that are afflicted with Occupational Stress Injuries (OSI) and to provide a more comprehensive positive approach to mitigate the psychological effects and professional ramifications of the consistent exposure to traumatic events and other associated occupational stressors. The aim is to leverage the existing structure and resources to address the Problem of Practice (PoP): How can union leaders effectively address the increasing prevalence of …

How School And School Board Leaders Can Increase The Sense Of Social Belonging For Students With Developmental Disabilities Who Exhibit Challenging Behaviour, Kathleen Sutherland

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan seeks to understand how school and school board leaders at Ontario Catholic District School Board (OCDSB) can increase the sense of social belonging for students with Developmental Disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviour. Bolman and Deal’s (2013) Four Frames model and Maslow’s (1943) Hierarchy of Needs are the frameworks used that assist in identifying potential factors that may be impeding the organization from achieving change. A PESTE analysis as presented by Cawsey, Deszca, and Ingols (2016) is conducted that outlines the political, economic, social, technological, and environmental factors that impact this Problem of Practice. These factors and …

Re-Imagining A Learning Program For New Faculty: An Opportunity To Enhance Institutional Capacity, Carol A. Appleby

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This case study of one Ontario, mid-sized community college explores collaborative leadership processes and practices to shift the structure and conceptualization of a learning program for newly hired faculty members from a prescribed, linear model to a self-directed, multi-modal program. Examining organizational structure, institutional culture, adult learning theory, and systems thinking, the question, how can a professional development program best support new faculty in their teaching practice and new role, is addressed. The Change Path Model, grassroots and relational leadership practices are strategies utilized to guide the process for change. A distributed leadership approach is advocated to share decision making, …

Supporting Department Chairs As Educational Leaders In A Polytechnic Context, Jennifer Marran

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) presents a possible solution to improve support for department chairs at a large polytechnic institution in Canada. It takes into consideration the unique situation where chairs are often hired directly from industry with little or no background in pedagogy/andragogy or postsecondary education and do not have teaching or research duties as part of their responsibilities. More specifically, this OIP focuses on the institutional Educational Development Centre’s (EDC) role in supporting chairs and addresses the following Problem of Practice: Department chairs at this institution do not receive consistent and purposeful training to support them in their …

Resiliency: The Implementation Of A Strategic Framework, Michael L. Allegretti

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

As the incidences and complexity of student mental health continue to rise, there is an emphasis on the need to review the first year experience to ensure that students are prepared for the challenges they will face in post-secondary education. Institutions attempt to address the concern of student mental health by increasing the scope and number of student supports, both formal and informal, in the context of decreasing budgets and increasing student expectations. Despite institutional efforts, students continue to report confusion about available services and an increased desire for specialized supports.

This OIP uses various leadership approaches and methods of …

Increasing Success: Strategies To Address Factors Affecting Student Retention From First To Second Year At A Canadian, Undergraduate, Liberal Arts University, Tracy L.A. Cunningham

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

As demographics shift, student retention and attrition rates are increasingly becoming of greater concern to the overall viability and longevity of post-secondary institutions. This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) examines some of the challenges faced by a small, liberal arts, faith-based university in southern Ontario which, in recent years, have impacted its enrolment and retention from first to second year. With some of the probable challenges identified, the study provides a strategy for guiding institutional change and possible solutions which may aid in the encouragement and support of continued enrolment from those students who would normally be at risk for withdrawing. …

Development And Leadership Of A Faculty-Led Academic Integrity Education Program At An Ontario College, Evelyn J. Holmes Miss

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) presents a faculty-driven organizational response to the problem of inconsistent understanding and practice of academic integrity at an Ontario college. The College works from the definition of academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of conflict, to its six fundamental values of courage, fairness, honesty, respect, responsibility, and trust (International Center for Academic Integrity, 2014). However, teaching students how to translate the six values of academic integrity into actions and behaviors poses a challenge for faculty at the College. Adding to the complexity of the challenge is the College’s organizational focus on social …

Building Leadership Capacities Through Course Development Planning At A Conventional University, Tina R. Goertz

The Dissertation-in-Practice at Western University

This Organizational Improvement Plan (OIP) looks at reducing the resistance found when faculty members are asked to use a systematic plan for online course development. The course development plan is a framework that is built around the concept of “backwards design” (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). Backwards design makes all items congruent—the assessments to the activities, activities to the instructions, and instructions to topics and learning outcomes. The literature review within the context of this OIP, found that course development planning lacks flexibility, creates anxieties with faculty members, is time consuming, and organizational faculty development support is limited and/or inadequate. To …

Western Guide To Working With Teaching Assistants, Erin E. Fraser, Kevin Morse, Natasha Hannon, Karyn Olsen, Nanda Dimitrov

Purple Guides

This guide offers valuable strategies for working effectively with both tutorial and laboratory TAs, preparing TAs for grading, managing TA teams, mentoring TAs as junior instructors, and more.