Education Commons^™

Finding The Path To College Completion: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Experiences Of First-Generation Students At A Technical College In Rural West Tennessee, Jacquene Rainey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study focused on the experiences of first-generation students attending a technical college in rural West Tennessee. The results of this study may identify barriers faced by students from these special populations and may also provide insight into the support systems that motivate these students to persevere. Although significant research has been conducted on first-generation and underrepresented students attending community colleges and four-year universities, there is a gap in the published literature pertaining to the lived experiences of students attending technical colleges, especially those living in rural areas.

First-generation college students face many challenges as they …

Equitable Access To The Career And Technical Education Graduation Pathway For Students Receiving Special Education Services, Mike Snow

WWU Graduate School Collection

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the access of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) graduation pathway for students who receive special education services in a selected school district. Analyzing the course taking of three cohorts of high school students, who had individualized education plans, involved a deep dive into each one of their transcripts. This type of analysis enabled me to compare and contrast the course taking between students served in special education who lost an elective opportunity to receive additional IEP services to those who did not. Did the students who lost an elective …

Impact Of Career And Technical Education On Student Engagement In Small Suburban Christian Schools, Brad A. Homan

Master of Education Program Theses

This quantitative research study used a student engagement survey to measure the affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement of students at three small suburban Christian schools that offer career and technical education to their students. The survey asked students to rate the level of their agreement to statements about their engagement in learning. The students represented all four grades of high school. Survey results were analyzed to compare engagement based upon participation in CTE courses, including courses that offered dual credit. The study revealed that CTE participation did, in fact, positively impact student engagement at these Christian schools, including areas of …

Persistence And Academic Attainment Of Community College Student Service Members/Veterans Earning Career And Technical Education Credits, Brennan Jeremy Carr

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of Career & Technical Education (CTE) credit accumulation on the persistence and academic attainment of student service members/veterans (SSM/V) within the 2-year public postsecondary education segment. SSM/V are a small but significant population of underrepresented non-traditional students within postsecondary education. This study sought to explore the effect of CTE credit accumulation on SSM/V performance in five key dichotomous outcome areas: (a) persistence, (b) degree attainment, (c) certificate attainment, (d) any award attainment, and (e) vertical transfer. Data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS), which are maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics …

Stem Education : A Programmatic And Economic Analysis, Rebecca Kate Laforest

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Innovations of the 21st century have created a need for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce. In this search, industry representatives are having a difficult time finding highly qualified US candidates. From private firms to public officials and economic analysts to educators, many acknowledge the need to update training and education to better prepare our future workforce. This work will examine the performance of students in the United States, the current employment landscape, the evolution of education in the US, and trends in education to support college and career preparation. This work will then analyze specific facets of new educational …

Basic Academic Skills And Post-Secondary Technical Education, Janet Humphreys Latimer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if there is a significant difference in WorkKeys score, skills score, theory score, and job placement rates as compared by credential and program of study at a technical college in Tennessee. The study used data retrieved from a WorkKeys database and SIMS (Student Information Management System) at a technical college. The population consisted of 445 students in seven programs from 2010-2016 who had participated in the WorkKeys online academic training modules.

The dependent variables for the study were WorkKeys score, skill score, and theory score. The independent variables were job placement …

The Development Of Self-Efficacy For Trade And Industrial Career And Technical Education Teachers, Corey Mccray

Educational Foundations & Leadership Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to review the development of self-efficacy for trade and industrial (T&I) teachers. Specifically, this study investigated how T&I teachers develop self-efficacy in classroom management, pedagogical practices, and content knowledge. Finally, the study reviewed key performance measures that indicate T&I teacher development of efficacious practices. Each performance measure was considered as it related to the aforementioned focus areas.

This qualitative study was informed by phenomenology. Twelve T&I teachers were interviewed in an effort to capture the essence of their experience as T&I teachers. The study was conducted at two career technical schools in Southeastern Virginia. …

Career-Technical Students In Baccalaureate Programs: Predictors Of The Intent To Persist And Satisfaction With Educational Pathways, Julie Uranis

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research explores the intersections of descriptive attributes, expectations, and influences (independent variables) and the degree to which they predict the intent to persist and satisfaction (dependent variables) of students enrolled in career-technical programs at four-year institutions. Little research exists for this population, and nothing based on the theoretical frameworks of Bean and Metzner (1985) and Lent, Brown and Hackett (1994). Expecting a significant relationship among several factors contributing to the intent to persist for career-technical students in degree programs, this research explores predictors for persistence in this population. This research revealed that there are simpler relationships among the variables …

Gender Stereotyping Within Career And Technical Education : Exploring Relationships Among Gender, Coursetaking, And Outcomes Of High School Cte Students., Stephanie A. Fluhr

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored he relationships among gender, coursetaking, and student outcomes of high school CTE students. The variables analyzed within this study were selected based upon an extensive review of existing literature on gender, stereotypes, occupation, nontraditional careers, and CTE coursetaking and policy. The sample examined in this study came from a Midwestern state’s database of CTE students that were enrolled in high school CTE courses from 2010-2012. Operating under a theory that gender segregation with CTE leads to a continuance of gender segregation in the workforce at large, the purpose of this study was to add to the existing …

Stakeholders' Roles In Prioritizing Technical Vocational Education And Training In Postconflict Liberia, Edward S. Forh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Postconflict governments and counterparts have collaborated to provide skills training to communities as a critical postconflict development strategy. In these undertakings, the role of community members remains largely undefined. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to understand the perceptions held by rural community members regarding the role they played in influencing government's policy priority for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) as a local human development strategy in postconflict Liberia. The conceptual framework was based on human capital theory and concepts of motivation and achievement. Fourteen participants were purposefully selected for the study. Data were collected …

Program Fundraising, Tiffany R. Henderson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this professional paper is to explore and understand the aspects of fundraising for Career and Technical Education (CTAE) programs, specifically culinary arts programs. The goal is to identify methods to raise funds and who will be the catalyst of providing those funds, and to develop a one, three and five year integrated fundraising plan.

Preparation Of Career And Technical Education Teachers For Working With Students Who Have Special Needs, Mary Sunisloe

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This research study looks at the preparation of Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers working with students who have special needs. If the CTE teachers have been prepared through formal education and updated training, participate in the IEP process, and have access to and use goals and objectives of students who have IEPs, then CTE teachers will feel prepared to work with students who have special needs. Specifically this study looked at three areas: how much formal education CTE teachers had as well as up-dated training for working with students who have special needs within the last twelve months; if …

A Curriculum Guide For Teaching Business Planning, Dennis Patrick Larney

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the project is two-fold. First, to design a curriculum guideline for career and technical educators to teach the elements of business planning to a new population of graduates that need the material to manage their vocation successfully. Secondly, it can be used as a very practical way of integrating academic and occupational training program.

Higher Education: An Elixir For The Retiree Thus A Tonic To Society, Nancy Joan Spillman

Theses Digitization Project

This project is to encourage citizens over 60 years of age, active and in relatively good health to continue in higher education. Academic classes in universities, colleges, and elevating classes in vocational and technical schools and elderhostel programs are available.

Vocational Education Advisory Committee Members' Perceptions Of Their Role In The Community Colleges Of Washington State, Raymond L. Harry

All Graduate Projects

Advisory committees are considered essential to the establishment and operation of vocational and technical education programs. This study describes the results of a survey of 20 community college advisory board members in sixteen districts in Washington State.

A Guide For Planning The Comprehensive General Shop, Robert Edward Jennings

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to develop a guide for the requirements of a comprehensive general shop, with particular attention given to (1) the development of a list of standards for planning a new shop or evaluating present facilities, and (2) to determine to what extent these standards exist ln a selected group of industrial arts shops throughout the state of California.