Education Commons^™

A Case Of Shifting Focus Friction: Extension Directors And State 4-H Program Leaders’ Perspectives On 4-H Lgbtq+ Inclusion, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Eric Kaufman, Megan Seibel, Rama Radhakrishna

The Journal of Extension

Contemporary Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth are identifying and communicating their identities earlier in childhood than generations before as a result of more awareness and more acceptance of gender identity and sexual minorities by society. A qualitative study of U.S. 4-H program leaders and Extension directors generated an emergent theme around the importance of serving LGBT youth and the resulting implementation challenges. The administrators of 4-H, the largest youth serving organization in the country, recognize the presence of LGBTQ+ youth in 4-H and believe the organization must be inclusive. But challenges remain in ensuring youth experience inclusion at …

Women In Science, Technology, Engineering, And Math Professional Night For Youths, Emily N. Henry

The Journal of Extension

Extracurricular science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities are an engaging way to introduce historically-minoritized youths to STEM. In this article, I describe one such event, a Women in STEM Professional Night, designed to connect eighth-grade girls with women in STEM careers. This interactive event provides a personalized connection to STEM, helps combat gendered stereotypes, and builds girls’ self-identification with STEM. Best practices include a carefully structured event, inviting a diverse group of women STEM professionals, and intentional preparation of all participants to set expectations. These insights serve as a guide for Extension professionals interested in creating a similar event.

Interventions To Increase Prospective Teacher Candidates' Praxis Ii Content Exam Scores, Takara Hart

All Dissertations

Teacher shortages are a pervasive issue in South Carolina’s public schools. Some prospective teacher candidates have shown obstacles in meeting the minimum required Praxis II Content exam score. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore and develop specific Praxis II Content exam interventions to improve scores for six prospective teacher candidates in South Carolina. All participants were trying to meet the licensure exam requirement for various alternative certification programs. Malcolm Knowles’ Andragogy Adult Learning Theory guided the study as a theoretical framework, and Lev Vygotsky’s Socio-Cultural Constructivism provided the conceptual frame. Descriptive coding and analysis, using Dedoose …

The Effects Of Audio/Visual Stimulation And Virtual Reality To Increase The Rate Of Retention In First Semester Freshmen Graphic Communications Students, Hanna Gibson

All Theses

In March of 2020, the world entered the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving educators to answer the question, "how do we teach in a virtual environment?". This was especially difficult for deeply rooted STEM programs such as Graphic Communications at Clemson University. This research aims to analyze multiple methods of virtual teaching for correlation between enhanced retention rates.

This thesis attempts to solve the problem facing global STEM educators when they are attempting to prepare material for students in a virtual environment. This is achieved by presenting them with how different methodologies impact the retention rate on freshmen level students enrolled in …

Moving Beyond Scientific Fact-Only Environmental Education In The United States, Erica Meier

All Theses

There is debate regarding whether environmental education (EE) programs should focus exclusively on teaching science or on teaching and encouraging pro-environmental behaviors through civic engagement, advocacy, and action/behavior change (CEAA) techniques. To assess which CEAA techniques EE providers feel are appropriate to utilize in EE programming for youth and the extent to which they utilize them, we designed and distributed a survey to members of several North American EE organizations. Based on the North American Association for Environmental Education’s Guidelines for Excellence (2019) and input from professionals and practitioners, the survey included a list of 32 CEAA techniques. Respondents (N …

Building Leadership Capacity In An Instructional Coach: A Principal’S Contribution To The Growth Of A Leader Through The Lens Of Complexity Leadership Theory, Lori Corley

All Dissertations

School leaders are accountable for enabling others to produce innovative outcomes within the environment in which the school operates. This complex environment of the school, defined by greater levels of uncertainty, ambiguity, interdependencies, and interrelatedness (Clarke, 2013), is a place where complex problems are best solved with complex responses (Marion and Uhl-Bien, 2011) by the instructional leaders within the system. In light of this understanding, it is important to examine how instructional leaders within the school grow as leaders through the lens of complexity leadership theory. Although existing research examines what instructional leaders need to do to be effective, there …

Lifting As We Climb: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology On How Black Women Administrators Develop Their Leader Identity At Predominantly White Institutions, Jameka Jackson

All Dissertations

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore and understand the sensemaking process of how Black women administrators at PWIs use their intersectional experiences to develop a leader identity. This study used an endarkened feminist epistemology to view leadership development from the individualistic and collective perspectives of Black women leaders. Black feminist thought (BFT) and critical race feminism (CRF) were used as the theoretical frameworks serving as the lens through which their lived experiences were examined and analyzed. Purposive and theoretical sampling procedures were utilized, including volunteer and snowball techniques, to select ideal participants from various four-year, public …

The Impact Of Interlocking Systems Of Oppression On The Leadership And Decision-Making Experiences Of Black Women In Executive-Level Leadership Positions At Predominantly White Public Research Institutions In The United States, Altheia Richardson

All Dissertations

Despite having the necessary credentials to assume executive-level leadership positions at institutions of higher education, Black women continue to be among the least represented in these roles, especially at predominantly White institutions. The purpose of this qualitative study was to illuminate and understand how interlocking systems of oppression impact the leadership and decision-making experiences of Black women in executive-level leadership positions at predominantly White public research institutions in the U.S. The research question was: How do Black women in executive-level leadership positions at predominantly White public research institutions in the U.S. make sense of misogynoir in relation to their leadership …

Impact Of Interventions On Student Performance Among Eighth Graders In Algebra 1, Tiffany Osborne

All Dissertations

Educational leaders and practitioners face challenges in South Carolina schools, but through improvement science processes (Bryk, Gomez, Grunow, & LeMahieu, 2015), they can collectively develop solutions which directly address those issues. In this Participatory Action Research (PAR) study, I partnered with participants in ongoing Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles (Bryk, et al., 2015) to improve student outcomes. I triangulated multiple data points and corroborated findings with students’ own perceptions to provide evidence that students can achieve in eighth grade Algebra 1 when given the opportunity to enroll in the course and when afforded appropriate ongoing academic interventions that foster conceptual understanding, self-efficacy, …

Embracing The Role Of Educator: The Experiences Of Housing And Residence Life Staff In Implementing A Curriculum Model, Eric Pernotto

All Dissertations

Since their emergence at universities, student affairs and housing and residence life (HRL) administrators have continuously evolved their role on campus. Foundational documents challenged administrators to engage in student learning to support institutions’ missions and bridge the gap with academic affairs.

The Curriculum Model (CM) provides a framework do this work. The CM extends learning beyond the classroom and formalizes it by developing learning goals and outcomes, educational strategies, facilitation guides, and learning assessment with rubrics. In a CM, practitioners must acknowledge their roles as educators to guide learning.

Implementing a CM is a paradigm shift for staff as they …

An Assessment Of The Needs Of School-Based Agricultural Educators And Other Professionals In Agricultural Service Agencies For A Professional Online Master’S Degree In Agricultural Education, Maria Mercedes Rossi

All Dissertations

Online learning is one form of distance education mediated through information and communications technology such as the Internet or other technologies. The teaching content is delivered online, and instructors develop teaching modules that enhance their learning and interactivity (student-student, teacher-student, and content-student). Using social cognitive theory (SCT) concepts, the research team developed and validated a multidimensional instrument tool to assess the needs for a professional online master’s degree in agricultural education. The study aimed to assess participants’ readiness and motivations to learn online and identify participants’ needs and experience with online learning. Participants’ perceptions of online learning were assessed and …

The Problematic Myth Of Student Affairs Attrition: A Regression Analysis, Myles Surrett

All Dissertations

In this study, I investigated a commonly held belief in the field of higher education student affairs. Scholars have claimed 50% of student affairs professionals leave the field within five years (Artale, 2019; Davis & Cooper, 2017; Dinise-Halter, 2017; Frank, 2013; Renn & Hodges, 2007; Silver & Jakeman, 2014). Many scholars situated this issue as a problem for which they have offered possible solutions (Artale, 2020; Berwick, 1992; Buchanan & Schupp; 2016; Dinise-Halter, 2017; Frank, 2013; Jo, 2008; Lawling et al., 1982; Lorden, 1998; Marshall et al., 2016; Mullen et al., 2018; Renn & Jessup-Anger, 2008; Rosser & Javinar, 2003; …

Improving Extension Curriculum Design Using Learner-Centered Templates, Mary L. Halbleib

The Journal of Extension

Extension professionals’ use of learner-centered instructional practices can maximize engagement and more effectively address expressed needs within their diverse communities. The Outcome-Based Extension Education Design and Facilitating Teaching and Learning templates enable educators to effectively implement curricula that identify context-specific learner needs, activities that increase learner engagement, and assessment tasks that gather evidence of essential knowledge construction and skills development. Using these two practical tools, Extension professionals can streamline the creation of compelling and efficacious programs that focus on the intended learning outcomes.

Afterword: Can We Return To Martha’S Vineyard?, J. Albert Bickford

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Reverse Integration: Centering Deaf Children To Enrich Everyone, Bryan K. Eldredge

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

American Sign Language For Everyone: Considerations For Universal Design And Youth Identity, Samuel J. Supalla, Anita Small, Joanne S. Cripps

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Asl In The Academy: We Have Come A Long Way, But More Work Remains, Russell S. Rosen

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

American Sign Language And The Academy: The Little Language That Could, Brenda Jo Brueggemann

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Origins Of The American Deaf-World: Assimilating And Differentiating Societies And Their Relation To Genetic Patterning, Harlan Lane, Richard Pillard, Mary French

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Assimilating And Differentiating Societies And Their Relationship To Genetic Patterning: Does It Take A “Them” To Make An “Us”?, Judy Kegl

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

“Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language”, Nora Groce

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

The Resilience, Adaptation, And Evolution Of American Sign Language, Robert J. Hoffmeister

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Martha's Vineyard As An Inspiration, Jody Cripps

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Sasl Journal, Volume 4, Number 2 (Full Issue)

Society for American Sign Language Journal

No abstract provided.

Developmental Evaluation For Extension Programs, Joseph L. Donaldson, Karen Franck

The Journal of Extension

Logic models have garnered acclaim for their usefulness and disdain for the time required to create good ones. We argue that the orderly, analytical nature of logic models is opposed to many Extension programs, and we explain developmental evaluation, an approach that highlights ongoing development, adaptations, and rapid response. We use our recently completed evaluation of the 4-H Science: Building a 4-H Career Pathway Initiative to demonstrate developmental evaluation’s key principles. Recommendations for Extension include the need to embrace developmental evaluation for program planning and evaluation and for Extension evaluators to conduct case studies using developmental evaluation and other approaches.

Engaging Corporate Partners To Build Your 4-H Program: Tips For Success, Marissa Staffen, Amanda Meek, Beth Hecht, Patricia Anderson

The Journal of Extension

This article discusses best practices learned from a corporate partnership between Bayer, 4-H county programs in Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; and National 4-H Council. This corporate partnership has blossomed into a multi-level engagement that is offering unique opportunities for both Bayer and 4-H programs at the local and state level. Authors share lessons learned that can be utilized for colleagues to leverage mutually beneficial corporate partnership to expand their work in the community.

Parent Perceptions Of Outdoor Learning In The Kids In The Woods Program, Mary Mazyck, Michael Andreu, L. Annie Hermansen-Báez, M. David Miller

The Journal of Extension

Research shows that exposure to the outdoors is beneficial to children and can improve the learning experience for students. The Kids in the Woods program in Gainesville, Florida provides 6th grade students with opportunities to learn science through a series of outdoor activities during their regular science classes. The article reports on an evaluation of the Kids in the Woods program. We surveyed parents/guardians of students participating in the program to examine the impacts of the program and to better understand parent/guardian perceptions of the program and of outdoor learning in general. Results indicate that parents/guardians observed positive changes in …

Engaging Stakeholders In Extension Strategic Planning, Jeremy Elliott-Engel, Donna Westfall-Rudd, Chelsea Corkins

The Journal of Extension

Strategic planning is the deliberative, disciplined effort to produce decisions and actions that shape and guide what an organization is, what it does, and why. [State] Cooperative Extension invested considerable time and effort in conducting a statewide process to engage internal and external stakeholders and nonusers. The strategic planning steering committee balanced negotiations in defining the process, determining who should be involved, and how to develop goals. The semi-structured interviews with the steering committee members, generated three themes: effectiveness of the team enhanced results; context and process can inhibit stakeholder participation, the steering committee needs a commitment to diverse voices.

School Pantry Cook-Off: An Approach To Educate Youth On Food Insecurity, Siew Guan Lee, Gretchen Manker, Nav Ghimire, Laura Foist, Julie Buck

The Journal of Extension

The “School Pantry: Mystery Food Box Cook-Off” is a program designed to increase awareness of food insecurity among youth and teach strategies to prepare healthy foods on a budget. A pre-and-post survey showed a statistically significant difference in participants’ overall knowledge, skills, and confidence level after the program compared to before the program. Findings revealed a hands-on nutrition education strategy via cook-off could educate youth on food insecurity and increase their knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals at home. Other Extension educators seeking to address food insecurity and food preparation skills among youth can replicate this program.

Using Extension As A Vehicle To Reduce Elementary Student Food Waste, Rebecca Koetz, Rod N. Williams

The Journal of Extension

Extension can play a key role in providing food waste education nation-wide. This study is the first to evaluate the effects of environmentally focused lesson plans on elementary student knowledge and perceptions regarding food waste. Herein we provide suggestions on concepts to teach students for the greatest impact on food waste reduction. We also provide avenues to incorporate food waste education into existing Extension programming. We hope the study can inspire and inform further food waste program development, assessment, and implementation through Extension.