Vocational Education Commons^™

Kentucky Public Charter Schools, Pamela Manning-Hamilton

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Kentucky public charter school law was introduced in 2017, the purpose of the new innovative schools were to close the achievement gap among the education system within the state. Charter schools are new-age schools that have a smaller class size, use differentiated instructional strategies that integrate technology to promote engagement, which in turn increases student growth and success. Advantages of charter schools within other states include differentiated environment, culture, and performance. Disadvantages of charter schools involve taking resources from traditional schools, higher resource costs, and demands. The study was approached using a basic qualitative research method. The purpose of the …

Contributing Factors Of Success For Middle School Agriculture Teachers, Sara Hughes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The changing dynamics of middle school agriculture education requires research into the causes for some teachers and chapters to succeed while others do not. The reasons for success may be varied and related to many different factors. The aim of this study is to determine how programs perform at high levels, what factors help them achieve success, and the role that evaluation may play in the process. The types of evaluation used for middle school agriculture teachers in Georgia will also be analyzed.

Exploration Of Industry Certifications Within Career Pathways, Ashley Childs

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological research study explored industry certifications in career and technical education. A grand tour question and three research questions guided this study. Data collected from interviews with graduate of career pathway programs, career and technical education instructors, and industry employers provided a thorough understanding of the issues experienced in career and technical education. This study revealed a need for appropriate industry certifications in career and technical education programs and the workplace. In addition, the participants expressed a desire for students to start preparing earlier for their careers and be provided with alternatives to college for post-secondary education.

Comparing Self-Delivered To Instructor-Delivered Reinforcement During Vocational Instruction For Students With Intellectual Disability Using Video Activity Schedules, Katherine Elise White

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, an adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the effectiveness of teaching vocational task when using self-delivered reinforcement versus instructor-delivered reinforcement while using video prompting. Participants consisted of four high school students who had been diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. Results indicated that instructor delivered reinforcement was slightly more effective at teaching a vocational task for 2 of the 4 participants. The results of the other 2 participants indicated that both forms of reinforcement delivery were similarly effective.

Implementing Food Science-Based Instruction In Career Technical Education Courses, Jasmine D. Hendrix

Theses and Dissertations

Students are exposed to food concepts in agriculture-based career technical education (CTE) courses which provide a gateway for students to become more aware of food science career pathways. Professional development for Mississippi (MS) CTE teachers is needed to effectively implement food science-based instruction since there is not a food science curriculum framework adopted in MS. The objective of this study was to assess a food science professional development training for MS CTE teachers that would increase their self-perceived knowledge of food science, self-perceived ability to conduct food science skills, and their self-efficacy to implement food science-based instruction. Thirty-one teachers participated …

Examining The Delivery Methods Of Current Content And Curriculum For Recruit Police Officers, Daniel Barrancotta

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative-interpretive, phenomenological analysis study describes the lived experiences of police officers, their training programs and their educational relationships with academy instructors and field training officers. The focus was not on content material, but rather the delivery methods of the curriculum, in an attempt to provide training programs that improve transference of knowledge for increased learning and job preparedness. This research study showed that a lack of knowledge and understanding of andragogy for police academy instructors and field training officers is creating a limited learning environment for recruit police officers. Without the knowledge and ability to use better forms of …

An Investigation Examining The Closing Of The Achievement Gap In Louisiana With The Ngss, George Cage

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and its implications of being a curricular and pedagogical intervention in terms of narrowing the achievement gap in science education for Children of Color. In using the explanatory mixed methods design, standardized test data and one-on-one interviews were examined to assess the effectiveness and impact of the NGSS’ implementation in the state of Louisiana. This study utilized student performance results from the LEAP 2025 to conduct a statistical analysis that measured trends in performance by Children of Color, specifically Black students, before and after the implementation …

Transforming Technology & Engineering Educator Inputs Into Desired Student Outputs Through Mechanism Analysis And Synthesis, Andrew J. Hughes, Chris Merrill

Educational Leadership & Technology Faculty Publications

The intention of this article is to provide middle and high school Technology and Engineering Educators (T&EEs) with a more thorough understanding of an engineering approach to the teaching and learning of mechanics. During the teaching and learning of engineering content, in this case mechanics, the educator should attempt to align pedagogical content knowledge with engineering content knowledge and practices. T&EEs will also need to focus on terminology, structure, and applying theory to practical hands-on learning activities inside and outside of the classroom. T&EEs have the potential to foster middle and high school students’ mechanical knowledge and the ability to …

Vocational Education: Cna Students’ Perspectives Of Soft Skills In Training And The Workplace, Kimberly S. Mcclendon-Payton

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative study was to identify CNAs’ perceptions about the most important soft skills used by CNAs in training and the workplace.

Methodology: This quantitative research study identified CNAs’ perceptions of the most important soft skills they used based on the composite model for soft skills. CNAs were selected based on purposeful sampling. Likert scores were collected from the survey responses.

Findings: Examination of the quantitative data from the 35 CNAs revealed that brainstorming is the most important collaboration soft skill in CNA training and the workplace.

Conclusions: Results based on the findings of this study …

Equity By Design And Delivery Model In Online Learning: Educator And Student Perceptions And Behaviors As Leading Indicators Of Systemic Change, Miebeth Bustillo-Booth

Ed.D. Dissertations in Practice

The purpose of this study is to explore educator and student perceptions of and behaviors in the Equity by Design and Delivery (EDD) model and its online courses as leading indicators of systemic change. The EDD model is a pilot intervention to eliminate opportunity to learn gaps at the program level in a mid-sized northwestern college in the United States. It shifts instructional behavior from individual efforts to collective approaches to limit quality variances in online courses, theorized to be a major contributor of missed opportunities to learn at high levels, by developing and delivering reliable quality courses based on …

Assessment Of Challenges And Prospects Of E-Marketing In The Development Of Nigerian Universities’ Education Lecturers In South-South, Nigeria, Patience Ewomaogene Okoro

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This research paper examined the role of e-Marketing for sustainable growth and development in Nigeria. It determined e-Marketing strategies, especially online marketing strategies for sustainable growth and development in Nigeria. The simple random sampling method was used to draw the sample for the study. The total sample used was 600 entrepreneurs of which 586 copies of the questionnaires were retrieved. The instrument for data collection for this study was a questionnaire with a four-point Likert-scale format of Strongly Agreed 4 points (SA), Agreed 3 points (A), Disagreed 2 points(D), and Strongly Disagreed 1 point (SD). Data collected were analyzed using …

Reducing Youths Unemployment In Nigeria: The Development Of A Technical And Vocational Education And Training Survey Instrument, Omotola Olabisi Akinsola

Doctoral Dissertations

Youth unemployment has been on the rise for many years in Nigeria. Despite the high number of youths enrolled in formal education in Nigeria and the number of graduates each year, job opportunities to absorb these graduates are few. TVET has been proposed as an educational intervention in reducing youth unemployment.

A systematic review revealed that the interventions aimed at reducing youth unemployment were pooled into four categories: the use of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in schools, the introduction of entrepreneurship education in schools, the engagement of public-private partnership (PPP), and career guidance counseling for students.

In …

Implementation Of Project-Based Learning To Entrepreneurship At International Preparatory In Buffalo: Its Effect On Learners’ Desire To Become Entrepreneurs And Impact On The Practice Of 21st Century Skills, Susana M. Bernhardt

Career & Technical Education Theses

To extract the evidence of the effect of project-based learning in the teaching of entrepreneurship at International Preparatory in the City of Buffalo, the researcher will work with two groups of students. One group of students hereinafter called Group A will be exposed to the course of entrepreneurship using the project-based learning golden standards and teaching practices recommended by the Buck Institute of Education and the second group, hereinafter called Group B will not include project-based learning as a teaching strategy. Of special interest is the notable effect on the students’ desire to want to open and operate a business …

The Impact Of Funds Of Knowledge Instruction In Career And Technical Education Among Junior High Students: A Mixed Methods Study, Sheri D. Deaton

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to investigate students’ perceptions of their own Funds of Knowledge (FOK) and the impact that these funds have as students prepare for careers. This purpose was achieved through an embedded mixed methods design with qualitative data collection and analysis embedded within the quantitative research design. Analysis of data collected in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) classroom from the pre and post assessment instrument reveal that while direct instruction regarding FOK did not result in a statistically significant difference between the control and treatment groups, post assessment scores for participants in the …

A Three Study Investigation Of Promise Programs In Tennessee: Enrollment Responses, Experiences, And Unmet Needs, Gresham D. Collom

Doctoral Dissertations

Policymakers in the United States are increasingly adopting statewide free college policies - often referred to as promise programs - to address the rising costs of attending college and increase postsecondary credential attainment in their states. Concurrently, policymakers and scholars encourage institutions to increase enrollment among historically underrepresented students, such as non-traditional adult students and students from racialized backgrounds, in order to increase postsecondary degrees or certificates in the coming years. Additionally, there is a growing movement in the United States to promote and support programs focused on postsecondary career and technical education. While there is a growing body of …

Examining The Lived-Experiences Of International L2 Phd Students: A Narrative Study, Sydney B. Basford

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

The primary purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore the lived experiences of international PhD students who used academic English literacy during their research for their theses/dissertations. The second purpose of this study was to identify ways international PhD students mitigated academic language challenges for their theses/dissertations. This qualitative narrative study was founded on the theoretical framework of constructivism and sociocultural theory created by Vygotsky. The research participants were three L2 international PhD students who lived in America while conducting research for their dissertations or theses. Video recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants to gather rich, …

Stakeholder Perspectives: How Participation In A Work-Based Learning Program Affects Perceptions, Samantha G. Piller

Education Doctorate Dissertations

The concept of disability and how it is perceived varies based on one’s own understanding, prior experiences, position, and interactions with others. By adding the variable of employment into the equation, perceptions surrounding disability can have a significant impact on the disabled community. The amount of significance corresponds directly with the level or degree of one’s disability and other identities. Currently, the separation between employment rates for disabled adults and their non-disabled counterparts is vast (Sametz, 2017). The purpose of this study is to examine some variables that affect employment outcomes for youth with low-incidence disabilities. Guided by theoretical frameworks …

Public Enquiry: Adult Literacy And Its Importance, Australian Council For Educational Research

Transition and Post-School Education and Training

The Australian Council for Educational Research’s submission to the Australian Government Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training's Public Enquiry into Adult literacy and its importance highlights the importance of these skills to Australia’s well-being and economy, and calls on the government to continue participation in an international assessment to monitor outcomes and improve adult education.

Filling The Middle Skills Gap: Increasing Silver-Level Career Readiness Certificate Attainment In Mississippi, Steven Wayne Pickering

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of Smart Start Career Pathway as a method of supporting student success on the ACT WorkKeys assessment. Since the 1970s, the skills gap has been a national concern as workforce demand has outpaced supply. As a means of connecting individuals to the workforce, Mississippi adopted ACT WorkKeys and the National Career Ready Certificate (NCRC). As a result, programs such as Smart Start have been developed and deployed to support success in achievement in ACT WorkKeys and NCRC.

This causal comparative study was conducted utilizing a convenience sample of 1,001 participants …

Relationship Between Secondary Industry Certifications And Employment In The Particular Credentialed Area, Kevin R. Cook

Online Theses and Dissertations

Career and Technical Education has long been at the forefront of education and education restructuring. Federal and state legislation have provided guidance and reform to assist in the educating of students in preparation for higher learning and work opportunities. However, there is a lack of information regarding the relationship between preparation of students during high school and employment post-graduation. Particularly in Kentucky, accountability changes in secondary schools have placed greater emphasis on Career and Technical Education certificate attainment as a means to represent transition readiness for graduates. In this bivariate correlation analysis, industry certifications earned by graduating secondary students and …

Multiple-Role Perspective On Assessing Teaching Ability: Reframing Tvet Teachers’ Competency In The Information Age, Jun-Feng Diao, Juan Yang

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

In the information age, technology has changed people's lives as well as working and learning styles. The teaching competency of vocational teachers’ is facing new challenges. Based on the modernization of vocational education, "Internet + Vocational Education", and "reform of teachers, teaching materials and teaching methods", the study intends to enrich the research on vocational teachers’ teaching competency theoretically by establishing the framework, criteria and assessing instrument. In practice, the study aims to provide benchmarks and tools for the diagnosis and assessment of vocational teachers’ teaching competency. Furthermore, the study wishes to provide guidelines for vocational teachers' professional development and …

Assessing An Academic Readiness Model In A Community College Occupational Program, Scott A. Hauert, Robert L. Moore, Quinton Nottingham

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This study assessed a localized academic readiness model that measures academic skills relevant to an occupational program and the institutional context. Enrollment in the program’s mandatory gateway course is contingent upon establishing academic readiness either: (1) possess an associate-level or higher degree; (2) achieve placement test scores that permit enrollment in college-level English composition/critical reading; or (3) complete developmental education prerequisites to permit enrollment in college-level English composition/critical reading. Using the gateway course performance for 112 students, the study explored whether any of the model’s criterions are significantly related to success in the gateway course and whether there is any …

The “Case” For Assessments: An Evaluation Of Case End Of Course Assessments And Teacher Motivation, Andrew Lawrence Hauser

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) End of Course (EoC) assessments are summative assessments used to evaluate the CASE curriculum. This quantitative study explored the effects teacher motivation has on student performance on CASE EoC assessments. CASE teachers (n= 55) who participated in the study responded to the 28-item CASE End of Course Assessment Teacher Motivation Questionnaire on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The researcher conducted a Pearson r Correlation test to determine a relationship between questionnaire mean values and secondary student assessment data. Results from the study outline frequency of responses, perceived value and expectancy mean values, and correlations …

Career And Technical Education Teachers’ Attitudes Toward And Their Participation In Technology-Based Professional Development Training In Mississippi’S High School Districts, Natalie N. Hill

Dissertations

The use of technology has become an essential part of daily interaction in Career and Technical education learning environments. There is very little research regarding career and technical teachers’ attitudes and participation in professional development, although previous studies have been conducted referencing K-12 teachers’ attitudes. A qualitative research methodology was employed to investigated the insight of CTE teachers’ attitudes toward the professional developments that they had attended. This study also investigated whether training was appropriate to teachers’ learning needs in high school districts in MS. The population for this study included seven high school career and technical teachers in five …

Cte Leadership Self-Efficacy Scale (Clse), Michelle Conrad, Kemaly Parr, Larae Watkins, David Yost, Howard Gordon

Faculty & Staff Research and Creative Activity

The development of the CTE Leadership Self Efficacy Scale [α .944] (CTE LSES) was guided by ACTE's High Quality Framework. We generated a factor analysis with the following dimensions: technical skills, 9 items; human skills, 15 items; and conceptual skills, 11 items. In total, 154 secondary and postsecondary CTE leaders provided complete ratings on the 35-item CTE LSE Scale. Responses to all measures were scaled from 1 (not at all) to 5 (a great deal). The scale reliabilities for the 5- item scales of each dimension for this sample were as follows: technical skills (α .845); human skills (α .881); …

Through The Lens Of Latinas: The Influences Of An Out-Of-School Time Stem Program, Chaoyi Wang

Theses & Dissertations

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) have been the foundation for discovery and technological innovation in the United States. The United States considers STEM education as a national priority to compete in the global economy and protect the nation’s innovation ecosystem. The high demand for careers in STEM fields promotes the importance of STEM education. However, Latinos, as the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, face many challenges in STEM education relating to a lack of progress, degree attainment, and participation in STEM professions.

This research aimed to explore the learning experience in an out-of-school (OST) STEM program, called …

Piaac Numeracy Task Complexity Schema: Factors That Impact On Item Difficulty, Dave Tout, Iddo Gal, Mieke Van Groenestijn, Myrna Manly, Mary Jane Schmitt

Transition and Post-School Education and Training

This paper describes some lessons learned from international adult numeracy assessments that can help in understanding the challenges that people, including both adults and school students, have when solving numeracy tasks and their levels of performance on functional mathematical problems. The paper presents a theoretical schema of five factors that predict, separately and in interaction, the complexity or level of difficulty of mathematically-related assessment tasks, including tasks that incorporate texts and require literacy or reading skills, which are very common in adults' lives. The model was originally developed as part of the development of the Adult Literacy and LifeSkills survey …

Graduate Internship Report - Frontier High School, Bakersfield, Mallory P. Harrison

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Frontier High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Frontier High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Evolution Of Computational Thinking Contextualized In A Teacher-Student Collaborative Learning Environment., John Arthur Underwood

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The discussion of Computational Thinking as a pedagogical concept is now essential as it has found itself integrated into the core science disciplines with its inclusion in all of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS, 2018). The need for a practical and functional definition for teacher practitioners is a driving point for many recent research endeavors. Across the United States school systems are currently seeking new methods for expanding their students’ ability to analytically think and to employee real-world problem-solving strategies (Hopson, Simms, and Knezek, 2001). The need for STEM trained individuals crosses both the vocational certified and college degreed …

Dnp Final Report: Changing Admission Criteria In A Vocational Nursing Program To Decrease Attrition, Gabrielle O. Davis

DNP Final Reports

By the year 2030 Texas will have a shortage of 33,500 Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN). The LVN is responsible for providing safe, compassionate and focused nursing care to assigned patients with predictable health care needs. Most LVNS work in settings caring for our ever increasing and aged population. To combat the coming shortage VN programs need to graduate safe, competent, and compassionate nurses, but programs across the state are experiencing high student attrition rates. Admission criteria is a common method to determine student success in nursing programs. This evidence-based practice improvement project synthesized evidence and integrated best practices along with …