Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Career education'

The purpose of this research was to provide evidence of the impact career and technical education courses have on students after graduation. Numbers of Career and Technical Education (CTE) completers have continually dropped at the participating schools for the past five years. Five categories of placement after graduation were studied including the following: college, employment, postsecondary vocational training, military, and no placement. Archival data were gathered from postgraduate surveys conducted by high schools as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Data were collected for graduates in 2011, 2012, and 2013 from four area high schools that provide CTE training to some students at their own high schools and send a portion of students to an area career center for additional offerings. A Pearson product-moment coefficient of correlation (Pearson r) was calculated, and t-tests were used to assess the data. The findings revealed large positive relationships between completers of CTE programs and placement in college, employment, or related locations, yet the results of the t-test indicated there was no significant difference (at p < .05) between the placement for students who attended either a District or Area Career and Technical facility. This research may assist schools in presenting the benefits of CTE training to fifth- through tenth-grade students, provide ways for schools to better implement CTE programs, and to make the programs more accessible to future students.

The purpose of this qualitative survey study was to explore the student performance expectations, classroom management and instructional practices, and related professional experiences and specialized training of Career Technical Education (CTE) instructors at a Regional Occupational Center in Southern California in order to learn more about how these instructors achieved 80% or higher CTE course completion rates for adult students for 2 or more consecutive semesters. The study was grounded in the Pygmalion Effect Theory, which postulates that instructors create a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy based on the instructors' perceptions of student academic abilities.

Data were collected from 6 CTE instructors and 126 adult students via an anonymous online survey that consisted of 18 questions for instructors and 14 questions for students organized into 4 categories. Analysis of the data resulted in 4 conclusions:

1. CTE instructors who have high expectations for students promote high student achievement by exhibiting behaviors that require students to learn independently. Participating instructors implemented independent activities in which students had to seek answers prior to asking instructors for assistance.

2. Instructors who have high expectations for student achievement utilize multiple and diverse instructional strategies, assess students frequently, and provide frequent feedback throughout the course. This approach provided students with sufficient opportunities to be successful in class.

3. Establishing high expectations for classroom behavior when the course first starts and dealing with individual students when behavioral issues arise discourages inappropriate behavior. Participating instructors reviewed behavioral expectations throughout their courses.

4. CTE instructors who participate in ongoing professional development after completing a credentialing program promote high student achievement. Each participating instructor participated in ongoing professional development after completing the credentialing program.

Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, it is recommended that: (a) CTE instructors continue to implement instructional strategies that are student-centered and fully engage students, (b) ROC/Ps continue offering and placing a heavy emphasis on professional development, (c) ROC/Ps require instructors to create and review the course syllabus on the first day of class to assist in establishing expectations for classroom behavior, and (d) CTE administrators continue to monitor new instructors' progress throughout the credentialing process.

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to examine the effect that Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators, non-CTE concentrators and academic concentrators have on the on-time graduation of 1035 high school students in 7 high schools in Arizona for the 2015–2016 school year. There were three research questions that drove this study: 1) What effect does CTE concentration and non-CTE concentration have on on-time graduation? 2) What effect does CTE concentration and academic concentration have on on-time graduation? And 3) What effect does non-CTE concentration and academic concentration have on on-time graduation? The theoretical foundation for this study was social cognitive theory with a focus on academic self-efficacy. The research questions were addressed using a chi-squared analysis and binary logistic regression (logit). The Chi-square test showed that there is a statistically significant association between CTE concentrators and on-time graduation χ ² (1) = .15.893, p = .000. On-time graduation was not independent of CTE program completion for CTE concentrators and non-CTE concentrators, but on-time graduation was associated with program status. The binary logistic regression (logit), showed that CTE concentrators were 4.088 times, R² = .061, p = .000, and non-CTE concentrators were 1.907 times, R ² = .015, p = .047, more likely to have higher on-time graduation over academic concentrators. These findings suggest that students who take or complete a CTE program will graduate on-time.

Beginning teacher attrition is a problem that exacerbates the inequity of opportunities for all students, especially for those in schools that are already challenged by poverty. This study makes use of the Beginning Teacher Longitudinal Survey (covering the period between 2008 and 2012) and U.S. Census data to identify which teachers leave and to explain why. Beyond that, it also offers a look into the characteristics of those teachers who stay at the same school for five years. The empirical investigation is embedded in a conceptual framework that draws from motivation and identity theories and brings in insights about the importance of geography and of neighborhood effects from works on poverty and education.

The study utilizes a dataset with survey responses from approximately 1,800 full-time teachers from a sample designed to represent the overall population of beginning teachers in the United States. By combining individual-level longitudinal data with information about communities, it makes an important contribution to the study of new teacher placement, attrition, and retention. The evidence is presented using a variety of descriptive and inferential statistics, and the analysis includes factor analysis and logistic regression models.

The results show that indicators of leaving the profession before the fifth year become apparent early on, as factors measured at the end of year one have significant effects on early career outcomes. Most prominently, higher degrees of burnout reported by teachers, which includes factors such as decreased enthusiasm and increased fatigue, are associated with increased risks for leaving the profession without the prospect to return to it and with transferring to a different school district. Several other factors on the individual and school-level emerge as relevant to career outcomes. Teachers who have Highly Qualified Teacher credentials and report a supportive school climate are at less risk to leave the profession. On the other hand, teachers with alternative certification and master’s degrees are more likely to move to a different school or districts in the first five years.

In terms of socio-geographic factors that help explain teacher retention and attrition, the only significant variable in the regression models used in the analysis is the percentage of White residents at the Census tract of the Year 1 school. When everything else is held constant, decreasing this percentage from 100 to 0 increases the predicted probability of leaving the profession by approximately 20%. Considering that a vast majority of beginning teachers both in the sample and in the overall population are White, this findings fits in with theories about “the pull of home” and cultural habitus. The magnitude and significance of this finding suggest that it warrants further exploration, as racial composition of the communities is likely a measurement proxy for complex processes of inequality.

Economic forecasts predict an unprecedented shortage of STEM workers in the United States. This study examined the vocational anticipatory socialization factors and classroom stratagems influencing middle school students’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) career development. Student attitudes towards STEM content areas and related career aspirations were measured. Parental, peer, media, out-of-school time activities and physical school environmental influences were examined along with teacher and school counselor capacities. The results showed middle schools were not actively engaging in STEM identity formation and career development practices nor were they providing out-of-school time STEM activities for their students. Parents, peers and the use of the online learning platform, Learning Blade did, however, have significant influences on students’ STEM career development.

The California State University (CSU) system is the largest public university system in United Sates. In 2014, female student population was 56% and 42% were male. Overall, there are higher percentage of female students than male students in the CSU system, yet there are only 10 female Provosts in the CSU system. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the career journeys of women Provosts in the CSU system in order to learn more about: (a) what factors have motivated these women to executive leadership roles in the CSU system, (b) their career pathways, (c) any obstacles they may have encountered and addressed on their career pathways, and, (d) any mentoring support they may have received on their career pathways. This study described the career journeys of seven female CSU Provosts.

This study was a qualitative portraiture design. Interviews consisting of 16 questions were conducted in person or over the phone. Nine themes emerged from the analysis of the interview. The themes were prior leadership experience, the mission of the CSU system, traditional and non-traditional career pathways, being female, balancing family and career, gender-based obstacles, formal and informal mentoring, and lastly female mentoring.

This study had four conclusions. First, CSU women Provosts concluded that the CSU mission and vision motivated women to their current role and the connection to the system. Second, the CSU system supports both traditional and non-traditional pathways to the Provost position. Third, like other women leaders, CSU Provost continue to face challenges in their executive career pathways. The main conclusion for the challenges was balancing family and career, in addition to gender-based obstacles. Finally, the study concluded that women CSU Provosts had role models and different styles of mentorship throughout their education and career pathway towards leadership roles.

Due to the high unemployment rate and difficulty for students to transition from education to work, this thesis looks at how Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide a supplement to the traditional education systems throughout the world, and can be a solution to students graduating with employable skills so they can find meaningful work. The thesis answers the question: “What are the effects of Career and Technical Education?” through a qualitative method of an open-ended survey administered to three educational organizations in Northern California. Participants included four teachers, five administrators, and 96 high school students. The results showed that CTE programs have incredible effects on students, from being life-changing to providing necessary career skills and the space to navigate college and career choice. Students, teachers and administrators recommend that CTE programs be adopted nation wide, so students can decide what career to pursue.

This qualitative study investigated information sharing practices between two Southern California comprehensive high schools and an offsite career training (CT) school with a focus on students with disabilities (SWD). The case study approach examined how student information is communicated in support of new federal and state policies related to college and career preparedness. Bolman and Deal’s Four Frame Model served as the theoretical framework. The 12 participants included special education teachers, career technical teachers and administrators of curriculum and instruction. Findings included organizations operate separately, resulting in minimal teacher input in individual education plan (IEP) development and implementation, lack of targeted professional development for teachers at both organizations, and lowered expectations of SWD. Implications and suggestions for leadership to align structures and promote collaboration to facilitate SWD learning are examined.