Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Education programs'

This study focused on opinions of diagnostic medical sonography program directors concerning online education within an allied health field that is clinically based. Although the study is centered around sonography, the findings can be applied to many online programs with clinical aspects. There was limited information concerning online education within a clinically based healthcare field, therefore the literature review focused on distance or online education in general. The participating program directors used online/distance learning terms interchangeably. The objective of this study was to identify factors that attributed to or hindered the progress of an online program in diagnostic medical sonography. The question that guided this research was: What are the program directors’ perception of face-to-face versus online program delivery in a clinically based subject? Individual interviews were conducted with three directors of online sonography programs. The responses showed that these directors saw improved overall outcomes in their online programs. This was ultimately attributed to a supportive staff and ease of access to resources. Resources and communication are easily accessed due to the improved technology seen in today’s online classroom.

CITE/Language Arts
Ph.D.
Program evaluation in the fields of second language acquisition (SLA) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) has a history dating from the 1960's. The focus of previous program evaluations has been on language achievement at the end of the program of study (Lynch, 1996). However, to improve or maintain program quality, teacher education of future foreign language instructors is essential; thus, improvements in the quality and/or control of teacher education programs is also important. The primary purpose of this study is to propose and test a multi-faceted approach to program evaluation that originates from the administrative side of two graduate programs in Applied Linguistics. This marks the first time in the field that this approach has been implemented. First, time series enrollment models were examined to investigate the overall stability of the two graduate education programs for non-traditional students from 1993 to 2010 (for the Master's programs) and 1995 to 2010 (for the doctoral programs). Second, logistic regression models were examined to investigate the characteristics of the students who did and did not graduate from the programs. Third, event history Cox regression models were examined to investigate the amount of time spent by the graduate students to complete the degree using potential demographic and enrollment pattern factors as predictors. Finally, a dynamic model was formulated and tested to simulate the program's potential future enrollments based in part on the results of the prior model analyses and publically available data. The results indicated the potential for developing a relatively strong time series enrollment prediction model for near future enrollments using the data available in the administrative database. However, the student success/failure models and event history program study time prediction models were relatively weak and the results indicated the difficulty of predicting whether students will successfully complete the graduate programs using data typically collected from the students when they enter the program. The simulation results showed a potential decline in enrollments over the next decade mainly due to the decline of the 18-year-old student population in Japan, the decreasing size of the foreign language teacher population, the long, gradual recession in Japan, and the revision of university faculty employment status by the Japanese Ministry of Education.
Temple University--Theses

Global education is that focus of education which is concerned with coming to a better understanding of worldwide (i.e. multinational] perspectives, problems, issues, interdependencies and human values. It was initially found in North American educational systems after World War II and it became a major focus of attention in the 1970s. Some global education content can be found in the 1982 public school curricula of the ten Canadian provinces. There was no information in the educational literature concerning global education in Canadian teacher education programs and so this study was developed. In the late spring of this year a twelve-item questionnaire was mailed to the heads of the social studies departments (or equivalent] of those Canadian higher education institutions which offer teacher education at at least the bachelors degree level. Fifty-two such institutions were identified. Forty English-language and twelve French- language questionnaires were mailed out with appropriate cover letters explaining the study. Several weeks after the initial mailing a follow-up letter and an additional questionnaire were mailed to those institutions which had not yet responded. Replies were received from thirty-six of the fifty-two institutions. Eighteen of these identified global education courses at their institutions. More than fifty specific global education courses were identified, overall, and of these there were slightly more at the undergraduate than graduate level. Most courses were identified as being for pre-service rather than in-service teacher education. Only two non-credit courses (workshops) were identified. There was some indication that a few institutions plan to add one or two modules or courses on global education over the next few years. Information was also obtained concerning exchange programs, resource centers of information, and sources of funding for the promotion of global education in teacher education programs. The general conclusion of this study was that there appears to be a marginal to modest level of global education present in the teacher education programs across the country tin most of the provinces). A secondary and less solid conclusion of this study was that over the next three to five years it appears as though a global education emphasis in Canadian teacher education programs will either be maintained at present levels or will be increased slightly.
Education, Faculty of
Educational Studies (EDST), Department of
Graduate

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO
A dissertação trata das questões enfrentadas por profissionais de comunicação e educação, que trabalham na produção de conteúdo para TV educativa. O estudo de caso, desenvolvido com 10 produtores da MultiRio, no período de maio a julho de 2014, seguiu a abordagem qualitativa. O foco da análise é a percepção de conteúdo educativo compreendida por estes profissionais e como esta acepção norteia a produção destes programas. A TV educativa, lócus desta pesquisa, apresenta características comuns ao meio, como entretenimento e informação. Todavia, possuiu peculiaridades, constituindo o objetivo primeiro deste tipo de emissora: educar e formar a audiência. O presente trabalho desenvolve-se a partir da Pedagogia da Comunicação, desenvolvida por Mario Kaplún, no estudo da educação e da comunicação, configurando o que o autor chamou de educação informal, assumindo esta modalidade de TV seu papel na promoção do desenvolvimento humano. A MultiRio é a empresa municipal de multimeios, vinculada à Secretaria Municipal de Educação do Rio de Janeiro. Os objetivos da empresa são a articulação entre a sociedade e a educação, atuando ainda na capacitação continuada de professores e alunos da rede pública municipal. Desde sua criação, em 1993, foram mais de 4.200 programas produzidos e veiculados em sistema aberto e fechado de televisão. As considerações do estudo demonstram a existência de conflito entre as duas áreas, evidenciando uma tensão entre aprendizagem e entretenimento, sugerindo que este conflito pode ter origem na percepção sobre o papel da escola e do ensino na sociedade e desta através da TV.
This dissertation brings questions which are faced by communication and education professionals who work with content production for educational TV. This is a case study that has a qualitative approach. It was developed from May to July of 2014 with ten producers who work at MultiRio. The focus of this analysis is to perceive how these professionals comprehend educational content and also to understand how this perception influences the production of these programs. Educational TV has its own characteristics such as entertainment and information. However, it has its peculiarities. The first goal of this kind of station is educating and achieving viewership. This research was developed within the studies of Mario Kaplún on Pedagogy of communication. This author brought the concept of informal education assuming that this type of TV plays a role in promoting human development. MultiRio is a city government company which is connected to the Educational Secretary of the city. The company goals are mainly to articulate society and education as well as promoting continued formation for students and teachers from public schools. Since its creation, the company has produced and aired more than 4.200 programs both on open and paid TV. This study found out that there is a conflict between the two fields which showed a tension between learning and entertaining. It suggests that this conflict may have been originated in the perception about the role of the school and the role of teaching in the society and through TV.

Despite evidence supporting the ongoing provision of health education interventions in First Nations communities, there is a paucity of research that specifically addresses how these programs should be designed to ensure sustainability and long-term effects. Using a Community-Based Research approach, constructivist theories, and Indigenous methods, a collective case study was completed with three Canadian First Nations communities to address the following research question: What factors are related to sustainable health education programs, and how do they contribute to and/or inhibit program success in an Aboriginal context? A university-community partnership titled the Community Learning Centres (CLC) provided the context for the collective cases. CLC involved the development of three learning centres (CLCs), each of which provided community members with a physical space and online resources pertaining to culturally relevant health education. Semi-structured interviews and a sharing circle were completed with 19 participants, including members of community leadership, external partners, and program staff and users. Document review served to verify information described by participants. Analysis included a description of each case (within-case analysis) and a thematic analysis across cases (cross-case analysis). Seven factors were identified to either promote or inhibit CLC sustainability, including: 1) community uptake (if and how users access the CLC); 2) environmental factors (conditions within the CLC and the community); 3) stakeholder awareness and support (presence and extent of support exhibited by stakeholder groups); 4) presence of a champion (passionate leaders dedicated to CLC success); 5) availability of funding (ability to identify and allocate program funding); 6) fit and flexibility (CLCs’ ability to address user needs and community priorities), and; 7) capacity and capacity building (capacity to sustain the CLC and use learned skills to address other health education issues). These findings were integrated into practical sustainability tools where each factor was provided a working definition, influential moderators, key evaluation questions, and their relationship to other factors. These tools represent the development of a sustainability framework that is grounded in, and builds on existing research, and can be used by First Nations communities and universities to support effective sustainability planning for community-based health education intervention.

As we become more advanced technologically in our online educational courses, it is imperative that we also incorporate effective research-based practices such as the use of formative assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of formative self-assessment to academic achievement and self-efficacy in online graduate courses. The research included a review of online education, formative assessment, self-efficacy, and associated learning theories.

A mixed methods study was used that included quantitative and qualitative data for triangulation of the study results. A correlational research design was used for the quantitative approach and a phenomenological research design was used for the qualitative approach. The correlational research design was chosen to examine the relationships between variables and to describe the current state. The phenomenological research design was chosen because the study was focused on the relationship of a particular phenomenon to the participant’s cognitive and dispositional experiences. The subjects included students that were enrolled in Master’s in Education or Doctor of Education courses from three universities located in Southern California. The methodology included student self-assessment through a project rubric, a survey to operationalize academic achievement, and a survey and interviews to operationalize student self-efficacy. While the statistical findings did not reflect strong correlations, the non-statistical findings reflected a positive relationship between formative self-assessment as it related to academic achievement and student self-efficacy in online graduate programs. Formative self-assessment provides online educators with a tool to enhance the course effectiveness and the overall learning process.

Thesis (M.A.) PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.
For many years as an art educator, this researcher, has observed, the positive impact an art education program can have on a variety of different student populations. All students deserve access to a meaningful art education. It has been shown that developing brain health and looking at art is beneficial for the human mind. Scientists in collaboration with artists have recently shown, through Computed Axial Tomography (CAT scans) something that we already knew (or suspected), from our own experiences; making and looking at art is positive for human cognition. According to Professor Semir Zeki, Chair of the Neurasthenics Department at University College London: (1999, p.187). Inner Vision: An exploration of art and the brain: "What we found is when you look at art – whether it is a landscape, a still life, an abstract or a portrait – there is strong activity in that part of the brain related to pleasure. We put people in a scanner and showed them a series of paintings every ten seconds. We then measured the change in blood flow in one part of the brain. The reaction was immediate. What we found was the increase in blood flow was in proportion to how much the painting was liked. The blood flow increased for a beautiful painting just as it increases when you look at somebody you love. It tells us art induces a feel-good sensation direct to the brain." This thesis will not be examining the positive impact art has on the brain; it is referred to in order to acknowledge the fact many artists and art appreciators already know: Looking at art is a valuable thing, and art education is important for developing minds. This thesis will examine the bridge between art museum programs and marginalized student populations. These are the students who have Individualized Education Programs (IEP’s), or those for whom English is a second language and who may live in low-income urban communities. It will also examine what museum-based art education programs can provide to this population of youth. In the Wall Street Journal, as cited by (Winner, Goldstein, and Vincent-Lancrin, 2013, p.18) the former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Rocco Landesman offers pointed remarks when arts education comes up: "Some students don’t fit the No Child Left Behind regime and other subjects don’t inspire them. Talented but offbeat, they sulk through algebra, act up in the cafeteria, and drop out of school. The arts 'catch' them and pull them back, turning a sinking ego on the margins into a creative citizen with 'a place in society.'" Museums often provide a place for students to go and engage with art in a meaningful way that captures their imagination and engages them in learning. The emphasis of this research falls on the unusual student, the difficult learner, the student who has a learning style difference and who may never have encountered an original work of art. The purpose of this study is to report the ways in which students responded to art in a museum setting. Why art museums enjoy a reciprocal benefit from serving these students will also be examined. Art educators know that art is important for the development of creativity in students, and students’ benefit from engagement in studio art activities. Yet, most crucially, art programs are often marginalized in low-income urban communities. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, more than 95 percent of schoolaged children are attending schools that have cut art education since the recession. In low-income communities, many students have few studio art classes along their journeys through pre/K-12 public education. Those denied an art education often find themselves without the benefit of an education that includes studies about the value of culture, leaving those affected by poverty with little impetus to reach for higher educational goals. Art education programs at two museums are examined to show how their programs reach out to students from underserved communities. In particular, this study looks at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester and Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, both in, Massachusetts, to evaluate how to engage marginalized, urban students and retain these youth as enthusiastic lifetime museumgoers.
2031-01-01

Research has shown that students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) typically have poor life outcomes. Students with EBD who are placed in an alternative education setting are likely to continue a path toward failure without carefully designed effective services. Existing studies have independently examined resilience in children and youth and alternative education settings. However, there is a gap in research examining resilience in students who have graduated from alternative education settings. Using semi-structured interviews, the present interpretive and descriptive qualitative study sought to explore factors of resilience in individuals who graduated from alternative education settings. The study sought to identify elements, specific to alternative education settings, that have contributed to resilience in young adulthood and to further our understanding of how alternative education placements have contributed to the participants’ current life status. Findings revealed three themes specific to alternative education settings that contributed to participants’ resilience: teachers who show that they care about their students, a positive learning environment, and a small student-teacher ratio where participants were able to get more one-on-one instruction. Additionally, two other themes arose from the data: having a supportive family and an innate sense of self.

Autism spectrum disorder rates are climbing in the United States. Because this population is growing, research is needed to understand how to assist these individuals in pursuit of postsecondary educational and employment opportunities. The purpose of this qualitative study, as reflected in the central research question, was to investigate how a career and technical education program impacted the preparedness of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for educational and employment opportunities beyond high school. The conceptual framework was based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological perspective of human development, Zhao and Frank's ecological perspective of technology, and Song's research about distributed cognition. This study used a single case study design, and the case was a career and technical education program at a high school located in Southwestern state. Participants included one program administrator, three career and technical education teachers, and two special education teachers. Data were collected from multiple sources, including individual interviews with participants and program documents. Data analysis included line-by-line coding and category construction to determine themes and discrepancies. Key findings indicated that the CTE program prepared ASD students for postsecondary educational and employment opportunities, differentiated instruction to meet the individual needs of ASD students, technologies such as computers helped ASD students prepare for postsecondary educational and employment opportunities, helped ASD students learn technical skills, life skills, and job skills. As a society we need to recognize ASD students are impacting the paradigm associated with special needs students as they attend universities, work study programs, technical schools, and other opportunities which have evaded this population.

Este estudo relata a geraÃÃo e sistematizaÃÃo de conhecimentos, levando a reflexÃes conceituais, teÃricas e aplicadas da avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais e de educaÃÃo corporativa. A problemÃtica envolve duas perguntas: 1) Que modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais e de educaÃÃo corporativa vÃm sendo divulgados e descritos na literatura em lÃngua portuguesa e inglesa, a partir do modelo apresentado por Kirkpatrick (1959)?; e 2) Esses modelos tÃm demonstrado consistÃncia teÃrica, em termos de elementos e fases que os compÃem, ou hà novas formas de avaliar programas de educaÃÃo corporativa? O objetivo geral desta dissertaÃÃo envolve a apresentaÃÃo, anÃlise e comparaÃÃo dos modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais e de educaÃÃo corporativa presentes na literatura em lÃngua portuguesa e inglesa, produzidos a partir de 1959, e que tÃm sido apresentados como instrumentos voltados para avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais e educaÃÃo corporativa. Esta dissertaÃÃo foi elaborada com base na metodologia quadripolar, composta dos pÃlos: epistemolÃgico, teÃrico, morfolÃgico e tÃcnico. O pÃlo epistemolÃgico fundamenta-se na filosofia Bachelardiana, a qual admite que a ciÃncia e seu objeto nÃo sÃo dados, mas se encontram em construÃÃo; logo, o objeto a ser analisado à flexÃvel a revisÃes e proposiÃÃes de melhoria. O pÃlo teÃrico aponta que a avaliaÃÃo de programas de educaÃÃo corporativa faz parte de um campo de estudo recente, com contribuiÃÃes em maior quantidade nos efeitos da aprendizagem no desempenho dos treinandos, pouco se investigando sobre os efeitos no grupo, unidades de trabalho e organizaÃÃes. Apresenta, tambÃm, contribuiÃÃes mais recentes da literatura em lÃngua inglesa aos modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas de educaÃÃo corporativa a partir de Kirkpatrick e Hamblin. No pÃlo morfolÃgico sÃo descritos seis modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais, quinze modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas de educaÃÃo corporativa e um modelo de avaliaÃÃo de programas multinÃvel. O pÃlo tÃcnico apresenta a metodologia empregada (pesquisa bibliogrÃfica, com anÃlise de conteÃdos), a anÃlise dos modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas de educaÃÃo e educaÃÃo corporativa, e cinco estudos secundÃrios. As consideraÃÃes finais referendam os pressupostos abordados neste trabalho, assinalando que: (1) pesquisas secundÃrias confirmaram que o sucesso de um curso em determinado nÃvel nÃo necessariamente produz o mesmo resultado nos nÃveis subseqÃentes, questionando-se, assim, o pressuposto teÃrico que supÃe relaÃÃes de causalidade ou correlaÃÃes positivas e estatisticamente significativas entre os diferentes nÃveis de avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais dos modelos de Kirkpatrick e Hamblin; (2) constatou-se a inexistÃncia de estudos procurando explicar as ligaÃÃes entre os diferentes tipos de anÃlise (indivÃduo, equipe e organizaÃÃo). Para alcanÃar essa compreensÃo, seria necessÃria uma abordagem multinÃvel, confirmando-se, desse modo, o pressuposto de que hà outros modelos que explicam as relaÃÃes de causalidade e correlaÃÃes entre os diferentes nÃveis de avaliaÃÃo de programas de educaÃÃo corporativa; e, ainda, que (3) apesar dos modelos de avaliaÃÃo de programas educacionais serem diferentes, trazem no seu arcabouÃo os modelos referenciais de Kirkpatrick e Hamblin, validando-se, assim, o pressuposto de que ambos os modelos continuam servindo de base para a formulaÃÃo dos demais.
This study reports on the generation and systematization of knowledge, leading to conceptual reflections, both theoretical and applied, regarding the evaluation of educational programs and of corporative education. The issue involves two questions: 1) Which models of evaluation of educational programs and of corporative education have been brought to light and described in Portuguese and English literature since the model presented by Kirkpatrick (1959)? and 2) Have these models shown theoretical consistency as for the elements and phases that they comprise, or there are new ways to evaluate programs in corporative education? The overall objective of this dissertation involves the presentation, analysis and comparison of the models of the evaluation of both educational programs and programs in corporative education present in Portuguese and English literature, produced since 1959, and which have been presented as instruments aimed at the evaluation of educational programs and programs in corporative education. This dissertation was carried out on the basis of âquadripolarâ methodology which was composed of the following poles: epistemological, theoretical, morphological and technical. The epistemological pole is based on Bachelardian philosophy which assumes that science and its object are not given, but are on the process of being constructed; thus the object to be analyzed is flexible to be reexamined and open to propositions toward its betterment. The theoretical pole indicates that the evaluation of programs in corporative education is part of a field of recent study, with more significant contributions to learning effects on the performance of trainees, paying less attention to the investigation of the effects on the group, the work units and the organizations alike. Further, it presents more recent contributions in English literature to the models of evaluation of programs in corporative education from Kirkpatrick and Hamblin. At the morphological pole, six evaluation models of educational programs, fifteen models of evaluation of corporative education programs and one model of evaluation of multilevel programs are described. The technical pole presents the methodology used (bibliographic review, with content analysis), the analysis of evaluation models of programs in education and in corporative education, as well as five secondary studies. The final considerations confirm the assumptions studied in this work, by underlining that: (1) secondary research works have substantiated that success in a program at a given level does not necessarily bring about the same successful result at the subsequent levels, calling into question the theoretical assumption that causality relations or positive correlations, and statistically significant, among the different levels of evaluation of the educational programs in Kirkpatrick and Hamblinâs models; 2) it has been found out the nonexistence of studies attempting to explain the connections among the different types of analysis (individual, group and organizational). To reach such an understanding, it would be necessary to adopt a multilevel approach to confirm, in this manner, the assumption that there are other models that explain the relations of causality and correlations among the different levels of evaluation of programs in corporate education; and, further, that (3) even though the models of evaluation of educational programs may be different, they bring within their cores the referential models of Kirkpatrick and Hamblinâs, confirming thus the assumption that both models continue serving as the basis for the formulation of the others.

Because of the potential age-related mass departure of seasoned educators in respiratory care programs, higher education institutions should develop strategies for attracting practitioners who hold or are pursuing graduate degrees to transition to academia. The purpose of this study was to identify current mentoring practices of new faculty members in Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited respiratory care programs in the U.S. and to identify the perceptions of program directors regarding the observed impact of program mentoring practices. The methodology for the study was quantitative nonexperimental survey research. The survey instrument was an electronic questionnaire. The survey consisted of 25 items that were divided into 3 dimensions: mentoring practices, mentor/mentee relationship, and perceptions of mentoring program impact. Of the 410 possible participants, 126 (30%) responded to the survey. Data from the survey were used to analyze 12 research questions and 12 null hypotheses. Six research questions were analyzed using an independent-samples t test and 6 research questions were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance. Testing of the null hypotheses associated with the 12 research questions resulted in 3 significant findings and 9 findings that were not significant. Significant findings included female program directors reported greater opportunities for mentoring within their programs and greater levels of expectations in regard to mentoring. Associate degree programs also reported a higher level of expectation in regard to mentoring. There was overwhelming agreement concerning the potential impact and benefit of new faculty mentoring on job performance, turnover, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. The results of this study may benefit administrators and educators in the field of respiratory care in efforts to support new faculty in higher education who may feel underprepared or overwhelmed in the new role. Because other allied health fields of study are similar in nature to respiratory care, the findings of the study could have potential implications across a range of health related professions.

University educators are concerned with student leadership development in order to generate much-needed leaders in every aspect of society. This sequential mixed methods study found that students who participate in a university co-curricular outdoor education leadership training program, combined with the experience of leading a wilderness backpacking trip, had increased leadership self-efficacy. Empirical evidence was found to support leadership development, as well as the effectiveness and importance of university co-curricular outdoor education leadership training programs. This research is significant to educators for determining priorities in providing resources and designing effective co-curricular programs to create tomorrow's leaders.

Many administrators and faculty within higher education institutions have grappled with identifying and employing effective strategies to facilitate student success and persistence. The current study focuses on assessing nontraditional students' self-efficacy beliefs and their perception of the orientation program at a 2-year continuing education program in a Caribbean nation. The study is important as the findings have the potential to increase nontraditional students' persistence and learning. Bandura's social cognitive theory and the theory of self-efficacy served as the theoretical frameworks of this sequential mixed-methods design study. The quantitative research questions examined the reported self-efficacy levels of 77 participants and nonparticipants in the orientation program. The qualitative research questions focused on 10 nontraditional students' perceptions of how the orientation program they participated in impacted their ability to complete and succeed in their course of study. A survey that combined 2 preestablished instruments was used in the quantitative phase and follow-up face-to-face interviews for the qualitative phase of the study. A ttest analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the self-efficacy of participants and nonparticipants in the focal orientation program. A pattern coding of the interviews revealed 5themes from the qualitative phase, ranging from nontraditional students' challenges to self-efficacy and persistence in the program. A policy recommendation in the form of a white paper was used to convey the findings of this study to the major stakeholders at the target institution. The recommendations from the study may contribute to positive social change as they can improve nontraditional students' performance, increase completion rates at the institution, and positively impact economic growth of the wider community.

Students with emotional behavioral disorders (EBD) are educated in restrictive placements at higher rates than students in other disability categories due to their challenging behavior and inability to function in the general educational environment (Bullock & Gable, 2006). The increasing utilization of alternative programming to educate students with EBD has prompted scholars to more closely examine and identify critical intervention components of these programs (Simpson et al., 2011). Although outcomes associated with restrictive placements have been investigated, there has not been any systematic investigation of whether the recommended elements of comprehensive programming are in place in these settings, whether they are being implemented with integrity and whether they, in turn, lead to improved outcomes. Therefore, a review of the literature aimed at examining studies of restrictive settings for the existence of the eight critical elements for effective EBD programs (Simpson et al., 2011) and the associated academic, behavioral, and social outcomes was conducted. The review revealed that none of the studies described the existence of supports in all eight areas. Examination of the outcomes across the studies indicated that students with EBD made some progress academically, behaviorally, and socially, but the extent and practical significance of that progress varied. A descriptive study was also conducted. Administrators and teachers from Board of Cooperative Educations Services (BOCES) specialized programs and approved day treatment programs in New York State were surveyed about the intensity and fidelity of implementation of evidence-based academic practices, effective behavior management and treatment plans, and social skills instruction. Means and standard deviations were used to summarize the levels of intensity and implementation fidelity across the sample. Two-way multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) were conducted to determine the effect of type of program and the respondents' professional position on the three elements. Overall, the results suggest that the three critical elements are present in some capacity and implemented with at least medium fidelity across the two restrictive settings. Significant differences were found between programs and positions in regards to the perceived levels of intensity and fidelity of implementation of the practices. Implications for future research, practice, and limitations are discussed.

Food insecurity is on the rise worldwide and within Canada due to a myriad of factors such as climatic instability, rising food prices and unsustainable food production practices. In this context, educational systems (e.g. schools and universities) can contribute to developing knowledge and awareness of food insecurity as well as fostering new ways of thinking and engaging with food premised on just and sustainable food systems. This study is situated within the field of environmental education where there is a growing body of research at the intersections of food and the environment. Likewise, it was guided by the theoretical framing of EcoJustice Education, which offers a way of teaching and learning premised on the belief that our thoughts and actions can foster and enhance more social and ecologically equitable connections between food and the environment. By engaging in semi-structured interviews with teacher educators in select teacher education programs in Ontario and conducting document reviews, I investigated how the integration of the topic of food security is taking place—or not—in the initial training of future teachers in the province. The results showed that integration is not consistent across the different organizational levels of the programs investigated (i.e. whole-program level and classroom level). Moreover, the interviews with teacher educators revealed that any practices aiming at the integration of food security topics in BEd programs were primarily guided by a sustainable cultures perspective, which sees the world as having interconnected relationships amongst all living things. This view is supported by the data analysis of interviews with teacher educators, the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum documents, and select course syllabi. On the other hand, the school curriculum documents contained conflicting views on the topic, including an understanding of the world as being based on hierarchized relationships. This research advances the field of environmental education by further adding to the limited scholarship on the topic of food security in the context of EE, as well as contributing to an account of food security education and EE with a focus on teacher education in Ontario.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the services and supports that EL students with special needs receive. It is a goal of this study also to determine which students achieve higher CST scores on the English Language Arts section, based on the supports that they receive and the programs in which they are placed. The researcher utilized a web-based survey distributed to 8 Bilingual Coordinators and 48 Special Education teachers, of whom 8 Bilingual Coordinators and 23 Special Education teachers responded. The surveys consisted of 27 questions regarding the services received by Special Education students who are also ELs. Three additional open-ended items were included. Four interviews were also conducted with two district-level specialist, one local district specialist, and a school administrator.

Five conclusions based on the findings were determined. First, ELs are all placed into the programs and provided with the language support according to their IEPs. Second, teachers utilize SDAIE strategies when working with EL special needs students. Third, a scheduling issue has prevented students from being in an ESL class when their IEPs state that they should also be receiving one hour of support from the Special Education teacher. Fourth, different individuals are involved in making decisions about the services that EL students receive. Finally, there was no systematic difference between the scores of the RSP and SDC students on the CST ELA assessment.

The study provides several implications for practitioners. Special Education teachers do not have the experience in bilingual education to fully understand the needs of EL special needs students. Scheduling problems existed when special needs students required an ESL class. This is significant for school leaders; if a barrier exists for EL special needs students being able to receive language support, then a solution to this issue needs to be found. Finally, parent participation is extremely important for IEP meetings and they need to be included in IEPs.

Expanding this research should focus in more depth on the language supports that EL special needs students received, and whether SDAIE strategies are appropriate for EL special needs students.

A survey of graduates who participated in Project TEAM (School Psychology, Social Work, and Speech/Language Pathology) and Project PREP (Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education) is presented. Graduates completed coursework, seminars and practica that emphasized knowledge and skills related to working with children in the birth through 5 age group and their families. The survey determined in which competencies graduates indicated they were best and least prepared by the program and which competencies were most and least applicable to their present careers. The survey also determined what teaming models the graduates are currently using and would prefer to use in their careers. Results indicated a general trend towards the interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary teaming models as those that graduates would prefer to use. The survey also looked at the process of the programs (i.e., participating in seminars with various disciplines, participating in the practica as a team, taking courses with other disciplines, etc.) to determine whether or not participants benefited from the program's overall organization. Results indicated that graduates agreed with the program process.

Many preschool students enter kindergarten without the oral language and phonetic awareness skills necessary for academic success. Qualitative research is also limited about the instructional practices preschool teachers use to improve the literacy skills of their students. The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers used developmentally appropriate instructional practices to improve the literacy skills of preschool students. The conceptual framework was based on the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky in relation to language development. A multiple case study research design was used. Participants included 6 teachers from 3 different preschool programs in an urban school district in the eastern United States. Data were collected from individual interviews with preschool teachers, observations of literacy instruction in classrooms, and related program documents. For the single case analysis, coding and category construction were used to analyze the interview data, and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the observation data. A content analysis was used to analyze the documents. For the cross case analysis, data were examined across all cases for emerging themes and discrepant data. A key finding was that preschool teachers used developmentally appropriate instruction to improve oral language, phonological awareness, and written expression and supported play through learning centers; however, limited teacher–child interaction was found in relation to quality of feedback and language modeling. This study contributes to positive social change by providing educators with a deeper understanding of the need to improve the literacy skills of young children.

An Evaluation of Military Education Assistance Programs From ParticipantsF Perspectives by Ella Bolling-Harris MS, Capella University, 2008 MS, Capella University, 2004 BS, Park University, 2000 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University August 2015 Military education programs exist to assist military members in completing their college education prior to exiting the military. At a southwestern United States Army Installation, members have expressed dissatisfaction with the education programs. The purpose of this case study was to examine the education programs from the participants' perspectives. Mezirow's transformative learning theory was used as the framework for the study. The research questions elicited program participants' perceptions of various aspects of the programs, the potential for conversion of a basic skills program to a 2-year degree program, and suggestions for leaders for implementation of programs. The sample of participants included 15 military members stationed at the Army Installation who were enrolled in college and exiting the military within 12-24 months, were serving on active duty at the Installation, had been on repeated deployments, were 18 years or older, and had been in the military 4 or more years. Data were collected through interviews and responses were coded and analyzed for common themes. Results from emergent themes were used to develop a project that included strategies for military leaders to assist military members in their degree completion. Recommendations included a timeline for leaders to implement strategies to assist military members desiring an education, converting the current Basic Skills Education Program to a 2-year general studies degree program, implementing adjustments for deployment, and creating an education buddy team for military members enrolled in college. Implications for social change include improving military education assistance programs to allow more military members to complete their education in order to assist them in entering the civilian workforce in their own communities or others after their military obligation has expired.

Educational Administration
Ed.D.
The purpose of Non-credit community arts programs: A comparative case study of three programs within research universities is to examine the perceptions of the various stakeholders of non-credit community arts programs to determine the perceived benefits received by all stakeholders from the non-credit program, the university, and its surrounding community, the variables of a successful program, and the sustainability of these programs within their parent institution. The research methods used included a preliminary 41-question survey distributed to 76 non-credit community arts programs embedded within colleges or universities to determine the specific programs within research universities. These 76 collegiate divisional community schools of the arts belong to the 400 members of community arts schools in the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. The results of the survey were used to determine the three non-credit community arts programs that were selected for the case study. The case study of each of the three non-credit community arts programs was used to learn the perceptions of the various stakeholders of each of the programs and their respective parent institution. The stakeholders included research university administrators, the non-credit program's executive administrators, the program's faculty, staff, students, and parents of students that participate in the non-credit community arts programs. Site visits, interviews, either in person or via phone conversation, and review of printed materials were employed to obtain from the various stakeholders the perceived benefits of these non-credit community arts programs, the variables that contribute to a successful program and their sustainability within the research university. The diversity of the stakeholders interviewed provided a thorough observation of these programs from varying perspectives to discover their impact on the individual students as well as the university, its internal community and the community-at-large.
Temple University--Theses

A chronic condition causes many psychosocial and emotional impacts to children and adolescents who are diagnosed. However, various interventions, including camp programs, have been developed to promote coping. The intention of this study was to examine the benefits of camps for children and adolescents with chronic conditions from camper-first perspectives. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of seven participants who attended a camp for children and adolescents with chronic conditions. Results of this study indicated campers experienced many benefits. Further, this study brings an awareness to the impact and importance of camp programs long after the week-long session has ended. Further, it displays camp programs should serve as an intervention utilized by Child Life Specialists and other medical staff to promote optimal growth and development.

In the past few decades, several meta-analytic studies have attempted to answer the question: Is marriage education effective (Carroll & Doherty, 2003; Halford, Markman, Kline & Stanley, 2003; Reardon-Anderson, Stagner, Macomber, & Murray, 2004)? However, previous meta-analytic studies have been somewhat limited in their conclusions because they have reviewed a narrow portion of the marriage education spectrum (e.g. premarital education only, Carroll & Doherty, 2003), because they focused only on one particular program (e.g, Couples Communication, Butler & Wampler, 1999), because they failed to differentiate marital therapy from marital education programs (Reardon-Anderson et al., 2005), or because they excluded much of the mainstream of marriage education due to methodological restrictions (e.g, random assignment studies only, Reardon-Anderson et al., 2005). The current meta-analysis is uniquely qualified to better answer whether marriage education is effective. It examines the full range of marital education from marriage preparation to early marriage and across the marital life span. It excludes studies that evaluate therapy programs and interventions, thus providing a more focused test of marriage education rather than a broader test of marriage intervention. It also allows for analysis of programs more representative of the mainstream of marriage education as it is currently practiced. Finally, this work employed more rigorous statistical techniques than had been done with previous meta-analyses. Sixty-nine marriage education evaluation reports were included in this meta analysis; fifteen additional articles were not code-able, but were analyzed conceptually. Articles were coded by design and results are reported according to study design. Quantitative results showed that across methodology, sample and program type, marriage education has moderate positive effects on marital satisfaction/quality and communication. These effects remain at follow-up evaluations. Effects were strongest for couples married longer than five years and for communication-training programs. Subgroups of studies generally were too small to examine many moderator variables. In addition, study samples were predominately White, well-educated, middle-class couples. Although this meta analysis provides the strongest answer to date on the effectiveness of marriage education, increased exploration and evaluation of moderator variables are needed before we will know which types of interventions are most effective for which couples.

High school youth in Grades 9-12 who are in public schools without comprehensive sexual health education (CSHED) are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and have higher rates of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases than are their peers in schools with CSHED. The purpose of this correlational study was to explore the statistical relationship between the consistent implementation of CSHED, before and after the enactment of the Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) sexual health education policy, and the sexual risk behaviors of Chicago high school youth in Grades 9-12. The study was based on Antonovsky's salutogenic model of health and wellbeing. CPS students' sexual risk behaviors were analyzed using data obtained from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) for the years of 2007 and 2013. Logistic regression was used to estimate prevalence and odds ratios of each sexual risk behavior. The findings showed a complex pattern of and variances across the sexual risk behaviors analyzed. The prevalence of sexual behaviors among all students remained relatively stable. The prevalence estimates for students who drank alcohol or used drugs before the last sexual encounter and who were never taught about AIDS or HIV increased from 2007 to 2013. The likelihood of not using birth control pills before the last sexual intercourse encounter decreased among Black students; the likelihood that Hispanic/Latino students ever had sex, and had sex with 4 or more people in their life, decreased. The decrease of sexual risk behaviors indicates a positive influence by CSHED, while the increases indicate continuing challenges to the promotion of healthy sexual behaviors. These findings show the need for legislators and school administrators to increase support for the enactment of CSHED policy to help mitigate the sexual risk behaviors of high school youth.

The counseling profession requires its professionals to be ethically aware, culturally aware, and personally aware. Counselor Education departments strive to create environments that foster multicultural interactions and environments that provide sufficient safety for persons to be self-expressive and self-reflective. Such environments support the personal growth required to be effective counselors and agents of change. The purpose of this research was to measure the climate for sexual minorities in Counselor Education programs. Using the Climate for Sexual Minorities in Counselor Education Programs Survey (CSMCEPS) to collect information from faculty and graduate students, this research attempted to describe the level of acceptance across Counselor Education programs in North America. In addition, this research looked for (a) differences in responses based on geographic regions; (b) differences between the perceptions of sexual minority individuals and heterosexual individuals; and, (c) differences between faculty members? perceptions of the climate and graduate students? perceptions. In general, the results of this study showed that the climate for sexual minorities in counselor education programs was positive. The stance of the counseling profession would dictate that the outcome should have been positive and, as mentioned previously, there is evidence that self-selection biased the sample. Given the professions ethical stance and the bias of the sample, the results should have been overwhelmingly supportive and affirming of sexual minorities and this was not the case. The data indicated that the environment could only be considered mildly accepting, but should not be considered affirming. To answer the research questions around differences in responses based on demographic data there were several ANOVA completed. There were differences found between student and faculty responses and between institutions that are not funded by religious affiliation and those that are. There were no significant differences found between respondents who identified as sexual minorities and those who identified as non-sexual minorities. There were no significant differences based on regional differences nor were there differences based on CACREP accreditation. The lack of differences may be indicative of sample bias.

There are currently no requirements addressing human sexuality education within graduate-level social work education (Council on Social Work Education, 2008). At the same time, sexuality education is being taught in Masters of Social Work (MSW) programs. This means that the content and context of sexuality education for pre-service social workers vary widely. This exploratory study surveyed faculty teaching in MSW programs regarding current sexuality-related curricula within their social work program, their attitudes toward the inclusion of sexuality education, and their perception of the supports and barriers to incorporating sexuality-related content into MSW curriculum. This dissertation built on the work and literature of many professionals who support comprehensive sexuality education as a vital aspect of educating and preparing professional social workers. The sample for this quantitative study was 596 social work faculty participants through an online survey. Findings revealed that a majority of faculty (82%) agreed that sexuality education is important for MSW curriculum. The majority of faculty (60.6%) reported no stand-alone sexuality related course within their MSW program. Only 1.3% of faculty reported that there was a current required sexuality-related course within their MSW program. Faculty rated the importance of 23 sexuality-related topics and whether they teach the topic. For each of the 23 topics, the proportion of faculty rating the topic as important was higher than the proportion of faculty reporting teaching the topic.

The purpose of this research was to obtain information on the content of education within cardiac rehabilitation programs, methods of administering education, what the barriers are to providing education and which professionals administer education.To reach this goal, a questionnaire was modified from a previous study and a pilot study was undertaken to establish reliability of the questionnaire. The questionnaire was then sent to a sample of 100 directors of cardiac rehabilitation programs belonging to The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). The questionnaire focused on 13 established areas of education within cardiac rehabilitation programs.Once the questionnaires were completed, the information was transferred to a table format based upon the 13 content areas. The following conclusions were drawn from the research and the data gathered: 11 of the 13 content areas are offered at least 84% of the time, the major barriers for the 13 content areas were lack of time and lack of interest on the patient's behalf, the most frequent methods of education for all 13 content areas were individual education, print materials, and group education, and the primary educator overall for all 13 content areas was the nurse followed by the exercise physiologist and dietitian/nutritionist.
Department of Physiology and Health Science

This study sought to understand effective and ineffective instructional practices in clinical settings and to identify problem-solving strategies used by students and instructors. Three research questions were addressed: where in the undergraduate athletic training education program do students learn, or fail to learn, particular skills; "what instructional methods are of most worth" in teaching these skills, as perceived by the students; and what are the problem-solving strategies used by novice, experienced non-expert, and expert athletic trainers when confronted with novel situations. The subjects were nine students ("novices") and ten Approved Clinical Instructors (ACI's) from three programs in the Southeast United States. Five ACI's were categorized as "experienced non-experts" and five as "experts". All subjects were videotaped while performing various tasks. Each subject was required to think-aloud while they performed typical tasks expected of an entry-level certified athletic trainer, as designated by the NATA Education Council. Subjects then performed a stimulated-recall session, with analysis adapted from Ericsson and Simon (1993). The main findings of this study supported the well-respected teaching notion of "first teach them, then show them, then have them do it". Most concepts were first taught via lecture in the classroom; however, participants believed the "method of most worth" to be hands-on strategies displayed in clinical settings and labs. This study confirmed and disconfirmed aspects of prior research on problem solving. Experts: offered the most verbal comments, used their self-talk to stay on task, displayed intimate rapport with the models, and used various problem-solving strategies based upon the task at hand. Experienced non-experts: tended to drift in their verbal comments, felt the need to justify their answers, spoke mostly with verbal commands, and used several problem solving strategies. Novices: provided the fewest verbal comments, apologized throughout their sessions, often found the problem statement to be the problem itself, and used basic problem solving strategies. Demographics revealed that close relationships, balanced with manageable ACI's and clinical sites, created the most successful programs. Based on the findings of this study, future research must focus on how to best design the curriculum to take advantage of these "methods of most worth".
Ed.D.
Department of Educational Studies
Education
Curriculum and Instruction

Sustainable Built Environments Senior Capstone Project
Energy efficient homes are key for a sustainable future in any city. However, the lack of knowledge about the subject restricts many households to do their part in the movement. This research focuses on programs available to low-income households, to perform home weatherization retrofits and to learn about the subject as well. Implementing and focusing on the learning portion of home weatherization and energy efficiency to homeowners increases social equity and reduces energy usage in a home over time. Three programs are analyzed to extract the benefits and drawbacks of each. Each program’s goal varies but are all aimed to help low-income communities. Homeownership education, hands-on home weatherization, and home construction are the focuses of each program. The final recommendation for each program is to increase advertisement and focus their outreach on specific sections of the city of Tucson which can benefit the most from their services.

This research investigated Computer Aided Design (CAD) education in the interior design. program focusing on educators' opinions about creativity aspects including computer application, teaching materials and teaching methods as well as other trends in CAD education. A questionnaire was sent to one hundred eighty-two members of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC).

A frequency distribution was used on 69 usable returned surveys to describe the sample characteristics and to determine the teaching materials and support. Means and T-tests were employed to examine if a significant difference of opinions toward CAD integration existed between designers based on creativity, teaching materials, and teaching approaches.

Findings indicate that educators are thinking positively regarding the creativity aspects of teaching CAD. There was no significant difference between IBM educators and Apple Macintosh educators in terms of opinions concerning creativity and teaching approaches and also no significant difference in the educators who are using more flexible teaching approaches and the educators who are using more rigid teaching approaches in terms of creativity. Educators thought CAD courses are most helpful for students' future careers. Educators remarked that their college, department, and other faculties are generally very supportive. Overall the educators had fewer than 4 years of experience in teaching CAD. One or two CAD educators were teaching in each interior design program. IBM personal computer, AutoCAD software, instructor prepared tutorials were the most used teaching materials.

Master of Science

The study was designed to develop a management model for the evaluation of environmental education supplements developed by nonprofit special-interest groups. Naturescope, an interdisciplinary environmental education supplement developed by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), was used as a vehicle for developing this model. The first component of the study involved the development of the model, while the second component measured evaluation outcomes relative to NatureScope. Working in conjunction with NWF program staff, four issues of NatureScope were randomly selected from the fifteen issues available at the time of the study. Volunteer fifth and seventh grade teachers from Virginia and Georgia were used in the study. A separate knowledge test was developed for each of the four issues. In addition, a 16-item likert scale was developed to measure environmental attitudes. Qualitative information related to the usefulness of NatureScope was collected through a teacher questionnaire. Evaluator interactions with the client, school administrators, and teachers influenced the development and success of the evaluation. The politically-motivated hidden agendas of the client resulted in unexpected modifications to the evaluation process. School administrators displayed a reluctance to permit teachers to participate in the study. Teachers who volunteered expressed concern over a lack of familiarity with the topics and the evaluation process. The evaluation outcomes of the study measured the effects of NatureScope on environmental knowledge and attitudes. Students exposed to Let's Hear It for Herps demonstrated the greatest differences in subject knowledge when compared to the control group. None of the issues had a significant effect on environmental attitudes when compared to the control group. Fifth grade students systematically scored higher than seventh grade students on all measures. Teachers responded favorably to NatureScope, however, the materials were criticized as too simple for seventh grade. The NatureScope evaluation portion of the study indicates that the materials may be best suited for fifth grade students of average ability.
Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to propose and field test a cost-benefit analysis model to determine the profitability of secondary vocational education programs. The model consisted of costs, process, and benefits components. Instructional personnel, building, equipment, materials and supplies, administration, travel, services, utilities, and maintenance were the major components of the costs. Process implied the actual conduct of the program. Increased earnings from graduates' employment, earnings from cooperative placement, provision of services, and noneconomic benefits obtained by the graduates were the components of the benefits. Costs and benefits data for field testing the model were obtained from four programs from the four vocational service areas of trade and industrial, occupational home economics, business education, and marketing and distributive education selected from both a comprehensive high school and an area vocational education center in the Roanoke County School Division, Virginia. All graduates of 1983/84 of the four programs were surveyed to gather data on them. A 73.9% return was obtained from the survey. The difference between the graduates' current earnings and earnings determined by using the Federal minimum wage for the same number of work hours by employed graduates was considered as an income benefit. Actual differences between discounted benefits and the gross costs were used to determine the profitability of programs. The following conclusions were drawn from the findings of this study: 1. The trade and industrial, business education, and marketing and distributive education programs were economically profitable. 2. The occupational home economics program was not economically profitable. 3. Graduates in each program have obtained several noneconomic benefits. 4. The proposed cost-benefit analysis model was determined useable and transportable to other vocational education settings. Based on the findings and conclusions of this study, the following recommendations were drawn: 1. That local vocational administrative units use the concept of cost-benefit analysis as an evaluation technique for secondary vocational education programs. 2. That a research study be conducted to determine what other costs and benefits should be considered in the model. 3. That a research study be conducted to determine the economic value of noneconomic benefits. 4. That a longitudinal cost-benefit analysis is needed to determine economic earning and type of jobs held by graduates after graduation. 5. That a study be conducted using cost-benefit analysis with an appropriate comparison group to vocational graduates. 6. That an annual cost-benefit analysis of vocational programs be conducted for each school system to make comparative judgement of their programs. 7. That post-secondary vocational programs explore the possibility of using cost-benefit analysis for evaluating programs.
Ed. D.

Home economics programs through the 1920s served varied purposes within higher education. This typology addresses three types of home economics programs - teaching, extension, and academia- through the lens of characteristics, curricula, and examples. Reviewing historical events that lead into the differentiation of home economics programs throughout the United States offers unique insights into the reasons for the development of each type. This typology offers a different point of view in considering what home economics programs entailed, and defines the field as an intentional and academic program of study for the women of higher education.

The doctoral student completion rate in the United States is approximately 57% across all disciplines. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate doctoral students' perceptions of program completion across multiple online doctoral programs at a single university. The quantitative component examined differences in 4 doctoral program completion-related factors between students in 2 capstone completion stages and 6 academic programs. The qualitative component included an analysis of student perceptions of program completion. Attribution theory was used as a framework to understand the ways that personal attributions influence the success of the participants. The Doctoral Completion and Persistence Scale (DCPS) used in this study measured success scales of individual ability to persist, inter-program relationships, program culture, and dissertation preparation. Four 2-way analysis of variances were used to test for mean differences in these scale scores between preprospectus (n = 10) and postprospectus (n = 18) students enrolled in the doctoral programs. Individual ability to persist scores were significantly higher for preprospectus students and there were no significant differences found between programs. The DCPS' qualitative open-ended prompts were also analyzed for themes in reflections. Open coding and thematic analysis revealed that faculty relationships were an important emergent theme for maintaining persistence for all students. A professional development project was developed to provide strategies to assist doctoral stakeholders in their efforts to increase student persistence. Positive social change results when students persist and complete their doctoral programs with the collective support of stakeholders.

Little published research exists about individuals who decide to start their families while enrolled in graduate school. The purpose of this study was to explore with a qualitative methodology the experiences of first time parents in graduate study programs. Graduate student parents were defined as women or men either currently enrolled in a Master’s or doctoral level graduate program, or recent alumni who graduated within the past five years. Participants had to have had their first child while in graduate school, either through childbirth (self or spouse), surrogacy, or infant adoption, and that child must be listed as a dependent. All graduate programs were located in the greater Boston area. Through semi-structured interviews, twelve participants detailed their experiences as student parents with newborn children. Interview data were categorized and coded, which led to the identification of five meta-themes, each of which was then divided into several sub-themes.

Meta-themes included the decision-making process to have a child while a student, which was broken down to age, fertility risk factors, and the academic timeline. The theme of logistical challenges included compounding financial costs, childcare issues, and scheduling conflicts. Physical and psychosocial challenges was another meta-theme regarding the experience of extreme sleep deprivation, cognitive changes, challenges with breastfeeding or pumping, the guilt associated with trying to balance school and family, negative experiences with faculty or the administration, and the social isolation of not knowing other student parents in their programs. Additional meta-themes revolved around the availability of social supports, and adaptations and classroom accommodations they developed in order to complete their degrees. Lastly, student parents outlined suggestions for changes in institutional policies and procedures to ensure basic educational rights, and to prevent future marginalization and discrimination for this largely invisible population.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 1999.
Title from title page screen, viewed July 18, 2006. Dissertation Committee: Paul Baker (chair), Dianne Ashby, Elizabeth Lugg, Gregory Aloia. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 89-91) and abstract. Also available in print.

This study examined the perceptions of music education students, professors, administrators and music teachers in the field with respect to the call for reform in Canadian music teacher training programs. The role that these various groups envision themselves having in this process was also investigated. Fifty-five subjects from the provinces of Quebec and Alberta responded to items on a written questionnaire. From within this subject pool, 19 subjects participated in a series of two interviews in order to gain further insight on various questionnaire items. Results demonstrated a moderate degree of similarity in responses from the stakeholder groups on numerous issues including the current status of music education programs, recommendations for future reform, and effective methods to enact such reforms. Results highlighted the need (a) to increase collaboration levels amongst all stakeholders involved in the process of music teacher training reform and (b) to better align the curriculum content of the university classroom with the needs of the teaching field. Implications for further practises are discussed.