Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Educational model'

The current technological revolution has necessitated a new way to view the maturity of its computing environment within a given educational system. Adapting a model from the software industry which assesses the maturity of an organization, the researcher has developed an educational technology maturity model consisting of two dimensions: technology availability and teacher fluency with that technology. The purpose of the model is to locate a particular school within a given school district on a concept grid consisting of Technology Availability on an X-axis, and Teacher Fluency on the Y-axis. The continuum for each of the axes range from a Level 1 (the lowest) to a Level 5 (the highest). One of the uses of such a model is to give a school district a means to assess individual schools against a baseline within the district. This information can assist in the development of a technology plan if none exists, or to revise an existing plan to accomplish the goals of the district. Future uses may include relating technology assessment to achievement scores in schools or districts.

Personalized learning is an evolving method for tailoring the goals of K-12 education to meet the needs of each student. This study supports education leaders in learning how to tailor education plans that maximize success for each student. This study extends learning about a better course of action for schools that might prevent students from being in credit lag and at risk of dropping out. This qualitative research study aims to outline themes about time, place and pace in earning high school credits, as well as combat the reasons why students drop out. Through a qualitative content analysis of US Department of Education reports, corporate advocacy narratives, and published research monographs, the researcher examined how rationales for a personalized learning model served to further innovative approaches to high school course completion by redefining the roles of teacher and student in the learning environment. The theory of situated learning was the basis for recognizing the relationships between teaching and learning in a personalized learning instructional model. The documents showed a high level of density in discussing the combined roles of teacher and student with little regard for the singular role of teacher in a personalized learning model.

For decades, the cohort model has been utilized to bring graduate degrees to working adults who cannot put their family lives and careers on hold to attend a university in the more traditional way. With the growing access to reliable digital tools, some cohorts have taken advantage of the ability to meet online with live-streaming applications such as Skype, GoToMeeting, and Adobe Connect. The blending of online instruction and face-to-face interaction has given birth to blended learning, a hybrid of synchronous and asynchronous learning. With this evolution of curriculum and instruction delivery, questions arise regarding the quality of graduate programs. Are the students who are investing time and money into these graduate degrees receiving the high-level of quality that they would expect if they were attending the university in a traditional way? How are they interacting with their peers in a scholarly fashion? How are the professors engaging the students in meaningful and scholarly ways? How do students and institutions know what is working for the success of the student and what needs to be improved? This study sought to uncover answers to some of these questions as it researched 16 doctoral students in one blended cohort in central California. With primarily qualitative methods, the study attempted to describe the phenomenon that is the blended doctoral cohort, specifically researching the participants’ perspective of themselves and the blended cohort model at the beginning of their program and, again, at the end of their program.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, School of Education, 2007.
Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 17, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-12, Section: A, page: 4491. Advisers: Thomas Schwen; Frank Lester.

Many things are known about Coach Bob Johnson including his military background and dynamic coaching career, but there are still many more facts that are unknown. By most accounts he was a dynamic leader who was able to motivate, influence, and lead over the course of his 27- year career coaching and teaching at Emory and Henry College. The success of his career is visible through the success of his players and teams, the number of wins, and the many accomplishments, awards, and recognitions he received. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe Coach Johnson’s life by examining his life as a coach, teacher, administrator, and individual to help demonstrate his leadership and examine events that led to his impact and influence at Emory and Henry College. This study was based on 5 research questions: 1. What was his leadership style? 2. What type of person was he? 3. What type of coach was he? 4. What are the interviewees’ perceptions of how he influenced their lives? 5. What are the interviewees’ perceptions of his life and work? Findings from these questions helped provide answers that demonstrated the leadership and influence of Coach Johnson. The findings were consistent with Leithwood, Riehl, and the National College for School Leadership’s (2003) 3 core leadership practices for successful leadership in educational settings, which are setting directions, developing people, and developing the organization. The findings also fit into the Leadership Challenge Model (Kouzes & Posner, 1997), which consists of challenging the process, inspiring a shared vision, enabling others to act, modeling the way, and encouraging the heart. As there is no published research on Coach Johnson, this study is significant. The data were gathered by conducting semistructured interviews with those who knew Coach Johnson well. The results provide insight on leadership and how one can influence others.

The amount of information on the web is characterised by being enormous, as is the number of users with different goals and interests. User models have been utilized by adaptive hypermedia systems generally and adaptive educational hypermedia systems (AEHS) particularly to personalize the amount of information they have with respect to each individual's knowledge, background and goals. As a result of the research described herein, a user model called the Hybrid Model has been developed. This model is both generic and abstract, and it extends other models used by AEHS by measuring users' knowledge levels with respect to different knowledge domains simultaneously by utilising well known techniques in the world of user modelling, specifically the Overlay model (which has been modified) and the Stereotype model. Therefore, using the Hybrid Model, AEHS will not be restricted to a single knowledge domain at anyone time. Thus, by implementing the Hybrid model, those systems can manage users' knowledge globally with respect to the deployed knowledge domains. The model has been implemented experimentally in an educational hypermedia system called WHURLE (Web-based Hierarchal Universal Reactive Learning Environment) to verify its aim - managing users' knowledge globally. Moreover, this implementation has been tested successfully through a user trial as an adaptive revision guide for a Biological Anthropology Course. Furthermore, the infrastructure of the WHURLE system has been modified to embrace the objective of the Hybrid Model. This has led to a novel design that provides the system with the capability of utilising different user models easily without affecting any of its component modules.

The current trends observed in 4-year college graduation and retention rates (ACT 2011; 2012; 2013; 2014; Tinto, 2006) demonstrate a need for improvement in student academic achievement outcomes. Overwhelmingly, research finds that the first year in college is the time of greatest risk for student academic failure and drop out. Challenges associated with academic-oriented forms of stress and anxiety (Baillie & Fitzgerald, 2000; Bembenutty, 2008; Cassady, 2010; Collier & Morgan, 2008; Jean, 2010; Pike & Kuh, 2005; Soria & Stebleton, 2012; Turner et al., 2012) coupled with limitations in effective coping strategies (Hofer et al., 1998; Kitsantas et al., 2008; McInerney, 2011; Pintrich & Zusho, 2002; Robbins et al., 2004; Zimmerman & Schunk, 2008) lie at the center of the difficulties these first-year students experience, which ultimately play a significant role in persistence and achievement outcomes. This is particularly true for students from at-risk populations (e.g., first-generation students, ethnic minorities; Balemian & Feng, 2013; Borman & Overman, 2004; Choy, 2001; Engle, 2007; Jones et al., 2010; Pascarella et al., 2004; Toldson, 2012).

The wide body of research confirms that no single factor reliably predicts college academic success or failure, although institutions have traditionally relied upon indicators of prior achievement (i.e., H.S. GPA and college entrance exams) for such inferences (Alarcon & Edwards, 2013; DeBerard et al., 2004; Harackiewicz et al., 2002; Kowitlawakul et al., 2013; Randsell, 2001; Zypher et al., 2007). Rather, it is the collective of factors from environmental, behavioral and personal domains that interact and have the potential to positively or negatively influence college student achievement (Bandura, 1986; 1997; 1999; Lazarus & Folkman, 1984; Snow et al., 1996). As such, the Transactional Stress and Coping model (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) provides a comprehensive model through which the influence and interaction of multiple factors associated with student stress-appraisals, coping responses, and eventual outcomes can be examined within investigations of college academic achievement.

The main purpose of this study was to examine the degree of influence student background characteristics, indicators of prior achievement, anxiety-laden cognitive belief states, and self-regulated learning had on first-year college student achievement. Informed by the Lazarus and Folkman (1984) framework, a proposed academic-oriented stress-appraisal and coping model was tested for viability in predicting student achievement outcomes at the conclusion of their first-year in college. This study investigated research questions specifically associated with: 1) the influence of gender, ethnicity and first-generation status on first-year achievement; 2) the influence of student prior achievement (i.e., H. S. GPA and SAT scores) on first-year achievement; 3) the potential mediating influence of cognitive appraisals on first-year achievement; and 4) the potential moderating role of self-regulated learning in first-year achievement. For this archival study, all student demographic data, measures of prior achievement, first-year college achievement (cumulative GPA) and self-report responses to the LASSI-HS (Weinstein & Palmer, 1990) instrument were accessed from a large sample (N = 29,431) of first-time, first-year students enrolled at a mid-sized, Midwestern 4-year university during years 2004-2012. Using an established model of stress-appraisal and coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) within an academic context, five models were tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to answer the specific research questions and investigate the utility of the models in predicting first-year college achievement.

The results revealed that although all background factors (i.e., gender, ethnicity, first-generation status) were statistically significant predictors of first-year achievement (GPA), their influence on first-year GPA was minimal. Additionally, prior achievement had a statistically significant, but weak, influence on first-year GPA. Although the direct path relationships for all pre-existing personal factors were statistically significant, the results also indicated anxious cognitive appraisals served a mediating role between these factors and first-year GPA. Thus, a partially mediated model best represented the relationships among these variables. The potential moderating effects of motivational regulation and active coping strategies did not have any meaningful impact in the two self-regulatory coping models tested. Although some statistically significant relationships were observed and provided evidence that background factors, prior achievement, anxious cognitive appraisals and self-regulated learning are associated, their influence was minimal and offered little practical utility in explaining first-year college student achievement.

Overall, the results of the study were unexpected given the strong theoretical and empirical support for the measures utilized in the study and literature supporting meaningful and rather robust relationships among the variables of interest. This atypical finding seemed to be due primarily to the first-year student GPAs, and suggests attending to concerns related to the evaluation of student performance and achievement in the first year of college. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

The challenge of designing and implementing teacher evaluation reform throughout the U.S. has been represented by different policies, teacher evaluation components, and difficulties with implementation. The purpose of this qualitative embedded single case study was to explore teacher perceptions about new evaluation model implementations and how new model implementations impact the relationships between teachers and administration. The main unit of analysis was teachers at one school experiencing the implementation of new evaluation reform. The sub-units were the experience levels of teachers, specifically New Teachers, Mid-career Teachers, and Seasoned Teachers. Findings in this research demonstrated a protectiveness of the low income school in which the participants work, and a lack of trust in the state understanding the needs of a low performing school. The findings indicated teachers perceive the lack of local control or input into the development or implementation of a new evaluation tool may create feelings of mistrust and ulterior motives. Results also emerged suggesting that teachers perceive a new teacher evaluation model may add stress to the site, provide tools for feedback and accountability, and possibly negatively impact the relationships with students. Finally, the findings indicated striking differences of the perceptions of teachers with different levels of teaching experience. Teachers of all experience levels perceived similar, positive relationships between teachers and administrators. However, the perceptions of the current evaluation tool was markedly different based on years of experience. New Teachers and Mid-Career Teachers stressed a desire to receive feedback and the need for feedback to improve their practice. Conversely, Seasoned Teachers stated a clear lack of need or desire for feedback. Additionally, All experience level groups perceived that there may be some level of added stress during the implementation of a new evaluation tool. Seasoned Teachers Mid-Career Teachers perceive the possibility of a new tool as a negative event, while New Teachers viewed this as an opportunity for accountability and alignment.

Abstract THE SUSTAINABILIY OF A COACHING MODEL FOR BEGINNING PRINCIPALS By Virginia F. Loving A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Director: R. Martin Reardon, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Education This phenomenological study sought to determine what coaching-induced practices are acquired during novice principals first year as principal, and the sustainability of coaching-induced practices once the coach has been removed. This study identified skills learned while novice principals participated in a coaching program, and the extent to which these practices continued into the second, third, and fourth year of their principalship (as appropriate) once the coaching had concluded. Face-to-face interviews were recorded, transcribed, and reviewed to provide insight into common themes from the participants. Direct quotations about the experience were then placed in a narrative to describe the phenomenon of the coaching experience as seen through the eyes of the participants. After a careful review of the information, the findings reveal, that indeed, components of the coaching experience are sustainable once the coach has been removed. The common elements were data collection and analysis, confidence, feedback, finding a focus, and self-reflection.

This study examined whether an intervention program based on a neuropsychological approach to specific reading disability subtypes would improve overall reading ability, Subjects were middle school righthanded boys and girls who were low achieving readers. The readers were initially subtyped according to Bakker's clinical-inferential approach used with clinic children and classified as L-type dyslexic (substantive errors and excessively fast reading), P-type dyslexic (slow and laborious reading), or M-type dyslexic (a combination of both L-type and P-type dyslexia). The method of assessment was used as a pre-posttest group design. The dependent variables included a reading decoding measure, oral reading errors, and comprehension scores from the Multilevel Academic Skills Inventory (MASI), which is a reading and language battery. All three groups were receiving additional reading instruction from their school reading program. Experimental treatment occurred in two parts: Hemispheric Specific Stimulation (HSS) and Hemispheric Alluding Stimuli (HAS). When the study was concluded, a fused dichotic listening task was administered once to discern a potential relationship between the subtypes of the groups and their particular hemispheric processing capacity for language. The results revealed that the neuropsychological treatment was effective at improving reading comprehension and accuracy. Although there were perceived benefits in comprehension, no direct comprehension exercises were used in this study so the gains could have been attributed to the school reading program. There were no changes in word recognition between the pretest and the posttest. The results from the fused dichotic words task were not significant.

The problem addressed in this project was the lack of experienced RNs needed in the acute care setting to deliver safe, quality patient care, while effectively managing resources and providing job satisfaction. The purpose of this project was to determine if an education module designed to educate charge and rover nurses on the Collaborative Care Model (CCM) would enhance staff nurses' abilities to provide safe, high quality care to patients, and improve staff nurse retention on one unit in an acute care setting. The theoretical frameworks utilized to guide the education module included: Lewin's theory of planned change, Benner's novice to expert model, and AACN's synergy model for patient care. The project question asked if an educative process designed around the CCM for charge nurses and rovers would result in improvement and sustainment of nursing quality indicators on the unit and improve staff nurse retention. The educational modules included two, four-hour education sessions with power point presentations and interactive assignments presented on two separate dates. Analysis of effectiveness was determined by comparing initial and post education nursing quality indicators (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems Dashboard and the Human Resources Score Card) for the unit. Results showed that staff turnover was reduced from 41% to 35.9% and patients' perceptions of teamwork increased from 47.4% to 60.9% following the education modules. This project contributes to positive social change by providing education to promote quality care and staff nurse retention.

The high expectations of the standards movement, the many budgetary constraints, and the societal challenges of living in cities are some of the complexities principals in urban districts face when trying to serve the needs of children in their schools. This research explores an intervention model of principal professional learning communities (PPLCs) that bridges the gap between the districts’ goals and priorities and the ways schools are addressing them. Nine principals using the PPLC model experienced collaboration, support, and collective accountability with their peers. Furthermore, as a result of their collaboration and support, principals examined their own practices in specific areas of observation and feedback, how they used their leadership teams to support next steps, and how they created opportunities for professional development. Qualitative data collection took place through surveys, observations, and interviews.

The study findings indicated that a common learning experience like the PPLC is a valuable tool for principal learning and development. Principals reported that the development of relational trust was an essential reason why principals valued collaboration, and why they supported each other in the PPLC. Principals also became internally motivated to coach, support, and mentor their peers, and they developed a collective accountability in which they aligned themselves with the goals of the district. In addition, the findings indicated that conducting learning walks together and collaborating about instructional practices in the PPLC helped principals to reflect on their own instructional practices in their own schools. Principals could then use the strategies they learned from observation and feedback, working with their leadership teams and developing professional development to structure the next steps for better implementation of pedagogy.

Janis' theory of "groupthink" is explored in the context of educational decision making. Since 1973 when Janis coined the term, to describe extreme concurrence seeking tendencies in decision making group, few empirical studies testing the theory had been completed. While the notion of groupthink has been used extensively in various areas of the social sciences, educational decision makers, i.e., school boards, have seldom been the focus of this research. The purpose of this study was threefold. First, an attempt was made to explore decision making processes occurring at the school board level. Second, the theory of groupthink was investigated through the use of a complete questionnaire packet developed by Park (1989). Finally the data obtained from the questionnaire was used to determine the psychometric properties, reliability, and construct validity of the measures of central tendency and factor loading with regard to the questionnaire and its four subscales. Multiple regression was utilized to determine the relationship between the first three subscales and the last. The questionnaire developed by Park (1989) and tested on ad-hoc groups in a laboratory setting was tested on actual decision making groups (school boards). The reliability and construct validity of the study were determined to be within the moderate range. Overall findings suggest that respondents, based upon their response patterns, do agree with the various dimensions of the groupthink framework as it relates to the educational decision making process. Intercorrelation of subscales and cluster scales ranged from low to moderately high, and the four clusters seem to have significant predictability of the decision making process. While the overall direction of the results seem to support the theory of groupthink, more detailed studies using a variety of objective and subjective measures need to be developed.

Limited research exists on the factors that influence an instructor’s choice to use a learning management system. The purpose of the current study is to explore how task technology fit constructs relate to the other constructs that comprise Davis’ Technology Acceptance mode. The technology acceptance model is widely used as an indicator of actual use of a technology system. A sample of 284 instructors completed a survey consisting of demographic questions, open ended questions about their reasons for choosing to choose to utilize a learning management system, and Likert scale questions about six constructs of the research model including task technology fit, ease of use, usefulness, attitude, intent to use, and actual use. The relationships between TAM model constructs and Task Technology Fit were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation model method with SMART- PLS. The relationship between task technology fit and actual use was mediated by ease of use, usefulness, attitude, and intent to use. To evaluate the constructs in the model, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted and the factor structure for online and face-to-face instructors were different. Two models were developed, one for face-to-face instructors, and one for online instructors to account for this difference. The research models were evaluated for face-to-face instructors and online instructors. The study found significant relationships between all the TAM constructs and Task Technology Fit for face-to-face instructors. The relationship between attitude and intent to use was not significant for online instructors. This research supports the need for more research into the differences between online and face-to-face instructor’s perceptions of technology use. The differing instructional needs of face-to-face and online instructors have implications on the training and support an institution should provide to increase usage of learning management systems.

Competency-based education (CBE), a learning model focused on demonstrated proficiency in well-defined competencies rather than on the amount of time students spend in the classroom, influenced niche higher education markets in the United States for decades. However, the lack of a consensus definition limited CBE’s widespread acceptance by the traditional academic community. In the early 21st century, concerns about accessibility and affordability led to renewed interest in and experimentation with CBE models in higher education. Despite this resurgence of interest, defining CBE as a concept remained problematic and underscored the need to clarify the conceptual use and understanding of CBE. Settings for the research included the ERIC online library, resource libraries of three national CBE initiatives, and official policymaker websites. Rodgers’ evolutionary approach to concept analysis, emphasizing the evolution of concepts, shaped the research design of this qualitative study. Documents published in 1973–1983 and 2005–2015, 2 eras of intense postsecondary CBE experimentation, comprised the purposive sample. Using the described method, CBE characteristics were categorized in stakeholder and temporal contexts and common characteristics identified. Although this study confirmed a lack of consensus definition, it also revealed three characteristics fundamental to CBE. At its’ core, CBE is a learning model with (a) explicitly stated competencies; (b) progression determined by demonstrated performance; and (c) an individualized instruction framework well suited to mature learners with life and work experience beyond school. These core characteristics support an adaptable framework providing a foundation for CBE’s enduring presence in the higher education landscape of the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Job-embedded professional development is fairly new to education. Various forms of job-embedded professional development have become popular in the last ten years. One form of job-embedded professional development is instructional coaching. Instructional coaching is rather new to education, but has become a popular form of professional development in school districts. The current study reviewed various forms of job-embedded professional development, defined job-embedded professional development and instructional coaching, and then concentrated on teacher perspectives of instructional coaching as a form of professional development, the impact of instructional coaching on classroom instruction, and the impact of instructional coaching on implementing district initiatives. In this qualitative study, 12 teachers in their first year of teaching, who completed a yearlong partnership with an instructional coach, were interviewed. The data from the interviews was collected and then analyzed to identify themes and patterns using NVivo 11 Pro, a software program for analyzing qualitative data. The researcher analyzed and coded the data as trends and patterns were revealed in the teachers’ perspectives on instructional coaching as a form of professional development, on the impact of instructional coaching on their instructional practices, and on the impact of instructional coaching on their implementation of district expectations. The data indicated that the participants considered instructional coaching to be personalized professional development that supported the ability to implement instructional practices in the classroom as well as implement district expectations.

A aprendizagem assistida por computador, conhecida mais amplamente com o nome genérico de e-learning, converteu-se numa poderosa ferramenta com amplas potencialidades dentro do campo educativo. Mesmo assim, uma das maiores críticas que esta recebe é que na maioria dos casos os cursos que são implementados seguem um enfoque “one size fits all”, isto é, que todos os alunos recebem exatamente o mesmo conteúdo e da mesma maneira desconhecendo suas necessidades particulares. Esta falha radica não só na falta de interação direita entre aluno e tutor, senão também na falta de um desenho instrucional apropriado que considere alguns dos diversos enfoques disponíveis hoje em dia. Existem diversos enfoques que procuram solucionar este problema e adaptar o processo de ensino os estudantes. Pode-se dizer que na vanguarda de estes enfoques encontram-se os Sistemas Educacionais Inteligentes Adaptativos, os quais combinam as funcionalidades de dois enfoques: os Sistemas Hipermídia Educacionais Adaptativos y os Sistemas Tutoriais Inteligentes. Embora, logo de uma extensa revisão bibliográfica, se encontrou que existe ainda um inconveniente importante com este tipo de sistemas e em particular com seus modelos de referência: ou são demasiado simples, incluindo somente umas poucas funcionalidades; ou são demasiado complexos, o que dificulta seu desenho e implementação. Considerando este panorama, o objetivo principal de esta tese foi a definição de um modelo de referência intentando alcançar esse equilíbrio esquivo, de tal maneira que permita o desenho de cursos que se adaptem de una maneira efetiva e inteligente ao progresso e características de cada estudante, mas sem ser demasiado complexo. Outra propriedade importante desse modelo és que integra o uso de Objetos de Aprendizagem, promovendo assim a flexibilidade e a usabilidade. Para alcançar este objetivo geral, três sub modelos foram considerados: um modelo do domínio, um modelo do estudante y um modelo do tutor. O primeiro serve para estruturar o domínio de conhecimento e foi definido usando a noção de objetivo de aprendizagem junto com um esquema flexível multi-nível com operações opcionais de pré-requisitos. O segundo visa caracterizar aos estudantes e considera informação pessoal, de conhecimento e psico-cognitiva. O terceiro pode ser considerado como o coração do sistema e define as funcionalidades adaptativas consideradas: sequenciamento y navegação, apresentação de conteúdo, evacuação, y suporte colaborativo. Com o fim de clarificar os três sub modelos, assim como todos seus componentes e relações, se presentou um exemplo de instanciação que se denominou Doctus, o qual consiste em una ferramenta de autor para cursos adaptativos. Doctus não somente serviu para exemplificar o uso do modelo de referência em sua totalidade, mas também para refinar os sub modelos e alguns procedimentos involucrados. Como parte final de esta tese, se realizou também a implementação e validação preliminar de Doctus. Isto foi feito com 51 sujeitos, professores em diversos níveis de formação. Os resultados obtidos em esta etapa foram sobressalientes no sentido que todas as funcionalidades adaptativas foram bem avaliadas e todos os pesquisados manifestaram seu entusiasmo por contar com uma ferramenta que lhes ajudara em seus práticas docentes considerando a seus estudantes como indivíduos particulares.
Computer Aided Learning, known more widely with the generic name of e-learning, has become a powerful tool with lots of potentialities within educational field. Even though, one of the main critics that it receives is that in most cases the implemented courses follows a “one size fits all” approach, which means that all students receive the same content in the same way being unaware of their particular needs. This problem is not due only to the absence of direct interaction between student and tutor, but also because of the lack of an appropriate instructional design. There are several approaches which deal with this issue and look for adapt the teaching process to students. One could say that in the top of those approaches the Adaptive and Intelligent Educational Systems are situated, which merges the functionalities of two approaches: the Adaptive Educational Hypermedia Systems and the Intelligent Tutoring Systems. Nevertheless, after an extensive literature review, a major inconvenience is still found for this kind of systems and particularly for their reference models: or they are too simple, including just a few functionalities; or they are too complex, which difficult their design and implementation. Considering this panorama, the main objective of this dissertation thesis was the definition of a reference model trying to reach such an elusive equilibrium, in such a way that allows the design of courses which adapt themselves in an intelligent and effective way to the progress and characteristics of each student but without being too complex. Another important feature is that this model integrates Learning Objects, promoting this way flexibility and reusability. In order to achieve this general objective, three sub-models were considered: a domain model, a student model and a tutor model. The first one serves to structure the knowledge domain and was defined using the notion of learning goal and a flexible multilevel schema with optional prerequisite operations. The second one aids to characterize students and considered personal, knowledge and psycho-cognitive information. The third one may be considered as the hearth of the system and defines the adopted adaptive functionalities: sequencing and navigation, content presentation, assessment, and collaborative support. With the aim of clarify the three sub-models, as well as all their components and relationships, an instantiation example was also presented. Such an instantiation was called Doctus, an authoring tool for adaptive courses. Doctus was not only helpful to exemplify the setup of the referece model as a whole, but also to refine sub-models and several procedures envolved. As final part of the dissertation, the implementation and preliminary validation of Doctus was performed. This was done with 51 subjects, teachers from different formation levels. The obtained results in this stage were outstanding, all the adaptive functionalities were well evaluated and all of those polled felt enthusiastic about counting with a tool for helping them in their teaching practices considering students as particular individuals.
El aprendizaje asistido por computador, conocido más ampliamente con el nombre genérico de e-learning, se ha convertido en una poderosa herramienta con amplias potencialidades dentro del campo educativo. Aun así, una de las mayores críticas que este recibe es que en la mayoría de los casos los cursos que son implementados siguen un enfoque “one size fits all”, es decir, que todos los alumnos reciben exactamente el mismo contenido y de la misma manera desconociendo sus necesidades particulares. Esta falla radica no sólo en la falta de interacción directa entre alumno y tutor, sino también en la falta de un diseño instruccional apropiado que considere diversos de los enfoques disponibles hoy en día. Existen diversos enfoques que buscan solucionar este problema y adaptar el proceso de enseñanza a los estudiantes. Se podría decir que a la vanguardia de estos enfoques se encuentran los Sistemas Educacionales Inteligentes Adaptativos, los cuales combinan las funcionalidades de dos enfoques: los Sistemas Hipermedia Educacionales Adaptativos y los Sistemas Tutoriales Inteligentes. Sin embargo, luego de una extensa revisión bibliográfica, se encontró que existe aún un inconveniente importante con este tipo de sistemas y en particular con sus modelos de referencia: o son demasiado simples, incluyendo solamente unas pocas funcionalidades; o son demasiado complejos, lo cual dificulta su diseño e implementación. Considerando este panorama, el objetivo principal de esta tesis fue la definición de un modelo de referencia intentando alcanzar tal equilibrio esquivo, de tal manera que permita el diseño de cursos que se adapten de una manera efectiva e inteligente al progreso y características de cada estudiante pero sin ser demasiado complejo. Otra propiedad importante de dicho modelo es que integra el uso de Objetos de Aprendizaje, promoviendo así la flexibilidad y la reusabilidad. Con el fin de alcanzar este objetivo general, tres sub modelos fueron considerados: un modelo del dominio, un modelo del estudiante y un modelo del tutor. El primero sirve para estructurar el dominio de conocimiento y fue definido empleando la noción de objetivo de aprendizaje junto con un esquema flexible multinivel con operaciones opcionales de prerrequisitos. El segundo busca caracterizar los estudiantes y considera información personal, de conocimiento y psico-cognitiva. El tercero puede ser considerado como el corazón del sistema y define las funcionalidades adaptativas consideradas: secuenciamiento y navegación, presentación de contenido, evaluación, y soporte colaborativo. Con el fin de clarificar los tres sub modelos, así como todos sus componentes y relaciones, se presentó además un ejemplo de instanciación. Tal instanciación se denominó Doctus, el cual consiste en una herramienta de autor para cursos adaptativos. Doctus no solamente sirvió para ejemplificar el uso del modelo de referencia en su totalidad, sino también para refinar los sub modelos y algunos procedimientos involucrados. Como parte final de esta tesis, se realizó también la implementación y validación preliminar de Doctus. Esto se hizo con 51 sujetos, todos profesores en diversos niveles de formación. Los resultados obtenidos en esta etapa fueron sobresalientes en el sentido que todas las funcionalidades adaptativas fueron bien evaluadas y todos los encuestados manifestaron su entusiasmo por contar con una herramienta que les ayudara en sus prácticas docentes considerando a sus estudiantes como individuos particulares.

An education benefit available to all corporate and franchisee employees of the large quick service restaurant (QSR) under study is an opportunity to achieve a high school diploma at no cost by enrolling in online high school (OHS). The purpose of this research was to explore the role of Thomas Gilbert’s behavior engineering model factors—information/data, resources, incentives, knowledge/skills, capacity, and motives—in helping 15 QSR employees to graduate from an OHS program. This study was warranted because in order to improve employee OHS graduation rates, the QSR under study needed to better understand and cultivate the success factors for OHS program completion. A basic qualitative methodology was used for this study and semistructured telephone interviews were conducted as the primary form of data collection. Thirty online learner success themes were synthesized from the data during the analysis process. Technology, and study skills were the only factors identified by all 15 study participants as being factors in their program success. The most influential online learning success factors reported by study participants were design of instruction, program policies, the role of the academic coach, program accessibility, and student characteristic of persistence/determination. Lack of time to complete OHS lessons was the top challenge to success shared by study participants. The online learning success factors that are currently in place at OHS and the QSR under study and are recommended to continue include 24/7 availability of the program, accepting transfer credits, the role the academic coach, the ability to retake tests, and the QSR under study covering the cost of the program. Recommendations to improve QSR restaurant environmental success factors include increased OHS program follow-up by QSR corporate and franchise leadership, scheduling OHS lesson completion time on restaurant schedules, and providing a reliable computer/tablet.

The purpose of this multiple comparative case study was to examine why and how an intensive academic-orientation innovation was diffused and adopted at five different public research universities. The innovation under study was the Louisiana State University (LSU) Biology Intensive Orientation for Students (BIOS) program. Everett Rogers’ (2003) diffusion of innovation theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. Program documentation was collected and reviewed, an on-line survey was administered and completed by each program coordinator/director, and telephone interviews were conducted with each program coordinator/director. The study found there was relative fidelity in the adoption of BIOS and supported the presence of Rogers’ (2003) innovation attributes. A model was developed through this study to describe a successful innovation adoption process; essential elements, roles, and relationships were identified. Key findings of the study included the following: (a) need for a catalyst that the innovation addressed and impacted in a positive way; (b) a credible change agent, who was available to share knowledge about the innovation; (c) a champion, who was committed to the successful adoption of the innovation; and (d) an opinion leader, who supported the innovation adoption. The model further indicates there must be a productive and positive working relationship between the change agent and the champion, as well as an established positive working relationship between the champion and opinion leader. Discontinuation of the innovation adoption is possible if there is a change in opinion leadership or a less complex or less costly solution to the initial catalyst is discovered.

The California Community Colleges funding model has rich historical, political, and cultural ties embedded in the model foundation. The general funding of the California Community Colleges is enrollment-based and shaped by a long history of legislation based on the K-12 education model. The funding is not tied to performance or outcomes and is driven by how many students are enrolled. Although there has been increased categorical funding in the California Community Colleges over the past 3 years to improve student success and equity, the overall persistence or completion rates of students remains low. Research has demonstrated that many other states are implementing an outcome-based or performance-based funding model to reduce the gaps and improve student success and fiscal sustainability. The purpose of the study was to explore the gaps in the current California Community Colleges funding model and the effect of these gaps on student success and fiscal sustainability for the California Community Colleges. The study additionally investigates effective models in order to design and develop a funding model that will support the mission and outcomes of the California Community Colleges system while planning for fiscal strength.

The overall aim of this research is to describe and analyse the educational pathways from preschool to school of a group of children with and without special educational needs. The aim is also to describe and analyse children’s views and experiences of early years education, and how these can be obtained. The research comprises six studies that are presented in four articles and two conference papers. Longitudinal and multiple-case study designs, and mixed method approaches are adopted in the empirical studies, and the data is collected via observations, a questionnaire, documents, conversations and interviews with staff, children’s drawings and interviews with children. The results from the empirical studies show a variation of pathways to compulsory education; changes in activities and relationships in the transitions; a variation in preschool quality; a broad conceptualising of special educational needs; an application of comprehensive or specialised typologies in the educational settings; an undecided and cautious attitude toward inclusive education; an allocation of generous resources to specialised and segregated programmes; and a diversity of support provisions. The children report more positive than negative experiences of their early school years and pinpoint the importance of having a sense of belonging among peers; opportunities for creative play and thinking; experiences of speed, excitement and physical challenges; elements of cosiness, withdrawals and comfort for recreation; experiences of growth in knowledge and understanding of the world; feeling safe; feeling free and autonomous; and preventing homesickness in order to thrive. The results of the literature review are that the researchers may obtain data from children with and without special educational needs by means of traditional and innovative data collection methods. For broadening participation and sharing of views, the researchers may offer relational and material support. The thesis has relevance for researchers in the field of special education, inclusive education and early childhood education and care. It has also relevance for teacher training, policy makers and stakeholders, school heads, teachers and families.

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 6: Submitted.

The Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) had been in a state of reform since being awarded the Race to the Top Grant. Few teachers admit that an evaluation influenced them significantly; additionally, few administrators agreed that when they evaluated a teacher, it did not significantly affect the teacher or students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the perceptions of building‑level principals regarding the effectiveness (i.e., increased teacher participation and quality) and efficiency (i.e., produces the required results) of the TEAM in regard to teacher evaluations. Four elementary school principals from East Tennessee participated in the study. The researcher provided data from this study to inform stakeholders of strengths and weaknesses of the state evaluation model. Additionally, the researcher used the data to provide recommendations for improvements to the TEAM model and to identify support principals needed to adapt their leadership style to effectively execute TEAM mandates. The research revealed that the principals believed the model was a strong one that was research based; however, the model could prove to be ineffective in the delivery and inefficient in the follow‑through if the proper supports were not in place.

This research developed and implemented the educational technology acceptance model ETAM. The model was developed to investigate the attitude towards technology acceptance in educational settings. It is evolutionary in its nature and combines the two well‐known instruments, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the What Is Happening In this Classroom (WIHIC) to make a new educational technology acceptance model. This model incorporated all the WIHIC scales (Student Cohesiveness, Teacher Support, Involvement, Investigation, Task Orientation, Cooperation and Equity) and two TAM scales (Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use). It also includes four demographic elements: Age, Gender, Prior Experience and English as a first language.To gather lecturer perceptions, semi‐structured interviews were carried out with the lecturers teaching the courses. The semi‐structured interviews were analysed qualitatively and thematic analysis was used. To gather student perceptions, a purpose‐written questionnaire was developed. The student perspective was analysed quantitatively. A total of 208 student responses were collected. The analysis involved formal statistical testing of a number of hypotheses.To determine the unique contributions of each component, path analysis and multiple regressions were used. The major findings were that all the WIHIC constructs have a positive correlation with Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use. The unique contributions of each of the WIHIC constructs in the ETAM model were identified. The two major contributors were: Task Orientation and Studying. Task Orientation explained 15% of the variance in the Perceived Usefulness and 11% of the variance in Perceived Ease of Use. This is a significant and a unique contribution of this study to identify that Task Orientation and Studying are major predictors in technology acceptance. This finding informs practitioners and allows them to use a shorter version of the questionnaire while still capturing the main influences of technology acceptance in the classroom.The main result of this study was a new model for technology acceptance the Educational Technology Acceptance Model (ETAM) designed for educational environments. The results of this study add to the body of knowledge of technology acceptance model (TAM) applications in educational settings. The study also adds new knowledge to the better understanding of educational environment constructs. The results of the study could benefit students by collecting information that helps them to make decisions on the future use of the software tool, and informs course designers in tertiary institutions about the usefulness of the technology and students’ attitudes towards technology acceptance. The results helps other practitioners make informed decisions on whether to offer the tool to students and how to get the best use from the tool, if used. The study adds to the body of knowledge around the interaction between technology and the classroom environment. It adds to the body of knowledge by gaining a better understanding of attitudes toward software acceptance in an educational setting.

The purpose of this study is to develop and review strategies and policies to drive retentive teaching-learning environments for disaffected students, modifying their modus operandi sufficiently for them to qualify and retain a tertiary place or position in the workforce, or sustain a return to mainstream schooling. I employed action research methods to examine Strike Four. an educational model servicing students with severe social and/ or emotional difficulties and behavioural disorders. I tested the Strike Four model during an intensive study period on two programs. Part 1 of the thesis comprises three Chapters. An introduction to the issue of the marginalisation and exclusion of troublesome students in mainstream education is presented in Chapter 1. The review of associated literature, which follows in Chapter 2, examines: early attitudes to crime and deviant behaviour; some modem sociological and psychological attempts to diagnose, categorise, or "cure" deviance; school-based behaviour modification •strategies; and various Australian states' attempts to service disaffected students with education. The theoretical framework presented in Chapter 3 includes the rationale for my choice of qualitative methods, discussion and selection of an action research model, and the position taken on the issues of anonymity and authenticity. Part 2 of the thesis, "The Study", comprises four chapters, and a concluding chapter. A grounded autobiography that clarifies my personal position, whilst demonstrating how my modus operandi was transformed through personal critical moments, is offered in Chapter 4. This provides a base from which to consider the potential for personal critical moments, texts, and mentors to transform an individual's ideology and modus operandi. The educational theory and ideological underpinnings held to underlie the Strike Four model are presented in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 comprises a critical examination of the evolution of Strike Four policy, in particular:, how and if the educational theory and ideological underpinnings claimed to underlie the model are apparent in model policy. Chapter 7 deals with three program strategies: harnessing golden teaching moments; using curriculum as a tool to shape behaviour; and the use of positive contracting to encourage behaviour self-management skills in troublesome students. In this chapter I critically examine how and if policy and ideology is reflected in practice on the programs, and if the various policies, and the three key strategies, are proving successful in modifying the modus operandi of the young people sufficiently to facilitate their functioning in mainstream society. An end piece to the fieldwork is included to fill in "gaps" resulting from the reporting of selected case studies. Chapter 8 includes the findings and recommendations for future research. The model's success in modifying students' modus operandi is demonstrated through the individual case studies and tables. Almost 100% of the students (on entry classified severely alienated) maintained their placement in work, technical college, or mainstream schooling for the three month post support period.

This thesis examines inequality of educational opportunities (IEO) in the transition to higher education. IEO measures the difference in higher education entry rates across social groups. The theoretical framework lays on Boudon's decomposition of IEO into primary and secondary effects of stratification. Furthermore, the theoretical propositions of Maximally Maintained Inequality (MMI) and Effectively Maintained Inequality (EMI) were also assessed to gain further understanding of IEO. The longitudinal data for the empirical analysis was created for a student cohort by linking administrative records of Chile's national student register, standardised tests and higher education enrolment. The student cohort was followed through the 12-years of compulsory education up to the transition to higher education, a year after completing secondary education. The results from the empirical analysis showed that secondary effects were consistently predominant over primary effects, driving the overall IEO. On the other hand, controlling for school characteristics increased the relative importance of secondary effects. However, primary effects explained a large extent of IEO in the transition to traditional (most prestigious) universities, by the same token, in the transition to undergraduate programmes. Differences in parental education levels between secondary education completion and higher education transitions proved to be consistent with MMI. Likewise, the higher likelihood of less advantaged students to enrol in vocational colleges or vocational programmes, and the higher likelihood of advantaged students to enrol in traditional universities or undergraduate programmes, evidenced support for EMI. The modelling setting was based on non-linear mediation modelling, accounting for sample-selection in the student cohort, two-level cross-classification between primary and secondary schools, and multinomial outcomes for type of institution and programme. This thesis contributes to the educational attainment literature by finding evidence that, in emerging economies like Chile, educational inequality persists despite the sustained expansion of the educational system.

Algebra has been called a gatekeeper because proficiency in algebra allows access to educational and economic opportunities. Many students struggle with algebra because it is cognitively demanding. There is little empirical evidence concerning which cognitive factors influence algebra achievement. The purpose of this study was to test a cognitive model of algebra achievement among undergraduate college students. Algebra achievement was defined as the ability to manipulate algebraic expressions which is a substantial part of many algebra curriculums. The model included cognitive factors that past research has shown relate to overall math achievement. Other goals were to compare a cognitive model of algebra achievement with a model of SAT-M performance and to test for gender differences in the model of algebra achievement. Structural equation modeling was used to test the direct and indirect effects of algebra experience, working memory, 3D spatial abilities, and computational fluency on algebra achievement. Algebra experience had the strongest direct effect on algebra achievement. Combined direct and indirect effects of computational fluency were as strong as the direct effect of algebra experience. While 3D spatial abilities had a direct effect on algebra achievement, working memory did not. Working memory did have a direct effect on computational fluency and 3D spatial abilities. The total effects of 3D spatial abilities and working memory on algebra achievement were moderate. There were differences in the cognitive models of algebra achievement and SAT-M. SAT-M scores were highly related to 3D spatial abilities, but moderately related to algebra experience. There were also gender differences in the cognitive model of algebra achievement. Working memory was highly related to computational fluency for males, but was not related to computational fluency for females. This study adds to the large body of evidence that working memory plays a role in computational abilities throughout development. The evidence that working memory affects higher level math achievement indirectly through computational fluency and 3D spatial abilities provides clarity to conflicting results in the few studies that have examined the role of working memory in higher level math achievement.

School reforms in the 21st century led the educational systems in the United States to raise levels of achievement in order to compete globally with international students. The intention of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) initiative was to reduce the achievement gap among student subgroups, compared to high achieving students. The School Improvement Grant (SIG) served as a funding resource for underperforming schools to quickly improve academically. Schools underperforming for five consecutive years received mandates from the state and federal governments to select a turnaround model to increase student achievement.

This mixed methods study investigated the implementation of the turnaround model, while improving leadership characteristics, raising student achievement, engaging professional learning communities, and retaining teachers in a Midwestern public high school. A qualitative study was conducted with two focus groups, one with parents and the other with teachers. Both groups were critical with EGJ High School regaining its accreditation status. The themes that emerged were similar across both focus groups and featured theories of educational frameworks needed to increase student results.

A quantitative study was also conducted by surveying parents, teachers, assistant principals, and instructional coaches to analyze their perceptions on the way leadership guided turning around the school. Underperforming schools were always seeking ways for school improvement. The data and results from this study specified support systems required for a successful turnaround school.

"A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Georgia Southern University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Education." Title from PDF of title page (Georgia Southern University, viewed on May 6, 2010). Leon Spencer, major professor; Sharon Brooks, Barbara Mallory, committee members. Electronic version approved: December 2009. Includes bibliographical references (p.199-215).

There have been many recent changes in education focused on closing the achievement gap, yet minority students continue to fall behind. Latina/o students encounter systemic oppression in schools and society in the forms of academic tracking, classism, racism, and other biases (Bemak & Chung, 2011; Dickson, Zamora, Gonzalez, Chun, & Callaghan Leon, 2011; Hipolito-Delgado & Lee, 2007; Holcomb-McCoy, 2007; Martinez, 2003; Ortiz & Gonzales, 2000). At the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels, Latina/os attend schools whose educational conditions are some of the most inadequate in the United States (Oakes, 1984; Valencia, 1991). One of the most significant school reforms at the high school level is converting comprehensive high schools into small schools or small learning communities. This school structure could be beneficial in addressing some of the academic issues of minority students but also offer some cautions.

The problem under investigation in this study is the achievement gap of Latina/os students in gaining college access in comparison to their white peers (Education Trust, 2010). While small schools were created to close this achievement gap, there are still some concerns in regards to college access of these students. The purpose of this study was to explore Latina/os college students’ experiences from the same small high school on how the school helped or hindered their college access. It also explores how these students used their community cultural wealth factors in order to overcome challenges and be successful. Led by a narrative inquiry interview qualitative methodology, data was collected via 10 semi-structured interviews of college students who met the necessary criteria for this study.

Findings from this study suggested that the family feeling these students cited of being in the small school, was a factor that contributed to their academic success. The college awareness resources that were available to them with constant reminders from a college counselor also contributed to their success. Through a critical race theory lens, (Solórzano, 2001) this study also revealed institutional oppression occurred through the school’s lack of quality Advanced Placement courses, lack of diversity, and insufficient funding for extra-curricular or school activities that hindered their acceptance to prestigious universities. Further, participants expressed that they overcame these challenges using Yosso’s (2005) six community culture wealth factors.

Recommendations for this study include key curricular strategies to ensure students experiential knowledge is considered in creating the school’s curriculum. Secondly, the importance of having a robust curriculum, and the role of creating funding to offer extra-curricular and school activities will make a huge impact on Latina/os’ college access.

Few studies have focused on middle school students’ academic achievement and overall performances (Flowers, 2003; Leithwood & Jantzi, 2006). Delaware Comprehensive Assessment system (DCAS) used by school officials recognized an emerging trend in which a large percentage of students’ academic performances consistently declined over a period of three years. Indications point to standardized test scores lower on each grade level. Students’ assessment scores were sixty-six percent lower on the State’s DCAS assessment tests in math for sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Fifty-seven percent of the students on the same grade level scored “below standard” in Reading.

The method of this research study is a quantitative multiple regression design seeking to find the relationship between the seven dimensions of distributed leadership and students’ achievement scores in Reading and Math. Results from the four schools showed a high statistical significance of correlational scores between distributed leadership practices and student assessment scores.

Implications of the study will allow transferability for stakeholders to generalize how to apply distributed leadership practices and improve student assessment scores. Findings from this research will fill gaps in the literature.

The flipped classroom is an emerging teaching practice in which teachers employ a variety of methods to offload direct instruction prior to class and use class time to engage students in active learning. Despite its rapid rise in popularity over the past five years, there are relatively few studies on the efficacy of the flipped classroom teaching model. Of these studies, few use control groups to measure changes is student learning and even fewer use iterative analysis to determine the impact that successive implementation has on the efficacy of the flipped classroom model. This study addresses this gap by measuring the efficacy of a flipped classroom against a traditionally-taught class in two successive semesters. Results showed that the flipped classroom teaching method increased student learning during the second semester of the study. It also found that successive implementation of the flipped classroom was more effective at producing gains in measures of student learning outcomes than a class taught traditionally. Finally, the findings from this study were used to develop recommendations for educators interested in implementing the flipped classroom teaching model.

This is a study of excluded students' perceptions of their educational experiences. The findings are based on the accounts of thirty-three predominantly working-class young men and women from different ethnic backgrounds, all of whom have been permanently excluded from school and are attending Behavioural Support Service Centres. Chapter One shows how debates on exclusion have failed to take into account the views of excluded students. This work is set within two bodies of literature, discussed in Chapter Two. The first is the sociological work into school culture and its influence on identity formation. Central to this discourse, as well as the present study, is the role of structure and that of agency in shaping the experience of school. The second area of literature that frames this work is the newly emerging research on youth perspectives in education. The key concern within this new area of research is how youth perspectives can be 'used' to generate theory and inform policy and practice. This study identifies and explores those aspects of the educational experience that are most salient to this group of young people, gaining insight into their understanding of their educational experience. The methodology employed to achieve this, discussed in Chapter Three, has been necessarily qualitative, aiming to access the meaning young people give to their experiences and to value this meaning as a legitimate form of knowledge. The focus is on the experience of school, using the young people's experience in alternative provision as a point of comparison. Chapters Four to Eight discuss these areas of meaning. Chapter Four considers the interviewees' understandings of their own behaviour and of their exclusion. This chapter provides insight into the interviewees' perceptions of the role they have played in constructing their experiences of school. Chapter Five explores the important influence of teacher-student relationships on individuals' experience of school. It looks at the ways in which teachers are perceived to exercise power that serve either to communicate 'caring' and 'valuing' or, more often, to infantilise young people. Chapter Six describes the antagonistic social atmosphere that exists amongst peers at school, and explores the different patterns of interactions the interviewees adopt within this environment. Chapter Seven examines factors outside of school that significantly intersect with and influence the school experience of some interviewees, such as family difficulty and relations with neighbourhood peers. Chapter Eight explores the interviewees' consistently positive view of school work in the Centres compared to that in mainstream school. It also examines differences in engagement levels between interviewees. On the basis of the interviewees' accounts, the School Experience Triangle Model is developed in Chapter Nine to provide a conceptual understanding of young people's varied experiences in school. The particular benefit of this model is its ability to explain changes in the experience over time. Central to the model is the notion of restrictive borders that are both externally-imposed and self-constructed. Through this concept, power relations in educational institutions, as perceived by the interviewees, are explored. The suggestion is made that the power relations in school serve to delegitimise the experiences, knowledge and skills of low-status youth. The implication for practice, discussed in Chapter Ten, is that power relations need to change in order to provide a more inclusive education system. One significant means for changing power relations in the school is to listen to the views of students and incorporate them into policy and practice.

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 48).
A model of an icosahedral virus was designed and manufactured. Much consideration was given to the design of different aspects of the part. though there were many uncertainties about some parameters that disallowed precise prediction of part outcomes. The part was designed in SolidWorks and Mastercam, and converted to a tool path that allowed machining of the mold on the CNC milling machine. This mold was then taken to the injection molding machine where multiples of the part could be produced. The mold had to be redesigned several times to incorporate solutions to problems that arose along the way due to the uncertainties inherent from the beginning. New parts were produced upon each revision and tested. Finally, both the core and cavity molds were redesigned and rebuilt. These new molds produced parts that fit together properly and provided an accurate model of the icosahedral virus. A majority of the knowledge obtained from this project arose from the uncertainties and their corresponding problems and solutions. Making mistakes allowed the potential for creativity with designing a solution. The two objectives of the project were achieved; a three-dimensional virus model for educational use in the biology classroom was built and knowledge about the design and manufacturing process was obtained and documented.
by Laurie A. Stach.
S.B.

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (leaf 23).
A foot-scale model of an icosahedral virus capsid, as opposed to a helical capsid shape, was modeled in preparation for manufacture for educational use. We chose to model the icosahedral virus capsid for manufacture because understanding the structure of this type of capsid is of biological importance, the icosahedral structure is well-established, and because the icosahedral structure and geometry is representative of many viruses, it is important to virology. A small icosahedral virus capsid consists of 60 identical proteins. Larger capsids are formed by adding quasi-equivalent proteins, with 60 copies of each unique protein. Our model calls for the creation of an injection mold for one unique protein. 60 parts should snap together with one another after manufacture to create an icosahedron. The protein was modeled using the SolidWorks computer aided drawing (CAD) software. The CAD model could then be converted to a file that enables us to mill a two part mold out of aluminum blocks. This aluminum mold will then be used to injection mold parts made out of polypropylene. The parting lines and sprue of the final parts will be cleaned up and then assembled to complete the model. This thesis details the specifics of the modeling of this protein, focusing on the design of the attachment method for capsid assembly from a single injection mold.
by Heather A. Doering.
S.B.

This thesis presents an ethical model to guide the nurse in the application of moral standards or principles in the clinical and community setting. The study is concerned with looking at ethics primarily in terms of patients'/events' rights, not ethics in general. The contribution of contemporary nurse theorists and philosophers in the international arena are considered to see how their contributions relate to the present and future developments and trends in the field of nursing, and how they may be translated into action in the daily care of patients/clients in the clinical and community setting. The research methods include an historical review of local, national and international nurse educational, philosophical and ethical literature. The central theme investigates the caring roles of nurses and the commitment to patient/client care which are the basis of the ethical perspective of nursing. The ethical principles inherent in the nursing discipline, such as patients'/clients' rights and autonomy are examined, to see how these principles may be applied at the bedside and in the community. Validation criteria are adapted and this validation tool, together with the ethical constructs/components, are used as a framework to ensure that an ethical perspective is included and utilised in all nursing models. As ethics is concerned with human conduct and relationships, the author concludes that an ethical model is vital and may be used with all models which guide nursing practice currently in use and in future developments. An Ethical Analysis Framework and Model has been developed by the author, to serve as a tool for the inclusion of ethical constructs/components in models which guide the practice of nursing in the clinical and community setting. It also aids in the application of ethical principles. The Ethical Analysis Model will hopefully contribute to the theoretical framework of curriculum development as curriculum is concerned with shaping attitudes towards knowledge and creating a forum for discussion and criticism. Ethical knowledge is part of that subject matter. Through deliberation and judgement the definition and solution of curriculum and ethical problems may be effected as curriculum development, like ethics, is concerned with what is, and what might be. An example is presented of how the Framework and Model can be used, and is strongly recommended for use with any model which guides the practice of nursing. The findings, their limitations and the relevant discussions and recommendations are highlighted, and areas for further research are identified.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--East Carolina University, 2009.
Presented to the faculty of the Department of Educational Leadership. Advisor: Lynn Bradshaw. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 20, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.