This research is an exploratory study into gender dynamics in an engineering classroom in a Faculty of Engineering at an Australian University. It has concentrated on understanding and presenting students perceptions of their learning environment in an engineering classroom and their experiences within it to determine the extent to which gender affects different classroom experiences. A first year engineering subject ‘Introduction to Engineering Computing’ was the environment used for this study. The research employed an ethnographic research methodology drawing on semi-structured interviews and observations. It also used surveys to triangulate the data for improved reliability and validity. Gender has clearly been highlighted as a determinant of students’ experiences from a students’ perspective in an engineering classroom. The most noticeable differences between female and male student experiences found in this study stemmed from four factors: their previous experiences; their learning approaches; the language used within the classroom and the lack of role models. In these areas there were found to be various levels of advantage and disadvantage experienced by women and men. These are presented in Chapter 5 & 6 of this thesis. The resulting understanding begins the process of providing a framework in which strategies can be developed to more effectively engage female and male students in engineering education. / Masters Thesis

Diabetes type 2 is a fast growing illness and a global health problem, often a result from less appropriate standard of living. Lifestyle changes related to diet and physical activity are important lifestyle changes regarding to get control of the self-management and to avoid vascular complications. Aim The aim of this study was to describe patient's experiences of lifestyle changes in diabetes type 2. Method A literature study was carried through based on 12 qualitative scientific articles. Results The analysis result into two main themes and eight subthemes. Main themes where barriers and motivators for lifestyle changes and the subthemes where struggle, denial, lack of knowledge, alienation, support, motivation, acceptance and knowledge. Conclusion This study shows that lifestyle changes are experienced different by patient with diabetes and nurses should therefore be aware of the unique and specific demands these patients require. This is important for providing a good diabetic healthcare and to help patients with their self-management

Thesis (M. Div.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68-72]).

Thesis (M. Div.)--Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves [68-72]).

Thesis (M. Ed.) -- University of Alberta, 2009. / "A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education in Counselling Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Alberta." Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on September 9, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Teacher self-efficacy for teaching in diverse classrooms is an important factor in the successful implementation of inclusion. Quantitative examinations of teacher self-efficacy have found the construct to be correlated with both contextual and teacher-related factors. In-depth qualitative exploration into type, quality, and nature of experiences that shape teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs is scarce. This research aimed to qualitatively examine potential sources of teacher self-efficacy and generate an explanation for the complex growth pattern it follows during the early years of practice. Seventy-eight beginning teachers across Canada (i.e., graduating teacher candidates and new teachers who are in the first three years of their practice) participated in 139 semi-structured interviews conducted over four years to address questions regarding the factors and experiences that influence their self-efficacy or confidence to teach in diverse classrooms. Ten factors which either had a positive or negative connotation emerged from a qualitative content analysis of their interviews. The Positive-Negative Experiences Balance (PNEB) model was conceptualized to understand and represent how these ten factors interactively, simultaneously, and collectively influence the development of beginning teachers’ self-efficacy for inclusive practice in the initial years of their careers. Through a comparison of frequency counts of codes, it was noted that beginning teachers differentially relied on experiential factors to enhance their self-efficacy when they were graduating, or were in the first three years of their teaching. The results are discussed in light of the relevant extant research. Implications of these results for teacher education programs and school leadership are also shared. / Graduate

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The purpose of this study was to build a task list for the clinical experience program, both early field and student teaching, for the agricultural teacher education programs in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The objectives were: (1) compile a list of clinical experiences, both early field and student teaching, that currently are provided in the clinical experiences for students of agricultural education in three-selected teacher education programs, and (2) use an expert panel to determine what should be included in early field experiences and student teaching experiences for students enrolled in the agricultural teacher education program. A modified Delphi technique was used to collect data via three questionnaires. Data were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviations of tasks rated on a five point Likert-type scale. Those tasks that the panelists rated with a standard deviation of less than or equal to one were considered to have met consensus. The population for this study consisted of agriculture teachers, secondary school administrators, agricultural education field staff, and agricultural education teacher educators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. Thirty-four Delphi panel members were purposively selected from the population. Thirty-one panel members responded to Round I, 33 panel members responded to Round II, and 29 responded to Round III yielding an overall response rate of 92%. This researcher asked the Delphi panel members to rate each task on a five-point Likert type scale, 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = not sure, 4 = agree, and 5 = strongly agree. The study used mean scores and standard deviations to analyze the results. Consensus was met if the standard deviation of a task was equal to or less than one. Rounds I, II, and III resulted in 102 tasks for early field and student teaching experiences that met consensus. Based on the findings, the researcher developed a task list for early field experiences and student teaching experiences to be considered for use by the agricultural education programs in the three cooperating states. The task list developed is a very comprehensive list that relates to every aspect of clinical experiences. / Ph. D.

School divisions in Virginia implemented revised or new teacher evaluation systems beginning in 2012. These evaluation systems incorporated teacher portfolios, goal setting, and teacher performance assessment based on student achievement, and they were substantially different from those previously used by both teachers and their evaluators. This study was about how teachers and administrators experienced the implementation of this new evaluation system. Their observations, thoughts, feelings, and learning about themselves, and how they experienced this change were the topics of interest in the study. The setting for this case study was one elementary school in a small school division in southwestern Virginia. In-depth interviews of two administrators and 13 teachers of varied experience levels were conducted with a researcher-developed protocol by an outside interviewer. Data were analyzed with the constant comparative method. The experiences of the participants are reported in their own words. Their stories are descriptions of how they experienced the implementation of a second-order change in the evaluation of teachers in this small school division. Their experiences encompassed the entire process of change from the introduction of the change through the assimilation of the purposes and components of the new system and on to the training and support provided throughout the process. They described the changes in their responsibilities, their uncertainties, and their thoughts and feelings about the system as it moved toward institutionalization. And, they shared some recommendations for change in the process and the system. A model of change was derived from the participants' experiences and labeled the Legg Model of Change. / Ed. D.

Yes / Purpose – The extant gastronomy literature has rarely examined a connection between authentic gastronomic experiences and destinations. Specifically, ethnic enclaves, which are unique gastronomic and cultural destinations providing ethnic cuisine and cultural experiences to visitors, have been under-researched. Thus, the current study aims to address this knowledge gap. Design/methodology/approach – Employing a 2 (history: long vs short) x 2 (location: Central Business District [CBD] vs rural; main street vs alleyway) x 2 size/ownership type (big vs small; chain vs independent) between-subjects design, two experiments were conducted using a sample of 557 British consumers to test the effect of history, location, and size of ethnic enclaves and ethnic restaurants on consumers’ authentic cultural and gastronomic experiences in a UK context. Findings – In Study 1, ethnic enclave’s size affected consumers’ authentic cultural experiences. In Study 2, restaurants’ history and ownership type positively influenced consumers’ authentic gastronomic experiences. Both studies consistently reported the positive relationship between authentic experiences and behavioral intentions. Practical implications – For ethnic enclaves, the management team may consider expanding the size of ethnic enclaves to increase consumers’ authentic cultural experience. For those ethnic restaurants within the ethnic enclave, any independent or old ethnic restaurants should actively promote both characteristics in their marketing materials to create a feeling of offering authentic gastronomic experiences to customers. Originality/value – This study identified important ethnic enclave-related factors and ethnic restaurant-related factors forming consumers’ authentic cultural and gastronomic experiences.