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This project investigates the benefits and practicality of applying Zimmerman's (1994) dimensions of self-regulated learning to co-curricular activities so as to increase students' willingness and opportunities to communicate in English in the hallways of intensive English programs. Three of these dimensions (social environment, motivation, and physical environment) work together to create a semi-structured liaison between in and out of class communicative environments and give students an occasion, location, and motivation to speak English with one another. To evaluate the effectiveness of such activities and conceptualize a means in which to assist intensive English programs effectively incorporate co-curricular activities in their curricula, the principal researcher designed and conducted a co-curricular activity based self-regulated learning. She obtained student feedback using surveys and interviews and found that the majority of students spoke mostly English, made new friends, practiced listening and speaking skills, and enjoyed themselves at this activity. As a result of this data, the principal researcher created a booklet to assist in the planning of future co-curricular activities. While only a preliminary study, this data and resulting booklet have great potential to fill the hallways of intensive English programs with English and thus create a holistic learning environment.

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The ubiquitous nature of digital and social media has had a tremendous impact on higher education. In essence, these new pedagogical media has required faculty members to learn new methodologies to deliver their course content—often through distance education approaches. Transactional Distance Theory, designed by distance research scholar Michael Moore, is the preferred framework for instructional design for distance education. Even though there are examples of student affairs educators teaching students online, there are limited references to distance learning theory as a foundation for the work they are doing. This study was designed to explore the ways in which two online orientation co-curricular educational opportunities (CCeOs) created for student affairs departments adhere to the tenets of Moore's Transactional Distance Theory. In addition, a secondary purpose was to identify tangible examples that could inform an operationalize definition of Moore's Transactional Distance Theory for application in student affairs online CCeO development and, ultimately, enhance learning efficacy for these online educational programs, which is the purpose of an instructional design theory. The theoretical framework for this study was Moore's Transactional Distance theory. Document analysis was used to assess and interpret materials from two online orientation programs. The findings of this investigation reveal the existence of two online CCeOs created by, or for, student affairs educators that adhere in significant, although limited, ways to a pedagogical theory traditionally used in online course design. / Ph. D. / Distance education is a growing field. Those responsible for the development of academic courses have sought out theories to guide their practice. Transactional Distance Theory, designed by distance research scholar Michael Moore, is the preferred framework for instructional design for distance education. There are also examples of student affairs professionals teaching students online. However, there are limited references to distance learning theory as a foundation for the work they are doing. This study was designed to explore the ways in which two online orientation programs created for student affairs departments adhere to the tenets of Moore’s Transactional Distance Theory. In addition, a secondary purpose was to identify tangible examples that could inform an operationalize definition of Moore’s Transactional Distance Theory for application in student affairs and, ultimately, enhance learning efficacy for these online educational programs, which is the purpose of an instructional design theory. The theoretical framework for this study was Moore’s Transactional Distance theory. Document analysis was used to assess and interpret materials from two online orientation programs. The findings of this investigation reveal the existence of two orientation programs created by, or for, student affairs educators that adhere in significant, although limited, ways to a pedagogical theory traditionally used in online course design.

Employability skill development is being increasingly investigated among higher education scholars, corporate hiring managers, and governments around the world. Understanding employability skill development is important because it has implications on educational policy, teaching techniques, curriculum designs, and recruitment practices. This study was conducted at a public research university in a southwestern state of the United States. It was designed to understand the difference in employability skill development among students who participated in a leadership development program compared to those who did not. Additionally, the study investigated what skills were seeing the most change among student participated in the leadership development program, and if a student's major of study played any role in their overall employability development over the course of a year. Eight employability skills were tested in a pre- and post-test model. Results indicated that students in leadership development programs are more likely to see an increase in employability skill development. From the skills tested among participates, those in the leadership program found the most change over time in the area of problem solving skills. Finally, the results also indicate that a student's major does have an impact on their overall employability skill development. Students who major in business had significantly higher employability scores than those in other majors at the university.

Experiential opportunities at the secondary level give students the 'intimate and necessary relation between the processes of actual experience and education' (Dewey, 1938, p. 19-20). Career and Technical Education classes (CTE) and co-curricular experiences, one type of experiential learning, underpin and cultivate student curiosity and often channel interests into STEM-related post-secondary disciplines and career choices. There is little existent research on the characteristics of exemplary experiential learning opportunities and the impact on stakeholders. This study is intended to identify the qualities and characteristics of an exemplary secondary experience through the lived experiences of the stakeholders; students, STEM-related teachers, and CTE/STEM Administrators. A qualitative research design was used to examine characteristics and implications for students of four STEM-related programs throughout Virginia. Conclusions from the study include fundamental principles for providing exemplary experiential STEM-related learning opportunities. These principles include: providing hands-on, real world learning opportunities for students, providing learning opportunities that will enhance student ownership in their learning, providing unique and comprehensive career exploration opportunities for students, providing a schedule for teachers that will give them time to plan, deliver, and manage exemplary experiential learning opportunities, providing continual teacher and administrator in-service training relative to planning and implementing exemplary experiential learning opportunities, investing appropriate funds for providing exemplary experiential learning opportunities. Establishing and maintaining active partnerships with business/industry and colleges/universities, and maintaining active advisory communities, providing appropriate staff to support the provision of exemplary experiential learning opportunities is needed. The need for adequate funding, improving perception of CTE and STEM programs, and small class sizes was also recommended. / Ph. D. / Experiential opportunities at the secondary level give students the “intimate and necessary relation between the processes of actual experience and education” (Dewey, 1938, p. 19- 20). Career and Technical Education classes (CTE) underpin and cultivate student curiosity and often channel interests into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)-related college and career choices. There is little existent research on the characteristics of exemplary experiential learning opportunities and the impact on stakeholders. This study is intended to identify the qualities and characteristics of an exemplary secondary experience through the lived experiences of students, STEM-related teachers, and CTE/STEM Administrators. A qualitative research design was used to examine characteristics and implications for students of four STEM-related programs throughout Virginia. Conclusions from the study include fundamental principles for providing exemplary experiential STEM-related learning opportunities. These principles include: providing hands-on, real world learning opportunities for students, providing learning opportunities that will enhance student ownership in their learning, providing unique and comprehensive career exploration opportunities for students, providing a schedule for teachers that will give them time to plan, deliver, and manage <i>exemplary experiential</i> learning opportunities, providing continual teacher and administrator in-service training relative to planning and implementing exemplary experiential learning opportunities, investing appropriate funds for providing <i>exemplary experiential</i> learning opportunities. Establishing and maintaining active partnerships with business/industry and colleges/universities, and maintaining active advisory communities, providing appropriate staff to support the provision of <i>exemplary experiential</i> learning opportunities is needed. The need for adequate funding, improving perception of CTE and STEM programs, and small class sizes was also recommended.

The diversity of the undergraduate student population encourages understanding of others and provides opportunities for students to challenge their assumptions of cultures, political and religious views, values, and personal backgrounds. However, it also creates challenges for academic and student success as faculty and administrators struggle to meet different generational and cultural needs. A broader, more inclusive definition of student success may help meet the needs of a more modern complex institutional student demographic. It may also allow for new avenues of research specifically related to success for Black, Hispanic, and White undergraduate male students, as these students continue to struggle in higher education (Bailey & Moore, 2004; Barker & Avery, 2012; Conger & Long, 2010; Harper, 2006b; Harper & Kuykendall, 2012; Kuh & Love, 2000; Kuh et al., 2007; Sax & Arms, 2006; Sax & Harper, 2007; Spruhill, Hirt, & Mo, 2014; Strayhorn, 2010a; Sutton & Kimbrough, 2001). Meanwhile, the concept of globalization and global citizenship are being integrated into higher education at many levels in both academic and student affairs. Many institutions are integrating these concepts into policies and programs, which provide opportunities for diverse interactions, conversations, and experiences. Informal interactional diversity, which is defined as “the opportunity to interact with students from diverse backgrounds in the broad, campus environment” (Gruin, 1999, para. 4), is a concept related to globalization and global citizenship, but not much research exists to show how it might impact student success. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to further explore informal interactional diversity in Black, Hispanic, and White undergraduate males and its possible relationship to the multi-faceted nature of student engagement. The resulting framework for this study was built around Tinto’s (1993) theory of social integration, Astin’s (1993a) theory of student involvement, and persistence research by Pascarella and Terenzini (1991) because these models highlighted important environmental factors that informed research on informal interactional diversity. In this quantitative study, the researcher utilized a purposeful, national sample of secondary data from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to analyze levels of informal interactional diversity in Black, Hispanic, and White undergraduate men. The sample included 3,613 Black, Hispanic, and White undergraduate men who were enrolled at five participating large, public predominantly White institutions (PWIs) in the United States and completed the survey with an appended Experiences with Diverse Perspectives topical module in 2013 and 2014. The majority of the males in the sample were White and classified as seniors, or fourth-year undergraduate students (n = 1,830). Statistical analyses, such analysis of variances (ANOVAs) and multiple regressions tests, were conducted to examine the relationships between variables (informal interactional diversity, classification in college, and student engagement). Results of the analysis indicated the relationships between informal interactional diversity, male ethnic group, and student engagement were statistically significant. Additionally, findings indicated there was a significant relationship between levels of informal interactional diversity and classification in college, as well as classification in college and male ethnic group. Implications for future research based on the findings of this study included: a) investigating how reflective and integrative learning, as well as supportive environment, affect engagement for the undergraduate male populations studied; b) examining why decreases in qualitative reasoning, effective teaching practices, and collaborative learning occur for these undergraduate male populations; c) investigating these variables using samples of participants at different types of institutions; and d) conducting a mixed-methods study with a qualitative portion, or a purely qualitative study, focused on male student perceptions of informal interactional diversity, student engagement, and campus climate or race relations at PWIs to gain more insight on the lived experience of Black, Hispanic, and White males. The conclusion of this research study was that the findings support much of the literature related to informal interactional diversity, as well as the success of Black, Hispanic, and White males.

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This thesis explored the ways in which co-curricular programming affected students' development through a case study of the Mountains, Ocean, Valley Experience (MOVE) program at University of the Pacific. This study assessed the learning outcomes related to the MOVE program based on the student participants' perceptions of development and learning. In addition to finding support for most of the program identified learning outcomes, themes including the development of self-awareness, meaningful relationship cultivation, and a connection to the university emerged. Leadership development was also explored as it pertains to this program. Students at this particular institution appeared to begin transitioning through leadership identity development as defined by Komives et al. (2006) in terms of their understanding of the concept of leadership. Implications for future research and practice are also discussed.

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