The current study focused on the extent to which participation in academically rigorous college preparatory programs, International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Advanced Placement (AP) particularly, impacts students from racially diverse backgrounds (Caucasian, African American, Asian American and Hispanic/Latino American). Student outcomes of interest included the program satisfaction, school climate perceptions (relationships with peers and teachers), and psychoeducational adjustment (academic and mental health functioning). The experiences of 381 college preparatory participants were also compared to 143 general education peers and subjected to a series of MANOVAs and ANOVAs. General findings indicated that, regardless of the student's racial identity, students in AP and IB had very positive experiences in terms of high academic achievement, healthy student-teacher and student-peer relationships, and no mental ill health (no stress, anxiety or depression). Limitations, implications and future directions are also discussed.

Leadership courses are emerging across higher education institutions taking various shapes and forms. Some are coordinated and run by faculty sometimes leading to a minor, major, or certificate. Others are coordinated by student affairs professionals. The focus of this study is to understand the experiences that student affairs professionals have in implementing and coordinating leadership courses in academic units. Because on many campuses leadership courses are being implemented by student affairs professionals, there are distinctive intricacies involved. Plagued by the complexity of the inter-profession relationship between student affairs and faculty, implementing and coordinating courses is not a simple matter. In addition to learning about student affairs professionals' experiences, this study also shares strategies that these professionals use in trying to implement and coordinate leadership courses in academic units. Drawing from literature on the professions as well as leadership development helps shed light on the complex dynamics underlying the course implementation and coordination process. Implications for both research and practice are included.

Eight home economics teachers and I took up the invitation of Coulter (1993) to explore the work of Mikhail Bakhtin as a way of making us more "wide awake" (Greene, 1978) and "answerable" (Clark & Holquist, 1984) for our teaching and researching practices. The study involved learning from our own experiences inquiring into global home economics education. We met as a group once a month, and I met periodically with each teacher, for one semester. Using action research, conceptualized as grounded ethical practice, the research methods were primarily dialogues as conversational inquiry, whereby greater emphasis was given to listening and hearing than ocularcentric methods of gathering data. The three research questions that guided the study related to learning from experience in: the substantive area, in this case developing curriculum for a global perspective in home economics; the action research process, in this case as a process to effect a specific educational change; and the self or personal growth, in this case primarily professional development (Reinharz, 1992). This research report includes narrative and reflective accounts from three forms of action research within the study: teachers cooperating with an outside researcher where the researcher defines the topic and purpose of the research; teachers collaborating with a researcher where the research is seen as mutually beneficial and the topics and purposes are jointly defined; and teachers defining and conducting their own research independently or in collaboration with one another. It captures the diversity and complexity of the teachers' and the researcher's experiences and explores some of the struggles, the tensions, and the inner turmoil associated with action research for educational change. As a result of this research, we have become more consciously intentional in our practices and more thoughtful and reflective of their consequences. The phrase theorizing practice/practicing theorizing captures this notion as the teachers and I turned/retumed to the ethical questions that hold us in education.

Darbe nagrinėjamos Lietuvos aukštojo mokslo institucijose naudojamos nuotolinio mokymo(si) (NM) kursų kūrimo sistemos ir jų technologiniai aspektai, galimos perspektyvos bei naujų technologinių idėjų, siekiant efektyvesnio kursų kūrimo sistemų panaudojimo įgyvendinant specifinius besimokančiųjų poreikius, realizacijos galimybės. Darbe supažindinama kas tai yra NM kursų rengimo sistema, kuri leidžia sukurti ir studijuoti mokymosi medžiagą, tokiu laiku ir tokia sparta, kurie besimokančiajam yra patogūs ir atitinka jo galimybes ir poreikius. Aptariama, kokios atsiveria naujos edukacinės galimybės, įvaldžius tam tikros kursų kūrimo sistemos įrankius. Reikia pažymėti, kad NM šiuo metu yra viena iš prioritetinių kiekvienos šalies švietimo sistemos plėtros krypčių. Darbe išsamiai apžvelgiamos priemonės, naudojamos NM kursų kūrime. / This work will present the analysis of Distance Education (DE) course development systems used in Lithuania and their technological aspects, as well as possible perspectives of realization of new ideas. The first chapter includes definition of DE course development system, which comprises the system that allows development of learning material, participation in learning process and study the material within the preferred time, pace and place that suite the needs of individual learners‘ needs and expectations. New possibilities that are opened with the help of course development systems are also discussed. It is worth noticing that DE is the prioritable development area in Education system in every country. Four main tools will be presented in this work, which are the key tools for DE course development. The second chapter deals with the course development system technological aspects, shortcomings and possibilities. Two types of criteria – educational and technological – are emphasized, and course development systems are analyzed and compared on the basis of these criteria groups.

This research project investigated girls' perceptions of specialist computer courses in secondary schools. Literature both international and in New Zealand indicate a dwindling number of females pursuing study and careers in ICT. This project identified some of the factors influencing girls' choices to take computer courses; their perceptions on computer careers and the implications for teachers and schools. The research was based on a collective case study with embedded cases. Data was collected from a survey using a mind map and questionnaire, as well as semi-structured face-to-face interviews. A descriptive narrative derived from the interviews with five of the participants is presented as well as cross case analysis for more than five participants. Overall the students' accounts revealed complex, inter-related and disparate data regarding their perceptions of computing. The data revealed confusion with language and terminology; a perception of variance in levels of knowledge and abilities in specific courses; stereotypical perceptions of computing; and differences in experience, relevance and choices within the computing context. The study highlights issues related to the association of computing with science and mathematics; girls' perceptions of the relevance and content of computer courses; genderrelated issues with computing; apparent lack of knowledge of computer careers and how schools label and describe their computer courses. It also puts forward some implications for schools and suggests some actions that schools could take as a starting point to try and break down some of the stereotypes and myths that seem to be discouraging girls into specialist computer courses.

På ingenjörsutbildningar får studenter fördjupa sina kunskaper i programmets senare del i form av specialinriktningar eller valbara kurser. Detta är något som inte är tillgängligt för studenter som läser till sjöingenjör vid Sjöfartshögskolan i Kalmar men något som infördes på sjöingenjörsutbildningen vid Chalmers Tekniska Högskola 2009. Studiens syfte är att undersöka intresset för valbara kurser på 7,5 högskolepoäng (hp) vardera för sjöingenjörsstudenter vid Sjöfartshögskolan i Kalmar. En enkätstudie svarade på frågorna om vilka ämnesområden som var av intresse, hur många kurser eleven ville läsa, när under utbildningen önskas kursen läsas, om intresset för valbara kurser saknas och i så fall varför. Resultatet av undersökningen visade att de ämnesområden som är av störst intresse för studenterna på grundnivå är offshore/oljerigg och landkurser. På fördjupningsnivå är el- och reglerteknik samt maskinteknik önskvärda. Studien visade att studenterna vill läsa två valbara kurser under utbildningens sista termin. Det går inte att få ett svar på varför studenterna inte vill införa valbara kurser p.g.a. stor spridning av svaren. / In engineering courses, students deepen their knowledge in the later part of the program in form of specializations or elective courses. This is something that is not available to students who study for marine engineer at Kalmar Maritime Academy, a situation that has been present at Chalmers University of Technology since 2009. The purpose of the study is to explore the interest in elective courses of 7.5 credits apiece for marine engineer students at Kalmar Maritime Academy. A questionnaire study was carried out to ascertain as to wheather which topics were of interest, how many courses the student wanted to read, the durability of the course, if interest in the elective course was missing, and if so why. The survey results showed that the subjects of most interest to students at the bachelor level were offshore/oil rig and ashore courses. At the advanced level, electric and control engineering together with mechanical engineering were desirable. The study showed that students want to read two elective courses during the last term. A result cannot be obtained as to why students do not wish to introduce elective courses, this can be attributed to the large spread of responses.

The term technology indicates the process where knowledge, skills and resources are applied to identify human problems and needs and to solve it through analysis, planning, manufacturing, implementation and evaluation. Technology education of the learner is important because it becomes necessary for all people to become technological literate to be able to solve problems, to understand and use technology responsibly and to show appreciation for the interaction between man, technology and the environment. Technology is a relative new learning area that was implemented in the curriculum of the Intermediate and Senior phase. The problem is that educators, who received training before the implementation of this learning area, are not specifically trained for this learning area. These educators are specialized in other subject disciplines than the one needed for the teaching of technology. It is important for educators to have adequate subject knowledge and skills, as well as subject specific pedagogical knowledge and skills to teach the subject effectively. Qualified educators can be retrained in a new subject field by attending in-service training courses. In-service training in the South-African school system is currently uncoordinated. is done in an ad-hoc way and is not regarded as part of the professional development of educators. It is especially short courses that show shortcomings with regard to the needs of the educators, time available and form of training. Educators who do attend in-service courses experienced problems to implement the new knowledge and skills in the school situation, due to a lack of support. The need for a comprehensive short course model based on the specific needs of learning area technology teachers was identified. A situation analyses where learning area technology subject advisors as well as the learning area technology teachers were involved, were done, after which a model was presented. The model is based on four variables, namely context, process, strategy and structure, and content. These four variables determine the further development of the model and influence the outcomes, design, implementation, evaluation and closing. Central to the model is the reflection that is integrated with each phase of the model. Through critical reflection problems in each phase can be identified in time after which the necessary adaptations could be made. This will contribute in making sure that training is still done according to the specific participants needs and that it is done as effectively as possible. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Often academic departments have little knowledge about the course content that is presented by similar departments at other universities. This study aims to investigate the economics curricula offered by South African universities in order to contribute to the quality and content of the economics courses. International best practices with regard to the structure and content of, as well as the logistics behind an economics curriculum are identified, and the economics curricula offered by South African universities are compared to these international best practices. This study is attempted through gathering of available open source information as well as conducting a survey study to determine the status quo situation with regard to various issues relating to the economics curricula offered at South African universities. In terms of the structure of an economics curriculum, a benchmark tree structure is drawn from international best practices. To compare the structure of the economics curricula offered by the South African universities included in this study to international best practices, a tree structure of each university's curriculum is drafted in the same format as the benchmark tree structure. These tree structures are used to determine how each university's curriculum complies to international best practices. The textbooks that are used in a course are thought to be an indication of the content of that course. Therefore, the textbooks that are used by the different universities in each course are indicated in this study. With regard to the logistical aspects of an economics curriculum, e.g. student/lecturer ratios, the actual situation at most universities differs substantially from international best practices. International best practices suggest class sizes of no more than 25 students. Student-lecturer ratios in economics courses offered by South African universities are far remote from this. / Thesis (M.Com. (International Commerce))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Darbo tikslas - Įvertinti besilaukiančių ir neseniai pagimdžiusių moterų pasitenkinimą nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymų kursais. Darbo uždaviniai: išanalizuoti nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymų kursų prieinamumą kūdikio besilaukiančioms moterims; nustatyti priežastis, skatinančias besilaukiančias moteris lankyti nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymus; įvertinti mokymuose dalyvavusių moterų nuomonę apie vykdomus mokymus. Tyrimo objektas: Nėščiosios ir neseniai pagimdžiusios moterys. Tyrimo metodika: Atlikta anoniminė momentinė anketinė apklausa trijose gydymo įstaigose 2013 m. vasario-kovo mėnesiais. Išdalinta 300 anketų (atsako dažnis - 60,7 proc.). Klausimyną sudarė 26 klausimai apie nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymus, jų lankymo priežastis, kursų privalumus bei trūkumus. Statistinė duomenų analizė atlikta naudojant SPSS software for Windows programą. Statistinių duomenų reikšmingumas vertintas 2 kriterijumi, skirtumas laikytas reikšmingu, kai p<0,05. Rezultatai. Daugiau nei pusė respondenčių (66,5 proc.) teigė, kad nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymų kursų nelankė, likusioji dalis (33,5 proc.) atsakė, kad tokiuose kursuose teko dalyvauti. Moterys, įgijusios auštąjį universitetinį išsilavinimą, 7 kartus dažniau lankė kursus, skirtus nėščiosioms, negu turinčios žemesnį išsilavinimo lygį Didelė dalis neseniai pagimdžiusiųjų nežinojo apie galimybę lankyti nėščiųjų sveikatos mokymų kursus (19,2 proc.), o moterys, kurios gimdė ne pirmą kartą, teigė, kad nėra poreikio eiti į tokius kursus, kitos neturėjo tam laiko, jėgų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Aim of the study. To evaluate satisfaction of health courses of the women that have recently given birth. Objectives of the study. To analyze the availability of health courses for pregnant women; to define reasons that force pregnant women to attend health courses for pregnant women; to evaluate opinions about the courses of the attendees. Object of the study. Women that have recently given birth Kaunas city. Methods. The survey of women that have recently given birth was carried out in February and March of 2013. There were 300 questionnaires distributed to the patients (response rate was percent.). The questionnaire included 26 questions about health courses for pregnant women, reasons that force pregnant women to attend health courses and also about advantages and disadvantages of those courses. SPSS statistical software package was used for statistical data analysis. Chi Square (2) test was applied for evaluation of statistical significance. The data was considered as statistically significant, when p< 0, 05. Results. More than half of the respondents (66.5%) stated that they did not attend training courses for pregnant women, the remainder (33.5%) responded that they did participate in such courses. According to the survey those women who had higher education degree (University degree) attended such courses 7 times more often, than those with lower education. Big part of recently given birth women did not know of the option to attend such courses (19.2%), on the other... [to full text]

Thesis (M.A.T.) -- School for International Training, 2007. / Advisor -- Bonnie Mennell Includes bibliographical references (leaf 95).