Academic advising for online learners has been identified in prior research as an important student service. However, little research exists to assist advisers in knowing how best to serve this growing group. The purpose of this study is to close that research gap by determining if and how online and on-campus learners differ in how they rate the importance of various functions of academic advising as well as determining if their frequency of access to academic advising and source of advising information differed. Additionally, the research examines if the types and levels of learning for online learners varied by frequency of advising, source of advising information, and satisfaction with advising received. Participants in the non-experimental, survey-based, exploratory research study include 6,368 undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor's degree at three public institutions including two four-year institutions and one community college. Participants received a survey asking them about their experiences with and attitudes towards academic advising. Results indicate that online and on-campus learners differ in how they rate the relative importance of the different functions of academic advising and that those differences are uniquely related to learners' status as online learners. Additionally, online learners reported more of the types of learning expected from academic advising when they received their advising from an adviser as opposed to advising tools (e.g., web sites, advising guidelines) or their informal social networks, when they were advised more frequently, and when they were satisfied with the advising they received. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.

A large percent of high school students in New Jersey aged 12 -17 can benefit from seeing their school counselor. The problem is that without teacher referrals, many students with unidentified mental health disorders may not receive the needed early intervention services. Limited research exists as to which factors may influence a teacher to refer a student to a school counselor. Framed with cognitive behavioral theoretical foundation, a cross sectional survey design study investigated how teachers' perception of school counselors influence teachers' willingness to refer to a school counselor, as measured by the Counselor Rating Form - Short Edition. Using a stratified cluster sampling method, 55 licensed New Jersey school teachers participated in the study. To assess the relationship between the results of the Counselor-Rating Form - Short Edition, and teacher made student referrals linear regression was used. In this study, a simple correlation between the CRF-S score and the number of referrals was found to be significant, r = .338, p = 0.012. Further, the scores on the CRF-S could be a significant predictor of making a referral, F(1, 53) = 6.825, p = 0.012, R2 = 0.114. This information could be used to infuse counselor education curriculum designed to increase teacher and school counselor conversations, and ultimately provide information to school counselors that may increase the rate of teacher-made referrals of students to school counseling for mental health services.

The role and function of school counselors remains a consistent source of concern in the school counseling profession. Aligning school counseling activities with comprehensive school counseling practice is a way to standardize the profession. Creating a school board policy for counseling is a strategy to gain support for and institutionalize school counseling practices. The purpose of this dissertation study was to produce two manuscripts related to the role and function of school counselors and school board policies for counseling. The researcher investigated school board members' (N = 169) and school counselors' (N = 341) perceptions of school board knowledge of comprehensive school counseling program activities, school board prioritization of those activities, and school board adoption of policies and actions related to school counseling. The school board perception survey and school counselor perception survey were modified versions of the School Counselor Activity Rating Scale. This research suggested that school counselors were more likely to rate school board members' knowledge of and level of priority for school counseling activities lower than school board members rated themselves. This research also suggested that there was a direct relationship between school board members' knowledge of and level of priority they assign to school counseling activities. / Graduation date: 2013

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

La Tesis versa sobre la transición académica en la educación media chilena desde la formación general hacia la modalidad diferenciada humanística científica ó técnico profesional, originada con la reforma curricular de 1998. Se inicia con una perspectiva general de la educación secundaria ante los desafíos de la globalización en los contextos mundial, latinoamericano, nacional y regional para centrarse en la educación media municipalizada de Temuco, Chile y los problemas de calidad y equidad, y en forma consecuente diversas propuestas surgidas de la política gubernamental para afrontarlos. El tema de la transición se aborda desde su conceptualización teórica, características del proceso, características del estudiantado en transición, algunos enfoques teóricos e investigaciones que dan cuenta del estado del arte. Sus objetivos apuntaron a conocer y analizar las dimensiones y variables personales, socio-familiares y socio-educativas que intervienen en la transición académica del alumnado al 3er año de educación media municipalizada de Temuco, en ambas modalidades de enseñanza, conocer comprensivamente su percepción sobre el proceso y proponer líneas generales de intervención de orientación y tutoría. En los procedimientos metodológicos se aplicó un cuestionario, validado para la realidad chilena, a estudiantes de 3os años de educación media municipalizada de la ciudad de Temuco y se trabajó con grupos focales. Los datos se procesaron e interpretaron con procedimientos de análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo, cuyos resultados se ilustran con numerosas tablas y gráficos. Se entregan resultados, conclusiones y sugerencias que destacan el rol que debería tener la orientación y tutoría como proceso de ayuda al estudiantado en transición académica. La Tesis se desarrolló en el Programa de Doctorado: Calidad Educativa para un Mundo Plural dictado por la Universidad de Barcelona en la Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile. / The thesis deals with the academic transition Chilean secondary education from general education to a separate part or professional technical scientific humanist, originated with the curriculum reform of 1998. It begins with an overview of secondary education to the challenges of globalization in the global context, Latin American, national and regional level to focus on secondary education municipalized of Temuco, Chile and the quality and equity issues, and consistently different proposals from government policy to address them. The issue of transition is approached from the theoretical conceptualization, process characteristics, characteristics of students in transition, some theoretical approaches and research that reflect the state of the art. Its objectives were aimed at understanding and analyzing the dimensions and personality variables, social and socio-educational family involved in students' academic transition to middle school 3rd year municipalized of Temuco, in both forms of education, knowledge comprehensively on their perception Overall process and propose intervention counseling and tutoring. In the methodological procedures applied a questionnaire validated for the Chilean, 3rd place students from middle school years municipalized of the city of Temuco and worked with focus groups. The data were processed and interpreted with procedures quantitative and qualitative analysis and the results are illustrated with numerous tables and graphs. Delivered results, conclusions and recommendations that highlight the role that should have the guidance and mentoring as a process aid to students in academic transition. The thesis developed in the PhD Program: Quality Education for a Plural World dictated by the University of Barcelona at the University of La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.

Assignments and organizations working with exposed women are more and more common in the Swedish society. Both authorities and nonprofit organizations are working actively to strengthen women’s position in the labor market through incentives and other measures. The study shows that the work with exposed women takes place in cooperation between the parties involved. The purpose of this qualitative study was to look into how the professionals were working with exposed women, in different types of organizations. The study focuses on highlighting techniques, qualifications, approaches and cooperation partners within organizations working with exposed women. The study has been related to the Swedish Social law, related reports, Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Constructivist counseling. The study shows that the professionals working with exposed women are using the Motivational Interviewing method and have a Constructivist approach. The study also shows that response when meeting exposed women, education, experience, knowledge of exposed women's vulnerability, and knowledge of women's options in the society are important qualifications. Finally the relevance between the conclusions of the study and the profession of educational counseling and career counseling are discussed. / Uppdrag och verksamheter som arbetar med utsatta kvinnor är alltmer vanligt i det svenska samhället. Både myndigheter och ideella organisationer arbetar aktivt för att öka de utsatta kvinnornas ställning på arbetsmarknaden. Arbetet är utformat genom varierande insatser och åtgärder. Studien visar att arbetet med de utsatta kvinnorna sker i samverkan mellan de inblandade parterna. Syftet med denna kvalitativa studie var att undersöka de professionella som arbetar med utsatta kvinnor i verksamheter, angående deras arbetsätt. Studien fokuserar på att lyfta fram metoder, kompetenser, förhållningssätt och samarbetspartners inom verksamheter för utsatta kvinnor. Undersökningen har relaterats till Socialtjänstlagen, anknytande rapporter, Motiverande samtal (MI) och den konstruktivistiska vägledningen. Studien visar att intervjupersonerna som arbetar med utsatta kvinnor arbetar utifrån samtalsmetoden MI och har ett konstruktivistiskt förhållningssätt. Vidare visar studien att bemötande, utbildning, erfarenheter, kunskap om kvinnors utsatthet samt kunskap om kvinnors valmöjligheter är viktiga kompetenser. Avslutningsvis diskuteras slutsatsernas relevans för studie- och yrkesvägledarprofessionen.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a school-based Community Conferencing program utilized in response to student acts of misconduct or violence. The satisfaction levels of the various participants involved, the effects on suspension and expulsion rates, the rates of recidivism, the types and follow through of restoration agreements made, and the offences that respond best to Community Conferences were examined. Role-specific surveys were administered to the various participants in 12 Community Conferences with 105 surveys completed immediately following the Conference and 70 surveys completed via telephone four weeks after the completion of the Conference. Data were analyzed using descriptive, qualitative, and chi-square methods of analyses. This study provides evidence for the success and satisfaction of incorporating this type of restorative programming into current philosophies and policies within school divisions as an alternative to zero tolerance policies. Participants in various roles reported satisfaction with several aspects of the Conference and its outcome, positive personal changes resulting from the Conference, and positive experiences overall regarding participation. Additionally, a potential decrease in the use of suspension and expulsion, provides further support for its use. The findings of this study provide a baseline for satisfaction levels, types of restoration agreements made, and rates of recidivism regarding school-based Community Conferences. Results can aid in the process of decision-making for those considering the use of restorative programming in schools. Due to the high rates of overall satisfaction, the model used in this research by the Edmonton Public School Division, along with the suggestions made by the researcher, can provide a representation upon which others can base implementation of a similar program. / xv, 306 leaves ; 29 cm. --