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This dissertation was the result of an investigation into the relative importance of construction as a curriculum organizer for the field of technology education. In particular, it concentrated on the relationship between construction technology and the principles of general education and technological literacy. The review of literature focused on the historic roles and meanings of this curriculum organizer and these principles as the discipline evolved from the industrial arts into technology education. Operational definitions were synthesized and the linkages between them was clearly identified. To address technology education's contribution to general education, or the full development of the human personality, the spheres of human/technology interaction model was developed. The model is based on the idea that people interact with technology and evaluate those interactions from three fundamental perspectives. Those perspectives were identified as the civic-life sphere, the personal-life sphere, and the work-life sphere. One hundred and forty-eight faculty members of technology teacher education programs in colleges and universities throughout the United States were surveyed. A 77% return rate was obtained. The survey included four major sections in addition to requesting limited information about the respondents and their programs. The four major sections asked the respondents to: 1) Evaluate potential goals for a K-12 technology education program. 2) Determine the relative importance of 10 study areas or curriculum organizers as they related to each of the three spheres of interaction. 3) Determine the percentage of the technology education curriculum that should be allocated to each of the three spheres of human/technology interaction. 4) Provide selected information about the way construction is offered and taught in technology teacher education programs. Medoid cluster analysis was used to evaluate the data derived from the goals of technology education portion of the survey. Using this information, three clusters were formed and initial respondent membership for each cluster was established. Subsequently, discriminant analysis was used to accomplish three goals: 1) Refine the initial assignment of respondents to the clusters. 2) Identify those variables that offered a significant level of discrimination between clusters. 3) Determine the accuracy of assignment to the clusters or groups. The canonical correlation 2, calculated by the discriminant analysis program, indicated that 66.3% of the variance was explained by the variables that were significant at a .05 level. After comparing the mean scores of the discriminating variables across the three clusters, one cluster was identified as favoring technological literacy, one favored industrial technology education, and one was ambivalent. T-tests were used to determine if any significant difference existed between clusters or groups. It was of particular interest to this research that no significant difference was found related to the relative importance of construction. All groups concluded that construction should comprise approximately 10% of the technology education curriculum. Finally, a schedule was established which allocated various percentages of the curriculum to each of the 10 study areas or curriculum organizers as they relate to the three spheres of human/technology interaction. This schedule was based on the relative importance assigned by the technological literacy cluster. The technological literacy cluster offered the most balanced allocation of the technology education curriculum across the three spheres of human/technology interaction. / Ph. D.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between teachers' safety attitudes and their instructional practices and to determine the relationship between teachers’ safety attitudes and instructional practices and the number of years of teaching and work experience they had gained. A survey instrument composed of an Attitude Inventory, an Instructional Practices Inventory, and a section on number of years of teaching and work experience was constructed and tested for this study. A panel of experts assisted in validating the content of the survey instrument and the grouping of items into the six categories: Safety Responsibility, Liability, Directing Learning, Laboratory Organization, Teaching Aids, and Pupil Personnel Services, Reliability was established through computation of the Cronbach Alpha coefficients. The survey instrument was mailed to a random selection of 285 of the 1068 industrial arts teachers listed in the Virginia Industrial Arts Teachers! Directory, 1978-79. Pearson correlation coefficients were computed for responses on the Attitude Inventory with those on the Instructional Practices Inventory for the Liability Category, the Teaching Aids Category and for the overall scores on each inventory. Additionally, correlations were computed for years of teaching experience and years of industrial work experience with responses on the Safety Attitude Inventory and the Instructional Practices Inventory overall and for two categories. The categories used in those comparisons were those which were found to have a meaningful reliability coefficient, Liability and Teaching Aids. Each of the total inventories had meaningful reliability coefficients. The analysis of data revealed little if any correlation (0.20) between overall responses to the Safety Attitude Inventory and overall responses to the Instructional Practices Inventory and little if any correlation between attitudes and instructional practices in the categories--Liability (0.17) and Teaching Aids (0.12). No significant relationship was found between number of years of teaching experience and overall responses to the Safety Attitude Inventory or to the Instructional Practices Inventory. No significant relationship was found between number of years of industrial work experience and overall responses to the Safety Attitude Inventory or to the Instructional Practices Inventory. Little if any correlation (0.19) was found between the Liability category of the Safety Attitude Inventory and work experience, and little if any correlation was found between the Liability category (0.17) and the Teaching Aids category (0.15) of the Instructional Practices Inventory and work experience. From the analysis of data it was concluded that: 1. Safety attitudes expressed by industrial arts education teachers may not be considered as predictors of their instructional practices relating to safety. 2. Industrial work experience is not an important variable in determining the safety attitudes or instructional practices of industrial arts education teachers. 3. The number of years of teaching experience gained by industrial arts education teachers has no effect on safety attitudes or instructional practices of industrial arts education teachers. / Ph. D.

This research endeavor generated seven generalizations regarding selected aspects of interdisciplinary teaming at the middle school level. The generalizations were developed in an effort to understand middle school mathematics, school science, and technology education teachers’ perceptions regarding teaming and interdisciplinary activity development. Four aspects of interdisciplinary teaming were studied. The first aspect examined the three groups’ perceptions regarding how interdisciplinary teaming affects schools. The second aspect explored how the three groups’ perceived interdisciplinary teaming influencing the professional lives of teachers. The third aspect examined how the three groups perceived the inclusion of technology education on interdisciplinary teams. The fourth aspect examined the three groups’ perceptions regarding the formation of interdisciplinary teams comprised of mathematics, school science, and technology education teachers. The purpose of the study was to provide practitioners and researchers, who have an interest in developing interdisciplinary programs, with information about individuals who have worked as members of interdisciplinary teams. All informants in this study participated in a one day interdisciplinary education workshop in March, 1993 and completed an interdisciplinary activity with a team of fellow teachers. A total of 41 informants including: 15 mathematics, 11 school science, and 14 technology education teachers completed a semi-structured telephone interview between June 27 and July 20, 1994 or January 16 and 20, 1995. A qualitative inquiry methodology, known as the Grounded Theory, was used to collect, analyze, and present the data. Four research questions and six hypotheses were written to facilitate the research. The researcher used the findings to develop the seven theories. The findings indicated middle school mathematics, school science, and technology education teachers held similar perceptions regarding selected aspects of interdisciplinary teaming. The three groups shared similar views regarding: (a) the school environment and school principals’ roles in interdisciplinary teaming, (b) how teaming influenced teachers’ perceptions of other school subjects, (c) the inclusion of technology education in interdisciplinary curriculum development, and (d) interdisciplinary teams which included mathematics, school science, and technology education. / Ph. D.

The dynamics of successfully integrating science, technology/engineering and math content, practice, and delivery in K-12 education is still evolving. "A number of questions remain about the best methods by which to effectively teach engineering at the K-12 level and how they play into the integration of other STEM disciplines" (Moore, Glancy, Tank, Kersten, Smith, and Stohlmann, 2014). The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) has declared that technology and engineering within STEM education as delivered by the technology education content area is defined by the Standards for Technological Literacy™ (ITEEA, 2000). Lack of applied technology/engineering pedagogical content knowledge via technology teacher collaboration may be excluding valuable contributions to more effective STEM teaching and learning. Absence of developed and identified perceptions resulting from such collaborations could be an impediment to application of valuable technology/engineering practices, beliefs, content, and structure within integrated STEM instruction. Collaboration inclusive of all STEM subject teachers is critical to effective practice and delivery of integrated STEM teaching. To achieve this, integrated STEM experiences need "to be researched and evaluated to build knowledge and understanding about the effectiveness of these experiences in promoting STEM learning and engagement within and across disciplines." (Honey et al., 2014). The purpose of this study was to examine and identify science, math, and technology education teacher perceptions of technology/engineering education influence within existing STEM collaborations. The objective was to provide useful information pertinent to further improving STEM education practice and effectiveness. A three round, mixed method, Delphi approach was employed to determine common perceptions among all STEM teachers included in this study. Consensus among study participants identified strategies specific to technology/engineering education that were perceived to positively impact STEM education. The results of this study illustrate that content, practice, and pedagogical attributes specific to technology education do exist and that those attributes are perceived to enhance student learning of STEM content and practice. Synthesized from initial qualitative responses in Round One, of the 28 presented technology/engineering strategies, 24 achieved consensus as determined by an applied two factor threshold of a 7.5 median agreement score and interquartile rating of 2.0 or less from among all participants. In a comparison of represented STEM subjects taught, there also appeared significant agreement among all groups. The level of agreement between science and the other groups was weakest, although still sizeable. Engineering design knowledge, skilled use of tools and materials to produce models and prototypes, promotion of designerly critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and both tacit and contextual knowledge of technology and engineering applications were found to be general themes specific to technology/engineering education teachers. / Doctor of Philosophy / The acronym STEM as it applies to education represents a theoretical and practical construct inclusive of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. While seemingly a straight-forward concept, wide-spread practice of integrating all of the incorporated subjects is infrequently evident. Inclusion of technology and engineering education subject matter is most often absent in STEM teaching. A myriad of factors such as historical practice, unequal numbers of available teachers across all STEM subjects, longstanding academic tradition, structural and procedural paradigms of school management, and general resistance to change appear to impinge on development of STEM models inclusive of technology/engineering education. Content and practice of all STEM subjects can be both autonomous and interdependent. A challenge is to both recognize the existence of subject specific content and practice while also developing understanding of how interdisciplinary relationships between STEM subjects can enhance teaching and learning. Lack of applied technology/engineering pedagogical content knowledge via technology/engineering teachers included within STEM collaborations may be excluding valuable contributions to more effective STEM teaching and learning. While instances of STEM teaching inclusive of technology/engineering education are not common, they do exist. Research is needed to identify content and practices specific to technology/engineering education toward determining if those elements positively impact STEM education. The purpose of this study was to identify science, math, and technology education teacher perceptions of technology/engineering education when included within existing STEM collaborations. The objective was to identify strategies specific to technology/engineering education perceived to positively impact STEM education experiences. STEM teachers of all subjects having participated in fully inclusive collaborations served as study participants and were queried to determine consensus regarding strategies specific to technology/engineering education that were perceived to positively impact STEM education. The results of this study determined content, practice, and pedagogical attributes specific to technology education. Based upon initial qualitative responses in Round One, 24 of 28 identified technology/engineering education strategies were agreed upon as attributes primary to technology/engineering education. Several themes emerged from the 24 strategies. These themes included engineering design knowledge, skilled use of tools and materials to produce models and prototypes, promotion of designerly critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and both tacit and contextual knowledge of technology and engineering applications. In comparisons organized by subject matter, there appeared significant levels of agreement between each of the groups.

The Technological Immersion Learning Theory (TILT) was developed through a classic grounded theory study in the seminal tradition of Glaser and Strauss (1967) and Glaser (1978, 1992, 1998, 2001, 2007). The purpose of the study was to investigate an exemplary case of self-determined technology enthusiasts in the hopes of generating a substantive grounded theory that conceptualizes their experiences and concerns. Twelve unstructured interviews of amateur radio enthusiasts from the eastern United States provided the initial / primary data for this study. Experimenting and self-teaching in technological activities was highlighted as the main concern of the participants. The basic social process (BSP) of technological immersion learning (TIL) emerged as a theoretical construct and core variable that illuminates the experiences of individuals immersed in a community of practice, where hands-on engagement with technology is a primary activity. Adventuring, Affirmation, Doing Technology, Experimenting, Overcoming Challenge, Self-teaching, and Social Networking were properties of technological immersion learning that interact dialectically in an amplifying causal loop, with Problem solving and Designing as active sub processes in response to unmet challenges. TIL occurs cyclically in three stages, beginning with Induction, a credentialing stage wherein the neophyte is prepared with the necessary knowledge and skill to become a novice participant in an activity. The transition from Induction into the Immersion phase is a status passage whereby the novice is absorbed into the technical culture of the group and commences autonomous active participation in hands-on experimenting. Hands-on experiences with experimenting, problem solving and social interactions provide diverse learning and affirmation for the doer and multiple sources of feedback that promote sustained engagement. The transition into the Maturation phase proceeds gradually over time, with prolonged engagement and cumulative gains in knowledge, skill, and experience. Maturation is a quasi-stable state that remains responsive to new contexts as a random-walk process, wherein trigger events can initiate new cycles of technological immersion learning in a perpetually evolving process of personal development. Engagement, Empowerment, and Self-Actualization are underlying dimensions of the TIL basic social process that provide the impetus for continued persistence and personal development. / Ph. D. / This research was undertaken to investigate the unique phenomenon of people who successfully pursue complex technological activities as a pastime, yet may possess no formal training in their field. This example of informal learning is little charted and warranted deeper study through grounded theory research. The study was conducted utilizing the classic grounded theory method that was pioneered by Glaser and Strauss in the 1960s for the specific purpose of generating theory from empirical data. The outcome of the study was the <i>Technological Immersion Learning Theory (TILT)</i>, a new theory of learning that highlights the importance of technological activities as a foundation for transdisciplinary learning. <i>TILT</i> is an organic theory of learning rigorously grounded in data to conceptualize the latent behavior patterns of individuals immersed in a community of practice devoted to hands-on experimenting and learning through technology. The technical, social, and psychological attributes of TILT illuminate complex technological environments where sustained engagement and multidimensional feedback can promote learning and personal development. As a basis of learning, technology is intertwined with virtually every aspect of human experience, transcending the artificial boundaries of academic disciplines. <i>TILT</i> offers an empirical model for the study of technology as a foundation of education relevant for the modern technological world.

The Internet is an integral part of higher education today. Students, faculty, and staff must have access to the institutional web for essential activities. For persons with disabilities, the web is a double-edged sword. While an accessibly designed website can mitigate or remove barriers, an inaccessible one can make access impossible. If websites that provide necessary information are not accessible, those with disabilities will be unable to independently complete their daily tasks or compete in the modern world. Project GOALS (Gaining Online Accessible Learning through Self-Study) has developed a document outlining a set of four institutional indicators of Web accessibility. Postsecondary institutions can use this document in their efforts to ensure that online content is accessible to all users. This dissertation evaluated the social validity of the document to determine if it was appropriate, understandable, usable, and satisfactory to provide a framework for implementing and promoting institution-wide web accessibility across a variety of demographic markers including job type (administrator, faculty, and technology specialist) and institution type (2- and 4-year). Ninety-seven participants reviewed the document and completed an online survey. All four indicators with their subsequent benchmarks were found to be "good" or "very good" based on the evaluation criteria. Administrators rated the document somewhat lower than faculty or technology specialists. Participants from 2-year schools consistently rated the document higher than their 4-year counterparts. In general, the longer participants had been in their positions, the less favorably they rated the document. The median ratings for all questions of appropriateness, understandability, usefulness, and satisfaction were a 6 or 7 on a 7-point scale across the board. This result would indicate that while different aspects of the indicator document may appeal to different groups, participant ratings across job and institution type show that these criteria achieve acceptable levels that validate the use of the indicators as a tool to assist institutions in their web accessibility efforts. This dissertation utilized the multiple-paper format recommended by the committee.

The main purpose of this study is to find out how technology as a school subject is formed into pedagogical action. Issues addressed are: – How does teaching in the school subject of technology differ in terms of content and process? – How do frame factors influence teaching in technology? As analytic tools, concepts from philosophical thought on technology and education as well as frame factor theory are used to throw light on the way technology education takes shape in the practices of two primary school teachers. The philosophical concepts employed and developed have been inspired by the thinking of Martin Heidegger and John Dewey. These con-cepts are “place” and “shaping of technology,” where the shaping of tech-no¬logy involves the following phases: formulation of the assignment, analysis, visualization/construction and evaluation/reflection. The basic questions are investigated in two case studies over a period of one year. Data is collected based on ethnographic methods and consists of observations, video recordings, documentation in the form of teachers’ diaries as well as pupils’ work, taped interviews with pupils, and interviews with the two teachers both before and after the project was finished. The overall results of the study show that the two teachers, to a different degree, use place, e.g. they try to use the children’s own experiences and the surrounding environment as a starting point in their teaching. They try to organize their teaching as a process of knowledge construction instead of as a process of transmission. In that process, different forms of represen¬tation are used, such as sketches, model constructions and written docu¬mentation, with the element of model construction providing a common denominator given the availability of tools and material. Another similarity between the practices is that the children are given opportunities to work at problem solving in cases where there are no given solutions. However, they enter problems due to their own embodiment in a pedagogy of transmission, which results in the fact that the shaping of technology becomes difficult to organize. Strict borders between subjects, the fragmented timetable of the school, and the organization of the classroom space and scarce equipment and materials all influence the possibilities of teaching in technology.