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No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this multi-case study was to identify the influence of professional development experiences on the changing reading practices of third-grade teachers in low-performing schools. Schools were chosen to participate based upon a steady increase in reading achievement scores despite failing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and being placed within the Corrective Action Phase of No Child Left Behind. Six teachers from 4 schools were chosen as participants based on the changing reading practices they reported on an initial survey of 13 teachers. Interviews, observations, focus groups, and collection of archival data was completed over the course of 5 months in order to determine the influence of professional development on their reading practices. It was determined that teacher change following professional development is heavily influenced by the domain of power the directive or development is coming from. A continuum was developed to illustrate the relationship between these varying domains of power and their influence on changes made within reading practice. The changes were categorized as tending toward self-propelled or compelled changes. Teachers within this study reported higher levels of change when they were personally vested in professional development experiences and when those experiences met the immediate needs of their own personal growth or the growth of the students in their classroom. / by Michelle Vaughan. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2002. / Dao shi: Huang Xianhua jiao shou. 880-03 Includes bibliographical references.

操太聖. / 論文(哲學博士)--香港中文大學, 2003. / 參考文獻 (p. 233-247). / 中英文摘要. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Cao Taisheng. / Zhong Ying wen zhai yao. / Lun wen (zhe xue bo shi)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2003. / Can kao wen xian (p. 233-247).

The aim of the study was to investigate the current management of educational change in Tanzania, with specific reference to the Primary Educational Development Plan (PEDP) and relate it to the roles of different stakeholders in education reform in order to determine factors that underlie its success or failure. The problem was investigated by means of a literature survey and an empirical inquiry. The literature survey revealed that educational change management is a social phenomenon whose process is considered overlapping. Implementation of educational change requires knowledge and understanding of the change objectives and the roles necessary to sustain the change. This process requires a shared vision among the educational stakeholders. A qualitative inquiry using in-depth individual and focus group interviews was conducted to explore the experiences of people affected by the implementation of the PEDP in Tanzania. The sample was purposefully chosen and reflected a number of stakeholders on various levels. The empirical study revealed factors outside the country that influence the management of educational change. These include a change in global focus and donors’ influence. The implementation of educational change in Tanzania has also depended largely on an understanding of directives and guidelines provided by the headquarters. The achievements that have been made are mainly quantitative and unlikely to be sustained. A lack of motivation among teachers has resulted in their passive participation in the reform. The top-down management of the reform has also adversely affected the sustainability of the reform. The PEDP was intended to have grassroots participation with broad involvement of stakeholders in outcomes. However, PEDP has been top-down, removed from local context. The study concluded that the implementation of reform was done without clear direction and scope. Thus, the sustainability of the reform is uncertain. Following the findings, the study recommends a constant dialogue using interpersonal communication with stakeholders on the purposes, strategies and practical working environment of the reform. The study also recommends change agents operating at district and school levels and the provision of clear roles and functions to specific stakeholders. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Educational Management)

Growing out of the college retention research of Alexander Astin (1993) and Vincent Tinto (1975), this study examined differences in academic achievement and persistence of first-semester college freshmen who participated in Freshman Learning Communities (FLC), including a Living-Learning Community (LLC), and students who did not participate in a university-sponsored learning community. This study also explored variables that may moderate the relationship of learning community participation with academic achievement and persistence. Variables explored included: entry-level readiness for self-directed learning, gender, ethnicity, high school GPA, and SAT or equivalent ACT scores. Data was collected from 544 students at XYZ University using a pre/post university-developed instrument, the College Assessment of Readiness for Entering Students Intended (CARES-I), College Assessment of Readiness for Entering Students- Actual (CARES-A) and the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale/Learning Preference Assessment. Demographic and academic data were collected through the institution's Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Analysis. There was a statistically significant difference in academic achievement for students enrolled in either a Freshman Learning Community or a Living Learning Community (df = 424, t = 2.32, p < .05) as compared to students not part of a freshman learning community. The learning community students had higher end-of-semester grades. Multiple regression analysis was used to explore the moderating variables that may influence the learning community effect on academic achievement. Only the pre-academic characteristic of students' entering high school GPA moderated the relationship of learning community participation and academic achievement (p < .05). / Chi-square analysis showed there was no relationship between participation in a learning community and enrollment in the second semester (p > .05).Logistic regression of variable relations determined that the variables of high school GPA and ethnicity were significant. In addition, there was an association between the variables of SDLRS scores, high school GPA, and end-of-semester GPA for students not part of a learning community. Finally, results from a paired samples t-test determined that there was a difference in the intended and actual social involvement for students enrolled in a learning community. / by Jodie Jae Koerner. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

by Lam Tak Shing John. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-150). / Abstract also in Chinese. / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENT --- p.ii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / FIGURES --- p.vii / Abstract --- p.viii / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / The Hong Kong Education Context and Dropout Situation --- p.7 / Statement of the Problem --- p.13 / Purpose of this Study --- p.14 / Significance of the Study --- p.15 / Research Questions --- p.16 / Limitations of the Study --- p.16 / Chapter II. --- REVIEW OF LITERATURE / Introduction --- p.18 / Relevant theories / The Epidemilogical Concept of Students at Risk --- p.19 / Social Constructivist Model of Students at Risk --- p.20 / Alienation Theory and Finn's Participation-identification Model --- p.23 / Wehlage's Dropout Prevention Theory: School Membership and Educational Engagement --- p.27 / An Adapted and Integrated Explanatory Model of School Failure and Dropping Out --- p.30 / Chapter III. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY / Introduction --- p.33 / The Research Paradigms --- p.34 / Phenomenological Approach --- p.36 / Symbolic Interactionism --- p.36 / Subjects and sampling --- p.37 / Context of Study --- p.41 / Research Design and Method --- p.42 / Multiple-case-study method --- p.43 / Unit of analysis --- p.44 / Analytic Induction Method --- p.46 / Data Collection / Data collection methods --- p.50 / Focus Group Interview --- p.51 / Individual Interviews --- p.52 / Participant Observation --- p.52 / Analysis of physical artifacts --- p.55 / Data Analysis --- p.56 / Coding strategies --- p.57 / Enumeration --- p.57 / Typological analysis --- p.58 / Analytic induction --- p.59 / Triangulation and trustworthiness --- p.61 / Chapter IV. --- RESEARCH FINDINGS / Introduction --- p.64 / Research findings from various data collection methods --- p.65 / Participant Observation Findings --- p.65 / Focus Group Interview Findings --- p.69 / Non-participant Observation Findings --- p.69 / Interview Findings --- p.70 / Three Typical Cases --- p.75 / The Emergent Patterns/ Themes --- p.80 / Some Interim Conclusions --- p.88 / Categorization of perceptions --- p.92 / Summary of the Findings and their relations to the Research Questions --- p.95 / Propositions --- p.96 / Chapter V. --- DISCUSSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS / Introduction --- p.99 / School restructuring --- p.99 / School restructuring for at-risk students --- p.100 / Recommendations for Hong Kong school restructuring --- p.103 / Accommodation --- p.104 / Academic engagement --- p.108 / School social engagement and school organization --- p.111 / Teacher culture --- p.116 / Implications for teacher education and action research --- p.120 / "Other implication: A 'second Chance"" re-entry mechanism" --- p.121 / Conclusion --- p.123 / APPENDIX I Interview Guide --- p.126 / APPENDIX II Focus Group Interview Guide --- p.127 / APPENDIX III Case profiles of the subjects --- p.130 / References --- p.138