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This study was designed to explore adolescents’ educational and career aspirations. The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) was used as a framework, and the variables were selected with empirical and theoretical support for their possible significance to the career aspirations of Hong Kong high school students. Two separate studies were conducted. In study I, the Chinese Career Aspiration Scale (CAS) and Career-Related Parent Support Scale (CRPSS) were developed. In addition, the existing Academic Development Self-Efficacy Inventory (AD-SEI) and Career Development Self-Efficacy Inventory (CD-SEI) were simplified for this study. The four measures were validated using a sample of 677 Secondary Four students. The sample was randomly divided into two sub-sets. The first sub-set was used to explore the construct validity, while the second sub-set was used for further validation. The results of the exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the Chinese CAS was an adequate indicator for assessing Chinese high school students’ educational and career aspirations. The Chinese CRPSS also could provide an adequate indicator for assessing career-related parental support of Chinese high school students. It was also found that the AD-SEI and CD-SEI measures could be adequately represented by the simplified versions. The reliability analyses showed that the total scale and subscales were internally consistent. In study II, data were collected from 729 Secondary Four students who were asked to complete the four measures developed and tested in study I, and to provide demographic information. Correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between predictor and outcome variables. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed to determine the significance of each predictor variable on students’ continuing education and career achievement aspirations. The results indicated that gender and family socio-economic status were not associated with continuing education aspirations or career achievement aspirations. The students’ perceived academic achievement influenced continuing education both directly and indirectly through academic self-efficacy or career self-efficacy. However, perceived academic achievement was not associated with career achievement aspirations. Career-related parental support influenced continuing education and career achievement aspirations both directly and indirectly through academic self-efficacy or career self-efficacy. The results of this study provided an in-depth view of the perceived influences on adolescents’ continuing education and career achievement aspirations. This knowledge can help educators design better targeted and individualized career interventions. The results also provide empirical evidence in support of Social Cognitive Career Theory, in terms of the impact of contextual factor (career-related parental support) and self-efficacy, in predicting continuing education and career achievement aspirations with a Chinese sample. In addition, the Chinese versions of Career-Related Parent Support Scale and Career Aspiration Scale are viable assessment tools for researchers and guidance professionals working in the careers field. Implications for future research and career guidance practices within the Hong Kong education context are also discussed. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Education

Graduation date: 1950

The South African education system is based on learner centred principles and encourages the development of critical thinking. This approach is reflected in the South African Qualifications Framework, which identifies critical thinking as a primary outcome of education. In the vocational Tourism programme, there is a link between the subject learning outcomes and critical crossfield outcomes. The role of the vocational college educator is central in facilitating the development of critical thinking skills of all learners. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the selected Tourism educators develop critical thinking skills of risk L2 students. I conducted the study in a selected FET College using a qualitative case study in order to gain deeper understanding of how the educators implement curriculum policy in their classrooms. This study used four data collection instruments to gain an in-depth understanding of the research topic. The findings of the study reveal that educators understand the value of teaching critical thinking. However, there is a gap between educators’ conceptual understanding of critical thinking and their instructional practice to develop critical thinking skills during classroom instruction. The findings also reveal that there are factors that hinder the development of at risk students’ critical thinking skills such as; limited English language proficiency, poor behaviour, and subject guidelines which do not provide educators with guidance on teaching critical thinking skills. The study recommends in-service training sessions that will support educators on how to teach critical thinking skills explicitly. This study also recommends the development of practical guidelines to enhance educators’ critical thinking teaching strategies. The findings of this research will assist me in improving the support that I provide to Tourism educators.

The purpose of this study was to determine the level of emphasis middle schools place on career awareness and exploration.

No description available.

This study identified the admissions criteria for selected doctoral programs in vocational-technical education in Oklahoma and Texas and investigated the relationship of these criteria to success in the doctoral programs. Success in the doctoral programs was identified in terms of cumulative doctoral grade point average. Data were obtained through a questionnaire designed to ©licit both general information concerning admissions criteria for vocational-technical doctoral programs at the selected institutions and to collect specific information on a random sample of twenty doctoral candidates from each of the four selected institutions. Factors considered included birthdates, gender, scores on admissions tests, grade point average in the masters program, the year the latest masters was completed, number of colleges attended, and cumulative doctoral grade point average. A statistical analysis using nine separate one-way analyses of variance determined that four of the nine factors considered proved to be statistically significant at the .05 level or better when correlated with the criterion variable (cumulative doctoral grade point average). Those factors were gender, Graduate Record Examination verbal and composite scores, and masters grade point average. The results of the study basically parallel findings of research concerning admissions criteria and success in graduate programs in other areas. Additional research efforts should address the issue of determining the most appropriate decision logic model for making admissions decisions in programs at the graduate levels.

No description available.

The purpose of this thesis was to develop a drafting core curriculum that could be successfully implemented at any middle school in any state.

Although Business-Industry-Education (B-I-E) involvement in Tech Prep programs is frequently discussed and encouraged in the literature, there was little information which identified what is meant by involvement. This study determined what constitutes B-I-E involvement in Tech Prep programs in Virginia's community colleges and secondary schools. At the time of this study there were forty-four (44) Tech Prep projects in Virginia. Each Tech Prep project had at least one key person at the community college and at least one key person at the secondary schools in the community college service area. There are twenty-three (23) community colleges in Virginia with at least one Tech Prep project at each community college. Each community college in the consortium had at least one secondary school associated with it. In most instances, there were several secondary schools associated with each community college. The sample consisted of 23 key persons at the community colleges and 23 at the secondary schools. / Ed. D.