This study was concerned with policy research for coordinating state higher education and telecommunication efforts. It focused on graduate and continuing education and on distance learning. (Distance learning is an extension of the classroom which utilizes interactive television.).;This study's research was to identify and analyze possible coordinating state policies that would best facilitate distance learning in Virginia. This is linked to how Virginia higher education can interact with business and industry to encourage academic and industrial cooperation in distance learning.;It was hypothesized that there is consensus among influential people in Virginia as to the best coordinating policy for Virginia's graduate and continuing education and distance learning. The results of the study indicated the research hypothesis was not fully supported. However, one of the seven policy options, the telecommunications cooperative, revealed near consensus (87%) among participants and was considered to be the best option to facilitate distance learning in Virginia. The results of the data fit with the study's theoretical model, Plude's Telecommunications Cooperatives Model.;The responses of influential Virginia leaders in higher education, government, business and industry seem to support these conclusions: (1) The participants confirmed that there was a real and urgent need for distance learning in Virginia's graduate and continuing education. (2) Participant opinions concerning the best way to fund and to coordinate a workable system did not result in overall agreement. However, they agreed in three areas: higher education must include business and industry, a state-level cooperative be formed to coordinate and facilitate a workable system, and funds for distance learning come from those who are involved--the customers and providers and these funds would include both state and private monies. (3) Participants gave strong support to the need for developing a coherent state policy in Virginia. (4) of the seven policy options considered, the participants considered a state telecommunications cooperative policy to be the best option.;In the future, policy research will need to focus on interstate and international education and in issues relating to education as a life-long pursuit.

What are the differences between the continuing education programs for museum workers in the United States and Great Britain, and what do these distinctions reveal about the ways in which the role of the museum worker is perceived in these respective countries?;This study will: (1) analyze the literature surrounding these questions, literature ranging in topics from the sociology of professions to descriptions of mid-career training options, (2) compare and contrast the museums, museum studies programs, and continued learning schemes for museologists, and, finally, (3) examine the differences and similarities between two representative programs, one for each country: the Seminar for Historical Administration and the Diploma Scheme of the Museums Association in Great Britain. From these comparisons both general and specific, the investigation will conclude with an interpretation of the differences in so far as they shed light on the varying perceptions of the museum worker in the United States and Great Britain.;In the United States, museum workers are exposed to a seemingly unlimited array of mid-career training options, a veritable smorgasbord of professional learning opportunities of varying quality and usually offered by agencies quite independent of the academy. "Contest" mobility prevails. The programs are responsive to an ever-changing market. While, in Great Britain, only a few options are available, most notable is the diploma scheme with its university affiliations. When compared to the American system, a semblance of "sponsored" mobility prevails, and one is struck by the limited, single-level and insulated nature of the programs available. This dissertation identifies these distinctions and expands on their significances as they pertain to current perceptions of the museum workers in each country.

Achievement of the teacher trainees

urban and rural women's literacy centres

Thesis (PH.D.) -- Syracuse University, 2007. / "Publication number AAT 3266322"

The purpose of this study was to document and critically analyze the lived experience of selected nursing staff developers in the process of moving toward a new model for hospital nursing education. Eleven respondents were drawn from a nation-wide population of about two hundred individuals involved in nursing staff development. These subjects were responsible for the implementation of the Performance Based Development System (PBDS) in their institutions. A purposive, criterion-based sampling technique was used with respondents being selected according to size of hospital, primary responsibility for orchestration of the change, influence over budgetary factors and managerial responsibility for PBDS. Data were gathered by the researcher through both in-person and telephone interviews. A semi-structured interview guide, designed by the researcher was used, and respondents were encouraged to amplify on their recollections as desired. Audiotapes were transcribed and resulting computer files were analyzed using the program "Martin". Answers to interview questions were compiled and reported across cases. The data was then reviewed a second time and interpreted for emerging themes and patterns. Two types of verification were used in the study. Internal verification was done through interview transcript review and feedback by respondents. External verification was done through review and feedback on data analysis by readers who were experienced in management of staff development departments. All respondents were female, so Gilligan’s concept of the "ethic of care" was examined as a decision making strategy. Three levels of caring which influenced decision making were found. They were caring: (a) for the organization, (b) for the employee, and (c) for the patient. The four existentials of the lived experience, relationality, corporeality, temporality and spatiality were also examined to reveal the everydayness of making change.

Using the learning descriptions of graduates of a graduate ministry program, the mechanisms of interactions between the knowledge facets in learning processes were explored and described. The intent of the study was to explore how explicit, implicit, and emancipatory knowledge facets interacted in the learning processes at or about work. The study provided empirical research on Yang's (2003) holistic learning theory. A phenomenological research design was used to explore the essence of knowledge facet interactions. I achieved epoche through the disclosure of assumptions and a written self-experience to bracket biases. A criterion based, stratified sampling strategy was used to identify participants. The sample was stratified by graduation date. The sample consisted of 11 participants and was composed primarily of married (n = 9), white, non-Hispanic (n = 10), females (n = 9), who were Roman Catholic (n = 9). Professionally, the majority of the group were teachers or professors (n = 5). A semi-structured interview guide with scheduled and unscheduled probes was used. Each approximately 1-hour long interview was digitally recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were coded using a priori codes from holistic learning theory and one emergent code. The coded data were analyzed by identifying patterns, similarities, and differences under each code and then between codes. Steps to increase the trustworthiness of the study included member checks, coding checks, and thick descriptions of the data. Five themes were discovered including (a) the difficulty in describing interactions between knowledge facets; (b) actual mechanisms of interactions between knowledge facets; (c) knowledge facets initiating learning and dominating learning processes; (d) the dangers of one-dimensional learning or using only one knowledge facet to learn; and (e) the role of community in learning. The interpretation confirmed, extended, and challenged holistic learning theory. Mechanisms of interaction included knowledge facets expressing, informing, changing, and guiding one another. Implications included the need for a more complex model of learning and the value of seeing spirituality in the learning process. The study raised questions for future research including exploring learning processes with people from non-Christian faith traditions or other academic disciplines and the role of spiritual identity in learning.

The purpose of this study was to examine pediatric occupational therapists attitudes towards family-centered care. Specific attributes identified by the literature (professional characteristics, educational experiences and organizational culture) were investigated to determine their influence on these attitudes. Study participants were 250 pediatric occupational therapists who were randomly selected from the American Occupational Therapy Association special interest sections. Participants received a mail packet with three instruments to complete and mail back within 2 weeks. The instruments were (a) the Professional Attitude Scale (b) the Professional Characteristics Questionnaire, and (c) the Family-Centered Program Rating Scale. There was a 50% return rate. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS using descriptive statistics, correlations and regression analysis. The analysis showed that pediatric occupational therapists working in various practice settings demonstrate favorable attitudes toward family-centered care as measured by the Professional Attitude Scale. There was no correlation between professional characteristics and educational experiences to therapists' attitudes. A moderate correlation (r=.368, p These study findings suggest that organizational culture has some influence on occupational therapists attitudes toward family-centered care (R2 =.16). These findings suggest educators should consider families as valuable resources when considering program planning in family-centered care at preservice and workplace settings.

Recognizing literacy as a key to community development, government, non-government and international organizations in Nepal are offering literacy classes as a strategy for community development. Consequently, a great number of neo-literates are emerging every day. However, rural areas of Nepal are not meeting the challenge of neo-literates, as there is still a lack of literate environment. Therefore, literacy professionals in government or non-government organizations are pondering the question of "After literacy what?" and how to sustain people's enthusiasm and skills of literacy so that their energy and skill can be channeled in community development. Video technology has pervaded even the rural areas of developing countries like Nepal. However, community members are still media consumers rather than producers. Media technology, like video, can be an effective tool for consciousness raising when used in a participatory approach and developed locally, involving community people. Therefore, the present study is to develop a model for participatory community video as a post-literacy activity in Nepal. Four major steps have been taken in the study. First, a literature review is done to explore what other developing countries are doing for post-literacy and how much media technology has been integrated in literacy as well as in rural community development. Second, interviews were done with seven Nepal experts to explore their opinions on using video in rural Nepal as a tool for consciousness raising. Third, based on these interviews a model for participatory community video was developed. Fourth, this model was field tested in one of the rural communities in Nepal. The field test showed that use of video is an effective tool for adults to raise consciousness and develop leadership quality in neo-literates. This study is significant for Nepal because it brings into sharp focus the existence of multiculturalism in the country and efforts to develop indigenous knowledge without local cultural values being wiped out. It provides ambitious neo-literates the opportunity to be creative and to work for their own community rather than migrating to urban areas. Communities will produce their own leaders to cope with globalization through media.

A blend of quantitative and qualitative field-based research, this participatory study explores the state of Adult Basic Education mathematics, identifying and examining factors that influence math instruction in ABE classrooms across Massachusetts. Referencing literature on current reform movements in formal mathematics education and literature on adult learning theory and research, patterns in the existing ABE mathematics instructional context that might support or oppose future reform are identified. To create an accurate and detailed picture of the adult basic education learning environment this study explores five key aspects of the mathematics instructional context: the program context, the instructional environment, the ABE math instructor, the adult learner, and the content, curriculum and support materials used in math instruction. Practitioners within Massachusetts and across the United States contributed to the design of the study and analysis of the data. Information was gathered in two phases. The first involved a survey of the programs and instructors involved in math instruction. In the second, a representative case sample of 15 programs was selected and interviews were conducted with 17 individual instructors and 13 focus groups of learners (49). In addition, classes were observed and materials were collected from each program. Selected themes that emerge include: (1) the general lack of support for math instruction in ABE programs; (2) the need for flexible staff development and curriculum support options to accommodate the diversity existing in the ABE math community; (3) instructor and learner initial anxiety concerning math (and its effect on learning/instruction); (4) learners increased self-confidence is triggered by mastering math activities; (5) the perceived effectiveness of reality-based, hands-on, and collaborative activities in learning math; (6) the prevalence of multi-level math classes poses serious challenges for instructors; (7) the discrepancy between use (high) and perceived usefulness (low) of standardized assessment tools; (8) information gathered from those within the learning environment proves to be most accurate; (9) given information, opportunity, and support, ABE math instructors gravitate towards change; (10) recommendations for instruction emerging from adult learning theory support reform and existing structures. The study concludes by providing recommendations for reform efforts, staff development and training, and development of math curricula, materials and approaches to assessment.