The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an early contact program on the achievement, persistence, and satisfaction of new underprepared community college students. While open door admissions policies assure access to higher education, nearly three-fourths of all community college students leave before completing an associate degree. The traditional sink or swim approach to community college student success is at odds with the goal of improved student outcomes. It was hypothesized that first-time underprepared community college students who participate in a program providing personal contact and support exhibit greater achievement, persistence, and satisfaction than their cohorts who are left to seek their own assistance from the institution. Using a posttest-only control group design, 240 college entrants at an urban community college in eastern Virginia, were randomly selected and assigned to two groups. The treatment consisted of college-initiated telephone counseling, academic advising, and peer tutoring with students during their first semester. Using the one-tailed t-test for independent samples and chi square test of association, it was found that at the end of 15 weeks, students (n = 108) who participated an the early contact program achieved significantly higher average GPA (t = 3.7, p {dollar}<{dollar}.05), number of productive grades (t = 3.24), and number of college credits (t = 4.46). Program participants were retained in college at an average rate of 17 percent higher than those who did not participate. However, administration of the ACT Student Opinion Survey to both groups near the end of the first semester, found no significant difference in their satisfaction with the college. It was concluded that the early contact program was more effective in promoting achievement and persistence than the usual passive treatment given entering students at Thomas Nelson Community College.

Continued improvement of the training and preparation of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents is critical to the organization's ability to protect the national security of the United States. Too little attention has been paid to the factors that improve new agent trainees' (NATs) ability to learn and succeed in their training programs. Based on the theories of reflective thinking and emotional intelligence, this nonexperimental, correlational study explored predictors of NATs' (N = 183) performance in problem-based exercises as part of the 20-week training program. Self-report instruments measured levels of critical reflection (CR), emotional intelligence (EQ), and perceived ability (PA). An established performance measure collected instructor-observed performance (OP) scores. Regression analysis tested the relationships of CR and EQ with OP but yielded no statistical significance. Due to concerns about the measure of OP, a second analysis revealed significance with PA scores for EQ (b = .193, p = <.001) only. Preparing effective special agents to respond to the challenges of a volatile global environment is a priority of the FBI and contributes to positive social change, as its mission is to ensure the safety and security of the United States. The main conclusion from the study was that a better measure of performance is needed to study the impact of CR and EQ on trainees. When measured more effectively, characteristics of trainees may be relevant to improving performance.

According to Knowles's theory of andragogy, the principles of adult learning are the need to know, self-directedness, the role of experience, intrinsic motivation, and readiness to learn. Whereas references in the andragogical literature have assumed that the principles uniformly apply to adults of all ages, differences between adult age groups may influence the effectiveness of the principles on adult learning. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate which adult age group was most accepting of the principles so that more effective teaching may occur. Three adult age groups, emerging adults (18-25), young adults (26-39), and mature adults (40-59) were studied, guided by three research questions. The first two questions addressed the degree of acceptance of andragogical principles and student satisfaction by the three age groups, and the third addressed the degree to which age and acceptance of andragogical principles predicted student course satisfaction. Using a cross-sectional, quantitative design, a convenience sample of 59 college students completed an electronic, web-based, Likert-scale survey. Multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analyses examined the relationships between the three age groups, andragogical principles, and student course satisfaction. Although there was no difference between the age groups and the acceptance of the andragogical principles or student course satisfaction, age combined with acceptance of andragogical principles was predictive of student course satisfaction. The social change implications are that educators should continue to implement the current principles across all adult age groups when designing learning environments and opportunities to improve the quality of educational instruction for one of the fastest growing student populations, the adult learner.

<p> Over the last decade, for-profit higher education has been the fastest growing segment within higher education. Despite the growth, little research exists about for-profit higher education institutions. The purpose of this exploratory, descriptive, quantitative study was to examine the attitudes and knowledge of higher education faculty toward for-profit higher education institutions. </p><p> A conceptual framework was used to understand various topics about for-profit higher education institutions. An instrument was developed to measure attitudes and knowledge and distributed through a web survey to 214 higher education faculty from public and private not-for-profit higher education institutions. Survey respondents totaled 111 and 107 useable surveys resulted in a 50% response rate. Descriptive analysis was used to understand attitudes and knowledge. </p><p> Results suggested that overall attitudes and knowledge varied based on individual topic. No differences in attitudes were found relative to gender, age, institution type, faculty rank, and years as higher education faculty. The study revealed the need for higher education institutions to share more data and for higher education faculty to engage in more research and policy discussions about the fastest growing segment within higher education, for-profit higher education institutions.</p>

<p>The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of utilizing high-fidelity simulation on the team performance, perceived level of learning, and satisfaction of resident physicians in a simulated cardiac resuscitation scenario. This study was significant because it filled a gap in the literature about how methods of education impact healthcare practitioners. While a body of research exists in education on adult learning principles, there are few studies on how applying adult learning principles to professional development is an effective method of instruction in healthcare. </p><p> A convenience sample of resident physicians from two hospitals that are part of a large health system was utilized for this study. Resident physicians participated in a simulated mock cardiac resuscitation scenario monthly. The Simulated Cardiac Resuscitation Team Performance Evaluation instrument was utilized to assess the team performance of the residents in the scenarios. A program evaluation form was administered to measure perceived level of learning and satisfaction with the simulation experience. </p><p> One-way multivariate analyses of variance were conducted to evaluate the relationships between year of residency and gender and the team performance score on the Simulated Cardiac Resuscitation Team Performance Evaluation. Significant differences were not found among the years of residency on the dependent measures. Significant differences were not found between the genders on the dependent measures. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the relationship between year of residency and the level of satisfaction and perceived level of learning of the resident physicians. Significant differences were not found among the three years of residency on the dependent measures. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the relationship between gender and the level of satisfaction and perceived level of learning of the resident physicians. Significant differences were not found between genders on the dependent measures. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was conducted to evaluate the relationship between prior use of simulation and the level of satisfaction and perceived level of learning of the resident physicians. Significant differences were not found between prior use of simulation on the dependent measures. </p>

<p>The primary objective was to show the important need of academic skills, specifically general education coursework, to the effectiveness of the technician&rsquo;s expertise in the field of automobile repair. Additionally, I emphasized that one of the keys to the quality of the technician&rsquo;s education is the method of instruction analyzed through Henschke&rsquo;s Five Building Blocks. </p><p> I communicated with 35 diversely selected and cooperative employers located in the Midwestern section of the United States. I obtained this arbitrary selection from the Yellow Pages of this region. I conducted personal visits to their locations at which time I informed them of the purpose of my study. Also, I performed an interview with the appropriate supervisor or manager. I acquired the degree requirements for the automobile repair technology programs at 19 regional postsecondary institutions and analyzed their contents. </p><p> I listed and assessed the employee requirements the employers conveyed to me. I noted the objectives of the academic courses included in the technical programs. I compared the employers&rsquo; needs with the educational institutions&rsquo; offerings to determine if and where there was a mismatch between the two entities. I judged and analyzed these findings in accordance with the specifications of the national <i>WorkKeys</i> research tools that indicated the following competencies at various levels: &bull; Applied Mathematics; &bull; Workplace Observation; &bull; Applied Technology; &bull; Locating Information. <i> WorkKeys</i>, the foundation of the National Career Readiness Certificate, is a job skill assessment system that helps employers select, hire, train, develop, and retain a high-performance workforce. </p><p> I identified specific contributions academic courses provided to the instructional areas of automobile repair technology. Additionally, further research into increasing academic course content is justifiable by the employer representatives&rsquo; responses in this study. </p>

<p> This quantitative study explored the leadership styles of mentors for retained first-year adult students to analyze whether the prevalent style had a higher impact on first-year adult student retention. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5x was used to collect data on the mentors' leadership styles from the perspective of retained first-year adult students and from the perspective of their mentors at a private Midwestern, urban, University to compare the prevalent style from both perspectives. The convenience sampling method was used to identify the study participants. Descriptive statistics were conducted to check the normalcy of those data. Histograms revealed that the data was not normally distributed. Those data were further analyzed using the Wilcoxon test, which revealed no significant difference from mentor self-ratings and student ratings for the two leadership styles under consideration. The Spearman Correlation Coefficient was utilized to test the null hypothesis. The results indicated no statistically significant relationship existed between transformational or transactional leadership and retained first-year adult students, thus the researcher did not reject the null hypothesis. Further data testing using Simple Linear Regressions was conducted to investigate transformational and transactional leadership styles based on mentor demographics and tenure. The results of the analyses indicated that mentor demographics or tenure is not a significant predictor of a particular leadership style for this study. It is evident from the results that a significant position of the retained first-year adult students in this study considers their mentors' leadership style did not provided the means for their retention.</p>

<p> There is currently a small body of research on the experiences of participants, both facilitators and learners, during simulated mock codes (cardiac arrest) in the healthcare setting. This study was based on a practitioner's concerns that mock codes are facilitated differently among educators, mock codes are not aligned with andragogy theory of adult learning, and there is no standardized method to evaluate participant reflection achieved during the debriefings immediately after mock codes. The study took place in a large federal government healthcare organization. The qualitative study method, interpretive inquiry, was used to explore the lived experiences of clinicians and facilitators who participate in mock codes. A validated reflection rubric was used as a method of assessing the achieved level of reflection in a group setting during the debriefing sessions that follow mock codes. Data were collected from interviews, observations, and transcribed mock code video recordings. Five themes emerged: (a) preparation, (b) consistency, (c) use of video recordings, (d) opportunity for follow-up, and (e) self-reflection. The two most significant findings were the lack of consistency in the design, facilitation, and evaluation of the mock code and debriefing processes that lead to confusion, anxiety, and stress among both learners and facilitators, and the gap between facilitator knowledge and understanding of the assumptions of adult learners and the andragogical practice model. Data analysis identified the need for additional participant support through follow-up opportunities for reflection, and the need for andragogy education for the facilitators of mock code exercises. Though the element of surprise makes the mock code realistic much like a fire drill, the study findings indicate learners perceive they would benefit from being prepared for the learning experience in the form of a pre-briefing. Recommendations for future research include a study of the application of andragogy to the competency framework currently within the VHA system, an evaluation of an evidence-based structure and standardized method for designing and delivering high-quality simulation activities that align with the andragogy, and development of standardized and easy to use methods of assessing the levels of achieved learner reflection during and after the debriefing process.</p>

<p> In order to support the 21st century learning initiatives facing California K-12 educational agencies--including the influx of mobile devices, common core standards, online high stakes testing, and student privacy--an educational organization must employ a well-trained, knowledgeable, and effective technology leader. The California Educational Technology Professionals' Association's (CETPA) Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Mentor Program certification provides assurance that the chosen technology leader has been exposed to, is familiar with, has a working knowledge of, and can apply the leadership, educational, and technology skills necessary to be a successful technology leader. </p><p> The purpose of this mixed method study was to identify the extent to which differences exist before and after candidates' completion of the CETPA CTO Mentor Program with regard to their perception of effective technology leadership in California K-12 educational organizations. A second purpose of this study was to identify the degree to which CETPA CTO candidates perceive the program's learning activities to be a relevant and effective means of mastering the program's learning objectives. The third purpose of this study was to identify the degree to which CETPA CTO graduates perceive the program's learning activities and objectives are relevant to their on the job performance. This study was conducted through the lens of Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Program Evaluation. </p><p> The findings from this study suggest that the CTO Mentor Program provides a course of study that is relevant to the technology leader in K-12 educational agencies, meets the needs of adult learners, and provides a return on investment for the learner, his or her educational agency and the sponsoring organization, CETPA.</p>

<p> The purpose of this case study was to qualitatively examine how narratives and imagination can be a source of transformative learning within adult Christian education. Participants in the study met the following criteria: (a) over the age of 25 and involved with normal life requirements; (b) capable of critical, reflective and problem solving thinking skills; and (c) currently involved with Christian education in their local United Methodist Church. Data were collected through both a pre- and post-interview, observations made during an eight week class, and through completed assignments. The results of this study indicated that an adult Christian education program that incorporated narrative, imagination, and critical reflection as teaching tools could impact the students in their spiritual transformation and assist them in implementing their faith into their everyday living. This study also confirms the complexity of the praxis aspect of transformative learning, and introduces the educator to myriad variables that pertain to adults and their ability to engage in transformative learning activities.</p>