No description available.

The study was designed to investigate the intervention program, PEP-UP, in the Richmond Public Schools in Richmond, Virginia, and to determine if significant differences occurred in the academic achievement and self-concept of the program participants. Data for the study were obtained from SRA Achievement Test scores of the subjects participating in the study and from questionnaires given the participants. The subjects were 15 classes of PEP-UP students who were retained in the second grade on the basis of test scores, and 15 classes of control students composing the lower level reading groups of the third grade. Permission was granted by the Superintendent of Schools to utilize the test scores from school records and to administer the questionnaires to the subjects. The data were analyzed by use of the analysis of covariance with the signicance level set at .05. Major findings were: (1) There was a significant difference in the reading achievement after seven months of instruction between the experimental and control groups; (2) the mathematics achievement scores were similar for both groups and no significant differences were found; (3) the Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) did not indicate a significant difference between the groups, even though a slight increase in scores was evident for the PEP-UP students; (4) a significant difference in teachers' ratings did occur between the experimental and control groups. / Ed. D.

This study determines how the COBOL competencies taught in information systems programs and those attained by information systems students compare to those needed on the job. Five research questions were posed: 1. What are the introductory COBOL programming competencies required to be a COBOL programmer? 2. To what extent do information systems program faculty perceive that they have taught COBOL programming competencies? 3. What level of competence in COBOL programming do prospective employers expect information systems graduates to have on the job? 4. To what extent do information systems seniors perceive that they have developed COBOL programming competencies? 5. Which COBOL programming competencies did the faculty, prospective employers, and seniors rate similarly in regard to level of skill? The respondents in the study were information systems faculty, prospective employers of information systems graduates, and information systems seniors. Usable responses were received from 85.4% of the total population. Findings reveal that there were two competencies for which the groups responded differently. These competencies were both in the preparation area. They were "Prepare a card record layout," and "Prepare a system flowchart." The two competencies which the groups had the least disagreement on were "Be familiar with group printing," and "Be familiar with accept statement." Based upon the findings in this study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. The competencies identified through the search of the literature and validated by the panel of experts are the competencies needed on the job for COBOL programming and therefore appropriate for inclusion in the four-year information systems programs. 2. The information systems faculty are adequately emphasizing in their programs the COBOL competencies they should be. 3. The faculty rated the competencies taught somewhat higher than the prospective employers felt they were needed. / Ed. D.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study investigated performance based accountability in Florida's system of workforce education in Florida's state colleges and school districts. In Florida, workforce education is governed by Florida State Statute (K-20 Education Code Chapter 1004). The purpose of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of Florida's performance accountability policy as applied to workforce education. Additionally, it analyzed the impact of performance accountability on performance by the providers of workforce education - state colleges and school districts, and the value for investment achieved by the policy over the time period. The study was guided by three questions: (a) What is the relationship between effectiveness and year? (b) Is the relationship between effectiveness and year moderated by each of the contextual variables? (c) To what extent does each of the contextual variables predict performance and effectiveness? This study utilized a non-experimental quantitative research design and a costeffectiveness analysis framework. The unit of analysis was the providers of workforce education in the State of Florida. This study was framed by the outputs and outcomes the workforce education service providers achieve and the alterable and unalterable variables which might influence the provision of workforce education. Performance was measured through two measures: quantity of outputs, and quality of outcomes. The alterable and unalterable variables included: the type of institution delivering the service, either state college or school district; the delivery model used in each delivery area, either single or dual-delivery; and population characteristics, the percentage of students economically disadvantaged, the percentage of minorities, and the percentage of males. The study used correlation and regression techniques to analyze the longitudinal impact of the performance accountability system. / by Richard G. Cunningham. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Academics in Chinese research universities are confronted by the dilemma of balancing research and teaching in their work. China's pursuit of excellence in higher education through such endeavors as Projects 211 & 985, has led to policies that facilitate the construction of research universities. However, the emphasis on research and quantity has undermined the quality of teaching. It has also drawn academics away from their commitment to teaching. This has become a major issue to be addressed by policy, such as the "Programs of improving teaching quality". / Firstly, characteristics of academics at research universities in China differ from that proposed by Kennedy (1997). The differences are: (1) most academics believe that the duty "to mentor" is accomplished once they accept the appointment of a position for tutoring. (2) Their conception of research is closely related to the quantity of research output, which means that they perceive their duty "to discover" and "to tell the truth" is equivalent to the duty "to publish" and "to get research grants". (3) The definition of "service" is unclear for most of the academics. (4) They are not been "to assist new staff in their teaching role" and "to nurture a new generation of scholars". / Secondly, the conception of "scholarship" and the relationship between teaching and research are changing in Chinese research universities. (1) The academics' views on knowledge include the four types of "scholarship", as proposed by Boyer (1990), these views are hardly sufficient for the construction of "academic communities of practice". (2) Most academics have changed their initial attitude of separating teaching and research in their conception of "academic duties" by accepting the view that teaching and research should be synergized. / The study offers the following recommendations: (1) a free atmosphere with proper competition should be built into the system of academic development of the universities; (2) policy on teaching should focus on improving the level of intrinsic motivation, the assimilation of values, and the satisfaction of three basic needs such as autonomy, competence, and relatedness; (3) through building a commonly shared value system in the university, institutional regulations and rules can be transformed into a force that supports the building of institutional ethics; and (4) the adoption of a moral rationality which is based on substantive rationality should help academics to confront a distorted realities in the system. / Thirdly, the most powerful force which affects the teachers' opinions and performance towards academic duties is the promotion and evaluation system of the universities. Teachers' opinions are also influenced by age, position, discipline, etc., and their opinions can be grouped into four categories by their understanding and reaction to the evaluation system. / This study focuses on the conceptualization of "academic duties" by university teachers and on the factors that mediate their duty implementation. It explores the academics' experiences at two research universities which have different focuses and developmental goals. Data were collected through interviews with 50 participants in the case universities. In addition, university documents and data collected through observations were also analyzed. The analysis has yielded findings as stated in the following paragraphs. / 徐嵐. / Adviser: Nai Kwai Leslie Lo. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 70-06, Section: A, page: 1960. / Thesis (doctoral)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 372-387). / 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, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in Chinese and English. / School code: 1307. / Xu Lan.

Chik Pun-shing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-127). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.4 / Chapter 2 --- HISTORICAL BACKGROUND --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1 --- The provision of mass education --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2 --- Llewellyn Report --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- The pursuit of quality --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Chapter summary --- p.20 / Chapter 3 --- THEORETICAL BACKGROUND --- p.22 / Chapter 3.1 --- Policy discourse --- p.22 / Chapter 3.2 --- Conceptualization of accountability --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3 --- Teacher unionism --- p.30 / Chapter 3.4 --- Chapter summary --- p.34 / Chapter 4 --- RESEARCH DESIGN --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1 --- Research aim --- p.36 / Chapter 4.2 --- Research method --- p.38 / Chapter 4.3 --- Limitations of the study --- p.44 / Chapter 4.4 --- Chapter summary --- p.46 / Chapter 5 --- CAPITALISTIC BACKLASH AGAINST EQUALITY --- p.47 / Chapter 5.1 --- no local demand for equality --- p.47 / Chapter 5.2 --- Equality policy imported --- p.48 / Chapter 5.3 --- Policy makers' disbelief in equality --- p.49 / Chapter 5.4 --- Equality for prosperity --- p.51 / Chapter 5.5 --- Unionists' quest for equality --- p.55 / Chapter 5.6 --- Redefining the rule of the game --- p.61 / Chapter 5.7 --- Chapter summary --- p.66 / Chapter 6 --- ACCOUNTABLE FOR MANAGEMENT INSTEAD OF QUALITY --- p.67 / Chapter 6.1 --- In the name of public fund --- p.67 / Chapter 6.2 --- Managerial accountability preserved --- p.70 / Chapter 6.3 --- Quid pro quo accountability --- p.71 / Chapter 6.4 --- Cultivating quality values --- p.71 / Chapter 6.5 --- Cultural re-engineering --- p.73 / Chapter 6.6 --- Quality indicators --- p.74 / Chapter 6.7 --- Negligible measures for the Unionists --- p.76 / Chapter 6.8 --- Necessary check and balance --- p.77 / Chapter 6.9 --- Grassroots quest for reform --- p.79 / Chapter 6.10 --- "Materialistic ""Pegging Salary on Effectiveness""" --- p.82 / Chapter 6.11 --- Chapter Summary --- p.85 / Chapter 7 --- DISCURSIVE AND DISCIPLINARY PROFESSIONALISM --- p.86 / Chapter 7.1 --- The state disciplines without counter-action --- p.86 / Chapter 7.2 --- Professionalism： Normalize or empower --- p.91 / Chapter 7.3 --- Professionalism for control --- p.95 / Chapter 7.4 --- """Plain"" professionalism" --- p.99 / Chapter 7.5 --- The Union road to professionalism --- p.102 / Chapter 7.6 --- The mass line --- p.103 / Chapter 7.7 --- Political struggle --- p.106 / Chapter 7.8 --- Chapter summary --- p.108 / Chapter 8 --- CONCLUSION --- p.110 / Chapter 8.1 --- Capitalistic imperative versus value addition --- p.110 / Chapter 8.2 --- State control versus the quest for autonomy --- p.112 / Chapter 8.3 --- Professional discourse versus empowerment --- p.114 / Chapter 8.4 --- Implications of this research --- p.116 / Chapter 9 --- APPENDIX --- p.119 / Chapter 9.1 --- List of abbreviations --- p.119 / Chapter 10 --- REFERENCES --- p.120

王麗佳. / "2013年8月". / "2013 nian 8 yue". / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 297-310). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and English. / Wang Lijia.

Florida H.B. 7087 (2006a), otherwise known as A++legislation, was created and adopted as a means to increase the rigor and relevance of a public school education, specifically at the middle school and high school levels. The anticipated result of the implementation of this bill was to better prepare middle school students for high school and thereby increase high school student performance and decrease the dropout rate. However, in increasing the promotion standards for middle grade students, interpretation and implementation have created additional barriers to grade level advancement. As a result, the possibility now exists for more students and especially those already at-risk of failure will be subject to higher retention rates. This may place them further at-risk of poor academic performance and of potentially dropping out of school, an opposite effect of the intent of the bill. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of the revised policies on middle school students. / by Mary A. Murray. / Vita. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education