This study was designed to identify the needs of Native students at the University of Saskatchewan. The researcher claimed that the university does not adequately address Native student needs. The importance of this issue is heightened in today's society as Native students are entering universities in increasing numbers because they realize the necessity of university educated people. Native self-government and economic self-sufficiency are two goals which are attainable as more Native people successfully complete university studies.<p>Native students, however, continue to experience high attrition and low success rates at university. It is suggested that these trends continue because the university is founded and operates on philosophies and values which contradict those of Native cultures. Moreover, the university pays little attention to the cultural characteristics of Native people which results in an environment and learning styles that pose academic and non-academic difficulties for these students.<p> This research was conducted in the 1991-92 academic year and utilized three forms of data collection. The central theme was to determine what factors cause difficulties for Native students pursuing an education at the University of Saskatchewan. To provide a response for this question, four secondary areas were explored: demographic elements, academic and career experiences prior to university entrance, experiences at university, and initiatives that could be undertaken to improve the situation for Native university students. Seven interviews (involving eight individuals) who work with Native students were conducted. Forty students also completed questionnaires. Results from these two sources were analysed and it was determined that students and interviewees held similar opinions on some issues: academic preparation, funding, adjustment, the need for more Native services and Native employees. There were other issues (housing, health problems, university indifference) where interviewees were unaware of the magnitude of difficulties faced by Native students. There were other issues (child care, single parenthood) where interviewees perceived the difficulties to be greater than the perceptions of the students. Both student respondents and interviewees discussed the need for the university to undertake the implementation of a number of initiatives to improve the situation for Native students. The results from previous research were incorporated throughout the study. These results formed the basis for the construction of the research instruments. They were also a significant component of data analysis.<p>An analysis of the results led to the formulation of a number of recommendations which could prove beneficial for Native students if implemented. It is suggested that teachers and guidance counsellors could implement strategies which would enable students to heighten their academic qualifications and increase their awareness of programs and services prior to university entrance. Colleges, faculty, staff, and administrators at the university could also undertake measures to lessen the difficulties which Native students encounter at university and increase their representation in colleges where their enrolments have been traditionally minimal or non-existent. Finally, Bands and Tribal Councils (who are beginning to administer their own post-secondary programs), and the federal government can also play a significant role.

This study was designed to identify the needs of Native students at the University of Saskatchewan. The researcher claimed that the university does not adequately address Native student needs. The importance of this issue is heightened in today's society as Native students are entering universities in increasing numbers because they realize the necessity of university educated people. Native self-government and economic self-sufficiency are two goals which are attainable as more Native people successfully complete university studies.<p>Native students, however, continue to experience high attrition and low success rates at university. It is suggested that these trends continue because the university is founded and operates on philosophies and values which contradict those of Native cultures. Moreover, the university pays little attention to the cultural characteristics of Native people which results in an environment and learning styles that pose academic and non-academic difficulties for these students.<p> This research was conducted in the 1991-92 academic year and utilized three forms of data collection. The central theme was to determine what factors cause difficulties for Native students pursuing an education at the University of Saskatchewan. To provide a response for this question, four secondary areas were explored: demographic elements, academic and career experiences prior to university entrance, experiences at university, and initiatives that could be undertaken to improve the situation for Native university students. Seven interviews (involving eight individuals) who work with Native students were conducted. Forty students also completed questionnaires. Results from these two sources were analysed and it was determined that students and interviewees held similar opinions on some issues: academic preparation, funding, adjustment, the need for more Native services and Native employees. There were other issues (housing, health problems, university indifference) where interviewees were unaware of the magnitude of difficulties faced by Native students. There were other issues (child care, single parenthood) where interviewees perceived the difficulties to be greater than the perceptions of the students. Both student respondents and interviewees discussed the need for the university to undertake the implementation of a number of initiatives to improve the situation for Native students. The results from previous research were incorporated throughout the study. These results formed the basis for the construction of the research instruments. They were also a significant component of data analysis.<p>An analysis of the results led to the formulation of a number of recommendations which could prove beneficial for Native students if implemented. It is suggested that teachers and guidance counsellors could implement strategies which would enable students to heighten their academic qualifications and increase their awareness of programs and services prior to university entrance. Colleges, faculty, staff, and administrators at the university could also undertake measures to lessen the difficulties which Native students encounter at university and increase their representation in colleges where their enrolments have been traditionally minimal or non-existent. Finally, Bands and Tribal Councils (who are beginning to administer their own post-secondary programs), and the federal government can also play a significant role.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and performance of native and community college transfer students at a rural land grant institution. The study included students’ perceptions of the following areas: (1) academic and intellectual development; (2) faculty concern of student development and teaching; (3) social integration; (4) goal and institutional commitment; and (5) transfer students’ perceptions of their transfer process. The theoretical framework of the study was Tinto’s Longitudinal Model of Student Departure. A survey research design was employed in this investigative study to collect and analyze the data. A total of 567 Mississippi State University (MSU) students participated in the research study. An instrument entitled The Student Experience Survey was used to gather the data utilized in the research study. The researcher sought to answer 6 research questions related to participants’ perceptions and performance at MSU. To analyze the collected data both a Multivariate of Variance (MANOVA) and an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests were used. Other statistical tests that were utilized in this research study were cross tabulations, descriptive frequencies, and Chi-Square. All results were presented in both descriptive and table forms. Among the major findings of the research study were: (a) there was a significant difference in the grade point averages (GPAs) of university native and community college transfer students, (b) there was a significant relationship between the collegiate GPAs of community college transfer students and their perceptions of specific transfer variables; and (c) there were significant differences in the students’ perceptions of the factor variables of academic and intellectual development, faculty concern for student development, social integration, and goal and institutional commitment among university native and community college transfer students.

The purpose of this study was to describe how three pupils in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto responded behaviorally to the cultural and academic experiences provided. Participant observation was used to collect data for the study during the period of September 10 to November 15, 1981. Information concerning pupil behavior was gathered during: periods of total-class instruction and periods of individual instruction by the regular classroom teacher; individually-assigned task time; class sessions with visiting resource persons; free time; Ojibway and French language instruction; instruction at Winchester Public School; Sacred Circle feasts; and recess. Pupil seatwork was collected and studied. Additional information was obtained through interviews with the three Subjects and with the director.<p>The study was conducted over a period of ten weeks and totalled ninety-seven hours fifty-one minutes of observation time. The Subjects were students in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School, an alternative school for native children in Toronto, and their class consisted of thirteen pupils from grades five to eight. The procedures of this study yielded descriptive data of each Subject's behavior during the various types of activities observed. From the behavioral data, an account described each S's behavior over the ten-week study period, as it occurred in various situations and with various instructors/resource persons.' Frequency of behavior and changes in behavior were noted. The behavior of Ss was also discussed in light of the cultural and academic goals of the school. The data suggested that the school was partially meeting its cultural goals and was failing to meet its academic goals in the case of the three Ss studied.<p>Wandering Spirit Survival School aimed at providing a safe, nonthreatening environment for its pupils. The atmosphere of the school and the cultural activities of the Sacred Circle, feasts, and Ojibway language instruction were found to be useful in creating a sense of pride in being Indian for the three Ss of the study. More could have been done in providing pupils with a knowledge and understanding of native heritage, native history, and contemporary native issues. Although Ojibway language was taught three times a week, the three Ss of the study had not learned to read, write, or speak any of the language during the ten weeks of this study.<p>A second goal of Wandering Spirit Survival School was to prepare pupils academically so that, if they chose, they could successfully continue their education beyond grade eight. Observations suggested that the three Ss of the study were not being academically prepared for high school according to this study. The Ss spent a great deal of class instruction time engaged in other activities: talking, drawing pictures, walking around, playing with articles at their desks, leaving the room Their behavior was the same regardless of who the instructor was. The Ss were most attentive during audio-visual presentations and during lessons involving activity on the part of pupils. However, the teaching done at the school involved, for the most part, the use of textbooks and workbooks.<p>The teacher appeared to hold higher expectations for Jim than for Donald and Agnes. These expectations were reflected in the small amount<br> [Abstract truncated. Pages iv - v missing from thesis.]

The purpose of this study was to describe how three pupils in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto responded behaviorally to the cultural and academic experiences provided. Participant observation was used to collect data for the study during the period of September 10 to November 15, 1981. Information concerning pupil behavior was gathered during: periods of total-class instruction and periods of individual instruction by the regular classroom teacher; individually-assigned task time; class sessions with visiting resource persons; free time; Ojibway and French language instruction; instruction at Winchester Public School; Sacred Circle feasts; and recess. Pupil seatwork was collected and studied. Additional information was obtained through interviews with the three Subjects and with the director.<p>The study was conducted over a period of ten weeks and totalled ninety-seven hours fifty-one minutes of observation time. The Subjects were students in the senior room of Wandering Spirit Survival School, an alternative school for native children in Toronto, and their class consisted of thirteen pupils from grades five to eight. The procedures of this study yielded descriptive data of each Subject's behavior during the various types of activities observed. From the behavioral data, an account described each S's behavior over the ten-week study period, as it occurred in various situations and with various instructors/resource persons.' Frequency of behavior and changes in behavior were noted. The behavior of Ss was also discussed in light of the cultural and academic goals of the school. The data suggested that the school was partially meeting its cultural goals and was failing to meet its academic goals in the case of the three Ss studied.<p>Wandering Spirit Survival School aimed at providing a safe, nonthreatening environment for its pupils. The atmosphere of the school and the cultural activities of the Sacred Circle, feasts, and Ojibway language instruction were found to be useful in creating a sense of pride in being Indian for the three Ss of the study. More could have been done in providing pupils with a knowledge and understanding of native heritage, native history, and contemporary native issues. Although Ojibway language was taught three times a week, the three Ss of the study had not learned to read, write, or speak any of the language during the ten weeks of this study.<p>A second goal of Wandering Spirit Survival School was to prepare pupils academically so that, if they chose, they could successfully continue their education beyond grade eight. Observations suggested that the three Ss of the study were not being academically prepared for high school according to this study. The Ss spent a great deal of class instruction time engaged in other activities: talking, drawing pictures, walking around, playing with articles at their desks, leaving the room Their behavior was the same regardless of who the instructor was. The Ss were most attentive during audio-visual presentations and during lessons involving activity on the part of pupils. However, the teaching done at the school involved, for the most part, the use of textbooks and workbooks.<p>The teacher appeared to hold higher expectations for Jim than for Donald and Agnes. These expectations were reflected in the small amount<br> [Abstract truncated. Pages iv - v missing from thesis.]

The purpose of this study was to explore the postsecondary education transition experiences of graduates of Choctaw Central High School (CCHS) who received support from the Tribal Scholarship Program (TSP) to better understand the barriers to successful postsecondary completion and the means to overcoming those barriers. Successful transitions are key for students to persist to academic completion. Studies show that American Indian students have low rates of college completion and experience a variety of factors attributed to withdrawal from college. This study provided insight into college success experienced by American Indian students and an understanding of the opportunities for a college education their scholarship program provides. Suggestions for improving the preparation of students and operation of the scholarship program are offered. The participants in this study were CCHS graduates who received support from the TSP for postsecondary education. A case study with a survey component research design was used in this study. Data from a cross-sectional survey, interviews, and observations were collected. A total of 87 past and present TSP supported students participated as survey respondents. Purposeful sampling in the form of maximum variation was used to select 6 respondents for researcher conducted interviews. The findings of this study documented four themes that characterized the transition experience of respondents to postsecondary education. Additionally, within these themes three general barriers to successful postsecondary completion were revealed. The general barriers included: (a) racial conflict with peers or faculty, (b) being overwhelmed academically, and (c) having to care for a legal dependent. The themes and barriers are discussed in the context of three primary factors related to postsecondary completion for American Indian students: sociocultural, academic, and personal factors. Recommendations included: (a) assessing and addressing the unique needs of nontraditional students in the Tribal Scholarship program, (b) arranging for an after hour study and tutoring facility for Tribal Scholarship Program students who commute from the reservation to college, (c) beginning orientation to the Tribal Scholarship Program with 9th graders, (d) providing on-campus mentoring opportunities for Tribal Scholarship Program participants, and (e) expanding this research to public school graduates who participate in the Tribal Scholarship Program.

Idioms are a big part of languages but can cause trouble for communication, especially for non-native speakers of a language. Interpreting idioms correctly means that one must derive a figurative meaning from words that individually mean something else. Recent research primarily focuses on the impact of context for successful idiom comprehension and seems to prioritize native speakers’ understanding of them. This study investigates the impact of context for Swedish non-native upper secondary students’ interpretation of English idioms. It further explores if grades and level of education are factors to consider. In a two-part, multiple-choice test, 53 students were presented with 10 idioms in context and 10 idioms out of context with two additional questions regarding level of education and last received grade in English. The students were also asked whether they had seen each idiom before or not. The results showed that context and grade seem to have impact on non-native students’ interpretation of idioms to some extent, but level of education does not seem to. One interesting finding was that idioms were interpreted correctly even though they were neither presented in context nor were considered familiar by the students. A possible conclusion is therefore that even if context is an important factor for successful idiom interpretation for non-native students, several other factors might be of equal importance.

This study filled a gap in the higher education literature regarding whether a relationship exists between students’ employment location on or off campus, students’ identification as either native or transfer, and academic success as measured by self-reported grades for full-time seniors between the ages of 20-23 who enrolled in urban colleges and universities. The researcher used the National Survey of Student Engagement survey to collect data. It was administered to students during the 2013 or 2014 administrations at urban colleges and universities, with the purpose of representing the senior cohorts of students at their college or university during the years of administration. The researcher performed a secondary data analysis of the survey responses to the National Survey of Student Experiences of senior students who fit the sampling criterion, with the permission of Indiana University Center for Postsecondary Research. The results showed that, for both native and transfer senior student cohorts, as work hours off campus increased, there was a decrease in self-reported grades. In contrast, both native and transfer students who worked on campus enjoyed higher self-reported grades, and students who worked on campus performed better academically than even those students who did not work at all. Finally, the researcher noted no significant difference between the senior native and transfer student populations’ experiences with employment location and grades.

The purpose of this study was to assess the congruence between the learning styles of Division III Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native students, and the instructional styles of Native and non-Native teachers In Nothern Saskatchewan schools.<p> The data for this study were collected by administering Canfield's Learning Styles Inventory and Canfield's Instructional Styles Inventory in six Northern Saskatchewan schools. The total sample of 464 consisted of 385 students and 79 teachers; the student sample was comprised of 81 Cree, 65 Dene, 134 Metis and 105 non-Native students, while the teacher sample consisted of 15 Native teachers and 64 non-Native teachers. The independent variables in this study were culture, sex and age; and the dependent variables were the 16 learning/instructional style scales, predicted levels of student academic performance and perceived responsibility of teachers for the students' learning process.<p> The nine hypotheses posed in the study were tested by an examination of mean scores on 16 inventory scales; and by using one-way ANOVA with accompanying Newman-Keuls comparisons between ordered means. Overall differences in the sample of students and teachers classified by culture, sex and age were assessed by discriminant analysis.<p> The findings of this study must be considered in relation to the following limitations: the size and nature of the sample, the difficulty of assessing learning/instructional style, and the existence of cultural bias. The major question of the study asked whether preferred instructional styles of Native and non-Native teachers were congruent or incongruent with the preferred learning styles of Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native students. It was found that neither group of teachers was congruent with all components of learning style preferences in any student group, but both Native and non-Native teachers were congruent on more than 50 percent of all components. There was strong evidence in the study however that Native teachers were congruent with all student groups on a greater number of components than was true for non-Native teachers. Native teachers were congruent with all student groups in 54 (84.4%) out of 64 possible learning/instructional style components. The congruency rate for non-Native teachers was 40 out of 64 instances, or 62.5%.<p> Certain components of learning style differed among students of Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native backgrounds, with the Dene most different from the non-Native group. The Cree and the Metis were similar to each other, and fell midway between the Dene and the non-Native students. In sum, differences were found among the groups of Native students (free, Dene and Metis), as well as between the Native and the non-Native students. Although culture was found to relate to learning style, sex appeared to be an even stronger variable influencing student learning style preferences. Age was found to relate to the learning styles of the Dene and non-Native students but not of their Cree and Metis counterparts. The Cree and Metis students held the lowest expectations for their academic performance. The Dene students exceeded the Cree and Metis groups.<p> The points of difference in instructional style indicated that non-Native teachers preferred to teach from logically and clearly organized materials, whereas Native teachers were more likely to encourage students to work independently. No other differences were found between cultural groups. Male and female teachers were found to prefer, to a modest degree, different approaches to teaching at only certain age levels. Female teachers at all age levels reacted more negatively to teaching about inanimate objects than did males. Younger female teachers preferred teaching by having students read written material and by teaching students about working with people, while males of the same age were more Interested in teaching by the experiential approach. In scores on teacher responsibility for the students' learning process, no differences were found among teachers classified by culture, sex and age. The teacher group as a whole appeared to share similar perceptions about their responsibility for student learning.<p> This study showed that culture, sex and age related to differences in instructional style of teachers in patterns similar to the ways in which the variables influenced learning style among students. Among students, sex Influenced student preferred learning style to a greater degree than did cultural background by itself. Age was of second importance. Among teachers, sex was found to be the most important variable followed by culture and age, both of which were of similar degree of importance. Cultural background as an Isolated variable was relatively unimportant in relation to either learning or instructional style.

The purpose of this study was to assess the congruence between the learning styles of Division III Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native students, and the instructional styles of Native and non-Native teachers In Nothern Saskatchewan schools.<p> The data for this study were collected by administering Canfield's Learning Styles Inventory and Canfield's Instructional Styles Inventory in six Northern Saskatchewan schools. The total sample of 464 consisted of 385 students and 79 teachers; the student sample was comprised of 81 Cree, 65 Dene, 134 Metis and 105 non-Native students, while the teacher sample consisted of 15 Native teachers and 64 non-Native teachers. The independent variables in this study were culture, sex and age; and the dependent variables were the 16 learning/instructional style scales, predicted levels of student academic performance and perceived responsibility of teachers for the students' learning process.<p> The nine hypotheses posed in the study were tested by an examination of mean scores on 16 inventory scales; and by using one-way ANOVA with accompanying Newman-Keuls comparisons between ordered means. Overall differences in the sample of students and teachers classified by culture, sex and age were assessed by discriminant analysis.<p> The findings of this study must be considered in relation to the following limitations: the size and nature of the sample, the difficulty of assessing learning/instructional style, and the existence of cultural bias. The major question of the study asked whether preferred instructional styles of Native and non-Native teachers were congruent or incongruent with the preferred learning styles of Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native students. It was found that neither group of teachers was congruent with all components of learning style preferences in any student group, but both Native and non-Native teachers were congruent on more than 50 percent of all components. There was strong evidence in the study however that Native teachers were congruent with all student groups on a greater number of components than was true for non-Native teachers. Native teachers were congruent with all student groups in 54 (84.4%) out of 64 possible learning/instructional style components. The congruency rate for non-Native teachers was 40 out of 64 instances, or 62.5%.<p> Certain components of learning style differed among students of Cree, Dene, Metis and non-Native backgrounds, with the Dene most different from the non-Native group. The Cree and the Metis were similar to each other, and fell midway between the Dene and the non-Native students. In sum, differences were found among the groups of Native students (free, Dene and Metis), as well as between the Native and the non-Native students. Although culture was found to relate to learning style, sex appeared to be an even stronger variable influencing student learning style preferences. Age was found to relate to the learning styles of the Dene and non-Native students but not of their Cree and Metis counterparts. The Cree and Metis students held the lowest expectations for their academic performance. The Dene students exceeded the Cree and Metis groups.<p> The points of difference in instructional style indicated that non-Native teachers preferred to teach from logically and clearly organized materials, whereas Native teachers were more likely to encourage students to work independently. No other differences were found between cultural groups. Male and female teachers were found to prefer, to a modest degree, different approaches to teaching at only certain age levels. Female teachers at all age levels reacted more negatively to teaching about inanimate objects than did males. Younger female teachers preferred teaching by having students read written material and by teaching students about working with people, while males of the same age were more Interested in teaching by the experiential approach. In scores on teacher responsibility for the students' learning process, no differences were found among teachers classified by culture, sex and age. The teacher group as a whole appeared to share similar perceptions about their responsibility for student learning.<p> This study showed that culture, sex and age related to differences in instructional style of teachers in patterns similar to the ways in which the variables influenced learning style among students. Among students, sex Influenced student preferred learning style to a greater degree than did cultural background by itself. Age was of second importance. Among teachers, sex was found to be the most important variable followed by culture and age, both of which were of similar degree of importance. Cultural background as an Isolated variable was relatively unimportant in relation to either learning or instructional style.