Studies in the current research paradigm follow a pattern of pre-exhibit activities, in-exhibit monitoring and post-exhibit test to evaluate learning and program effectiveness in museums. These efforts helped identify some important factors correlative to learning, but little is known about how exhibits are designed in a way that space, materials…

Since 2000, school-based mentoring programs have become a popular intervention for students who are struggling in school. The goals of school-based mentoring programs target the reduction of office visits and tardiness, while working to increase grades and social development. Past research includes recommendations for more qualitative examinations…

The purpose of this study was to explore teacher and administrator perceptions of teacher evaluation system modeled after "Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching" (Danielson, 2007). It is universally agreed that teachers are the most significant variable to student educational outcomes. Extensive research has been…

Educators are faced with increased accountability and decreased funding. This means that school districts must carefully determine how they can best invest their limited resources. Informed decisions that serve the best education interests of the students should be the practice of all schools. One small, rural school district has invested…

The University Center Model was designed to serve as an option for attainment of baccalaureate and master's degrees by making 4-year institutions accessible through partnerships with a community college. This model has been prevalent on select community college campus for almost 20 years, with little research to substantiate the effectiveness of…

Teacher evaluation has been a topic of conversation at the federal, state and local level in recent years. While commonly viewed as a way for administrators to inform their personnel decisions, teacher evaluation is rarely assessed on its ability to support teacher growth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Connecticut SEED model of…

To improve environmental conservation efforts in Nigeria, environmental education content and practice need to be transformed to enable learners to study their own environments, share their knowledge, and generate conservation solutions. To achieve this, ten teachers, one researcher, and one educational technologist/research assistant engaged in a…

Efficient and effective student-centered instructional elements could potentially streamline educational processes and still produce competent professionals. However, successful implementation of technology-enriched courses that exceed course design standards and meet learners' needs is limited by contextual interactions of the course designer's…

In this research, I investigated teachers' interpretations of the goals of professional development and factors that contributed to enacted instructional practices. A multiple-case study design was used to examine the interpretations of four high school teachers participating in a year-long professional development program with a standards-based…

This study informs instructional designers, all stakeholders in higher education and K-12, of the successes and challenges associated with designing and developing online/hybrid Linked Learning courses. The study examines via surveys and interviews the perspectives of instructional designers, subject matter experts, students, and course…

The purpose of this study is to determine which factors influence the achievement of program objectives for Kyrgyz Republic alumni of the U.S. governmentally sponsored UGRAD program. The UGRAD program was designed to provide university students from the former Soviet Union an opportunity to study at an institute of higher education in the United…

This dissertation is a program evaluation of an apprenticeship program operated by Siemens Energy, Inc. in Charlotte, North Carolina. The evaluation was based on Stufflebeam's CIPP model of context (C), input (I), process (P), and product (P). The CIPP sought to evaluate (C) current and future objectives, (I) various strategies use to achieve the…

Capitalism and education can appear like unlikely friends at first, yet for-profit educational ventures continue to grow in size and revenue year after year in the United States. How can the government-controlled (and partially funded) educational institutions capitalize upon the opportunity without modifying the mission and vision of the…

Student Study Team Meetings are a function of general education and are conducted to meet the needs of struggling students. A great deal of time, effort, and fiscal resources are dedicated to the Student Study Team process by highly qualified school personnel. The intention of the Student Study Team process is to implement appropriate…

Research and practical experience has shown that, more often than not, the professional development opportunities that are provided for teachers are not intentionally structured to meet their individual needs nor do they have a systemic impact on the knowledge base and skill sets of an entire faculty. Furthermore, the continuous pressure that…