ERIC Number: ED640930
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 189
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3810-2103-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Case Study Examining Perceptions of Postsecondary Career and Technical High-Risk Education Instructors within the North Carolina Community College System
Jarvis Kevin Gray
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, North Carolina State University
The purpose of this research answers two research questions: How do community college welding instructors view the importance of teaching safety in the North Carolina community college welding classrooms and labs in certificate, diploma, and associate degree programs? How does it impact what they teach? What are the safety skills taught, and how do community college welding instructors interact with students in relation to teaching safety in the welding classroom and lab? A mixed methods approach was utilized to generate multiple case studies. Each case study answered the individual questions. Two phases were utilized to collect and analyze data to generate case studies. In phase one welding instructors were sent an anonymous survey link to answer questions regarding their experience, comfort level, and understanding of safety within the welding laboratory. At the conclusion of phase one instructors were given the opportunity to participate in a virtual recorded Zoom interview. In Phase two of the research 10 instructors were interviewed and transcripts were coded, categorized, and themed to answer each of the research questions. In addition, multiple artifacts were evaluated. These artifacts also included welding instructor job postings from July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022, the safety portion of welding textbooks, and curriculum guides. Key themes that emerged from the research included: Instructors desire to teach students as much as they could about safety before they entered the workplace, recognition that workplaces differed significantly in their ability to provide adequate safety training, resources to ensure student safety are needed more than ever, the level of safety education has increased dramatically since instructors were students. Instructors often focused on technique and proper equipment setup to prevent injuries. Implications for research and practitioners in the classroom included a need for more professional development for instructors to teach supporting subjects in material handling, and fire prevention techniques. Textbooks are still lagging for up-to-date exposures that welders face in the current work environment. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Community Colleges, Welding, College Faculty, Occupational Safety and Health, Safety Education, Curriculum
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A