732 research outputs found
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Students With Intellectual Disabilities Accessing Postsecondary Education Settings: Promoting Education Equity: Seeing Students for Their Ability First and Supporting Their Development as Contributing Members Into a Diverse Society
No full textThe purpose of this ethnographic study was to examine and describe the lived experiences of seven students with intellectual disabilities (ID) participating in two postsecondary education (PSE) settings in Southern California that were aligned to the Think College Standards-Based Conceptual Framework for Inclusive Higher Education.
Through a qualitative approach of ethnography, the researcher examined various stakeholders’ awareness and ability to support students with ID in higher education settings in an effort to support future development of PSE programs for students with ID. Methodology tools included classroom observations, individual interviews, and examination of artifacts from the sample of PSE settings in Southern California supporting students with ID.
Through triangulation of the interviews, observations, and artifacts, the researcher found 13 themes that emerged as substantial stories related to the lived experiences of students with ID in PSE. The findings included that the experiences of the students with ID in PSE were associated with new opportunities, meaningful experiences through independence and teamwork, development of self-advocacy, community acceptance similar to experiences of nondisabled peers, confidence to raise the bar of expectations, and an understanding of the impact on others through the lived experience of the students with ID in PSE.
As a result of inclusive higher education, the experiences of students with ID in PSE programs focused on developing life skills beyond the classroom through impacting the culture of the college and community, increased acceptance amongst nondisabled peers, and created parallel adult development that led to more fulfilling adult lives and deepened relationships with others.
Recommendations from the research include PSE teams’ need to create interdisciplinary groups that design inclusive, innovative classroom environments that promote community acceptance, acknowledgment of individual ability, and increased relationships; create assessment tools to determine individual strengths and needs; and offer additional scholarships to increase the opportunity to access higher education environments
The Lived Experiences of Leading Edge Certified Elementary School Teachers Who Use Instructional Technology to Foster Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity, and Communication in Their Classrooms: A Phenomenological Study
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the perceptions of current and former Leading Edge Certified (LEC) elementary school teachers regarding instructional technology practices that facilitate students’ development of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity (4Cs) in one-to-one computer classrooms in Riverside County, California.
Methodology: This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological design. The primary source of data collection was a standardized, open-ended interview aligned to the research questions of 12 participants. This study employed inductive analysis to analyze the rich data. Using inductive analysis, the data were coded and themes were identified that aligned to the research questions.
Findings: Analysis of the data revealed that current and former Leading Edge Certified (LEC) elementary school teachers used several instructional technology practices to facilitate students’ development of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity (4Cs) in one-to-one computer classrooms. Participants identified four instructional technology practices to promote students’ critical thinking: gradual release of responsibility, problem solving, guided questioning, and self-reflection tools. Participants described three instructional technology practices to facilitate collaboration among students: cooperative groups, peer-to-peer teaching, and shared presentation tools. Three instructional technology practices were identified to support students’ v communication skills: clear teacher expectations, self-selection of communication tools, and class discussion in a face-to-face or virtual environment. Additionally, the following were identified to encourage students’ creativity: self-expression and discovery/play with technology and Web 2.0 tools.
Conclusions: The researcher concluded that instructional technology practices LEC teachers use to facilitate critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity in their one-to-one classroom can lead to student preparedness for college and career. Moreover, the researcher concluded the need to deepen teachers’ understanding of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity and their technology integration skills.
Recommendations: Seven areas of further research were recommended to increase the body of knowledge related to these variables
Meaning-Centered Leadership: How Exemplary Technology Leaders Create Organizational Meaning
No full textABSTRACT Meaning-Centered Leadership: How Exemplary Technology Leaders Create Organizational Meaning by Ed Jackson Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary technology leaders use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration. It was also the purpose of this research to identify how followers perceive that the behaviors related to character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration help to create personal and organizational meaning. Methodology: This research looked at leadership through the lens of meaning making. Current leadership trends, which are driven by technological advancement and the need for constant innovation, require workplaces that foster meaning. This call for meaning-centered leadership is widely agreed upon and is often referred to as an urgent need. In order for American technology companies to compete in the global marketplace, retain and inspire followers, build and sustain their organizations, they must build organizations with high levels of trust that are purpose driven and willing to take risks. Through the identification and description of how exemplary technology leaders create organizational meaning for themselves and their followers, this research furthered the nascent research on the topic of meaning-centered leadership and its potential to impact the workplace through the creation of personal and organizational meaning. Findings: The three exemplary technology leaders interviewed for this research described using behaviors related to character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration to guide their organizations. Each leader identified vision as the most important of the five leadership elements; however, the leaders also described a complex interaction of all five of the elements. They described a clear linkage between vision and inspiration. On the other hand, the followers surveyed for this study identified all five leadership elements as impactful. Conclusions: By combining the five leadership elements of character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration, this study constructed a leadership framework for viewing how leaders and followers experience organizational meaning. The findings of this research support the need for technology leaders to behave in ways that actively communicate all five leadership elements to their followers. Recommendations: Additional research should be conducted to further elucidate how leaders and followers experience the creation of organizational meaning through character, vision, relationships, wisdom, and inspiration
Exploring the Posttraumatic Growth Experiences of Individuals Bereaved After a Loved One Dies by Suicide
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore posttraumatic growth experiences in individuals bereaved after someone close to them died by suicide. Specifically, this study examined the lived experiences of survivors of suicide on five posttraumatic growth domains: relating to others, new possibilities, personal strength, spiritual change, and appreciation of life.
Methodology: This study used a qualitative phenomenological research design to examine the lived experiences of posttraumatic growth in suicide-bereaved individuals. First, study participants were administered the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) to see if they exhibited signs of posttraumatic growth. Participants who demonstrated posttraumatic growth were invited to the next part of the study, a semi-structured interview about their experience of posttraumatic growth. The population for this study included suicide-bereaved individuals in the Riverside and San Diego counties of California.
Findings: This study found that suicide-bereaved individuals reported an increased appreciation of life and loved ones and encountered new opportunities and possibilities, including new roles and opportunities to help others. This study also found that participants had an increased awareness of spiritually after their loss. Additionally, this study found that respondents had an increase in their personal strength and their ability to survive a tragic loss.
Conclusions: These findings led the researcher to conclude that when suicide-bereaved individuals experience posttraumatic growth after a loss, they are able to grow, heal, and transform as a result of their loss. This growth encompasses embracing life and others in different ways, including having new experiences and opportunities. Additionally, suicide-bereaved individuals demonstrate posttraumatic growth by experiencing increased personal strength which enables them to do things that they didn’t do before. Participants also experienced growth through an increased awareness in their spirituality and by finding a new purpose in life.
Recommendations: Mental health practitioners can assist their clients by understanding the underpinnings of posttraumatic growth to employ interventions aimed at promoting growth in their clients. Additionally, professionals should promote communication as a useful tool to work through grief and connect with other family members. Lastly, professionals should enable and assist clients in the pursuit of finding a new purpose in their life post loss
Leadership: A Mixed-Method Case Study to Explore the Behaviors a Consultancy Firm Managing Partner Uses to Create Meaning in Their Leadership—for Themselves and Their Followers—through Character, Relationships, Inspiration, Vision, and Wisdom
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this mixed-method case study was to identify and describe the behaviors that exemplary consulting-firm Managing Partners use to create personal and organizational meaning for themselves and their followers through character, vision, relationships, wisdom and inspiration. In addition, it was the purpose of this study to determine the degree of importance which followers assign to the behaviors related to vision, character, relationships, wisdom and inspiration help to create personal and organizational meaning. Methodology: This study is part of a thematic exploratory mixed-methods case study. Its focus is exemplar consulting-firm Managing Partners, and it is conducted in two concurrent parts: Part I—a qualitative in-depth interview with an exemplar consulting-firm Managing Partner; and Part II—a quantitative self-administered survey among thirteen followers of the Managing Partner interviewed in Part I. Findings: The Managing Partner shows a reliance on vision, in general, and a shared vision, in particular, as the prominent domain in his leadership. Character comprises truth, trust, believability, and acceptance of consequences, but also calls for Emotional Intelligence. Relationships focused on the pro-active behavior of soliciting input from followers, listening to them and thinking about the implications of their comments. His approach to inspiration wasvitwo-dimensional—flexible and situation-centric by which he and his followers were inspired to act; and toward outcomes to which he inspired followers to achieve. Wisdom was couched in terms of its being gained from lifelong experiences and not necessarily emanating from formal education. Followers concur that all five domains are all nearly equally important. Finally, the level of importance followersattachto leadership behaviors correspondedwiththe age of the follower. Recommendations: Further research into the effects of multi-generational teams and the influence varying years of life experience may have on a leader\u27s choice of meaning-making behaviors and strategies appears warranted. Finally, the exploration of additional domains not included herein may also bear fruitful intelligence; for example: spirituality, purpose, andpolitics
Finding Common Ground: Learning From Leaders Who Have Utilized Conflict Transformation Behaviors in the Mental Health Field in the United States
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study was to discover and describe how exemplary leaders establish common ground and produce breakthrough results in the mental health field by utilizing the 6 domains of conflict transformation: collaboration, communication, problem solving, process, emotional intelligence, and ethics.
Methodology: This thematic, phenomenological study was accomplished through examination of the lived experiences of exemplary leaders with firsthand experience transforming conflict and finding common ground. The target population for this study included executive-level leaders of nonprofit organizations, governmental institutions, state and national associations, and private businesses serving adults and children with mental illness, developmental or behavioral disabilities, and/or substance use disorders in the United States. Exemplary leaders were selected through criterion sampling to comprise the sample. In-depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted as the primary method for data collection.
Findings: The findings from this study illustrate that exemplary leaders in the mental health field use key aspects of the 6 domains of conflict transformation as a set of intersecting behaviors that facilitate transforming conflict and finding common ground.
Conclusions: It is concluded that leaders in the mental health field must have command of key aspects of the 6 domains of conflict transformation in order to achieve breakthrough results toward parity in the mental health field.
Recommendations: Further research is advised: A replication of this study, a multiple-case study, and a mixed-method study are recommended to deepen understanding of finding common ground. Phenomenological studies exploring the unexpected findings in this research are also recommended. Developing the findings in this study will be useful for shaping policy, practice, and professional development in order to impact transformational change in the mental health field
The Lived Experiences of Asian Americans Who Became Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of California Community Colleges
No full textThe purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of Asian Americans who became chief executive officers (CEOs) of a California Community College District. This study discussed the experiences, the influence of Asian culture, the perception of Asian Americans, and the challenges encountered by Asian American CEOs. To know and understand how Asian Americans attained the CEO position is significant because there are very few who are in this role. It is important to understand the lived experiences of Asian American California Community College CEOs and learn how they were able to make a major breakthrough by reaching the top leadership position. Asian Americans generally have the highest rate of educational achievement compared to other groups and are viewed as high performers in the workplace, however, they are underrepresented as leaders of these higher education organizations. This study included how Asian culture influenced the experiences of Asian American CEOs. Methodology: This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of eight Asian American CEOs of California community colleges. The researcher conducted structured, in-depth interviews as the form of data collection and analyzed the data for themes. Findings: Based upon the information gathered, the data revealed that Asian American CEOs were raised to make education a priority and have a strong sense of their cultural identity. Additionally, Asian American CEOs acknowledged stereotypes and overcame perceptions about Asians. Conclusions: Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that education is a core value to Asian American CEOs and motivates their purpose to serve students, Asian Americans CEOs in California community colleges experienced a strong support network that inspired them to pursuit CEO positions. Recommendations: After an assessment of the conclusions, further research in this subject area is recommended. A study using an expanded geographic area should be conducted so that community colleges in other states could be observed. California is such a diverse state so a comparative analysis from the same study applied to another state or region may add to the body of knowledge
A Delphi Study to Identify Jobs that Experts in the Field of Agricultural Business Identify as Necessary for High School Students to be Prepared for in Agriculture in the Next Five Years, to Rate the Importance of the Jobs Identified as Necessary, and to Identify the Skills Necessary to Perform Successfully in Each of the Five Most Highly Rated Jobs
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study was to identify jobs that experts in the field of agricultural business identify as necessary for high school students to be prepared for in Agriculture in the next five years, to rate the importance of the jobs identified as necessary, and to identify the skills necessary to perform successfully in each of the five most highly rated jobs.
Methodology: The Delphi technique was used to gather data, perceptions and opinions from 12 agricultural experts in the Central Valley of California. Survey participants were identified as experts if they have at least ten years of experience working in the field of agriculture and a minimum of three years of experience in the agricultural field in a management position. Participants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the agricultural fields of study. Based upon the data collected, the researcher was able to gain depth of understanding and insight. A total of three rounds of questions were presented to the expert panel group.
Findings: These results gave a clear selection of the top five jobs experts in the field of agriculture identify as necessary for high school students to be prepared for in agriculture the next five years, and led to a consensus among experts about the top five skills experts as necessary to be successful in the top five most highly rated jobs.
Recommendations: Recommendations for action moving forward include studies broken down by county, to determine how many of individuals employed in the agricultural arena have certifications, and degrees, and how many have learned their skills through high school agricultural programs and through internships, to determine the rate job retention and promotion for individuals who began with entry level positions, and to determine whether alignment of high school agricultural programs with certification programs and industry needs would be beneficial for the industry. These recommendations will ensure that the needs of the agricultural industry are being met and would benefit the industry
