Browsing by Subject "Community College"
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Item Community College Student First Year Fall to Fall Persistence: Experiences of Successful First-Time-In-College Hispanics at a Predominately Hispanic Student Community College in the South Texas/Mexico Border Region(2012-02-14) Canales, LuzelmaAs the United States and Texas become increasingly dependent on the success of Hispanics in higher education based on degree attainment, decision-makers and policy-makers are looking for strategies for addressing the education attainment needs of the Hispanic population. The purpose of this naturalistic inquiry was to understand 1) the barriers experienced by successful first year (fall to fall) first-time-in-college Hispanic students at a predominately Hispanic student community college on the South Texas/Mexico Border Region, 2) the expertise/knowledge required to successfully overcome these barriers during the first year (fall to fall) in college, and 3) based on these findings, offer suggestions and recommendations for addressing the barriers experienced by Hispanic students enrolled in such community colleges. More specifically, the researcher examined the barriers experienced by students during the first year of college, and based on their experiences, the expertise required to overcome those barriers. The study utilized Padilla?s (1991) Student Success Model as the primary theoretical framework for the study. The data analysis led to the identification of six barrier categories, which included: 1) transition from high school to college; 2) personal and family commitments; 3) institutional support; 4) student accountability; 5) instructor issues; and 6) developmental studies/college readiness. In the findings, I include the role of general college knowledge and academic college readiness in students successfully completing the first year (fall to fall) of college. The researcher utilized the results of the study to develop the Community College Student Success Model for First-Time-in-College Students, which was adapted from Padilla (1991, 2001) and Padilla, Trevi?o, Gonzalez, and Trevi?o (1996). The researcher recommends utilizing Lynham?s (2002) General Method of Theory-Building to move towards the development of a theory for Hispanic student success in predominately Hispanic community colleges. The researcher also recommended the development and implementation of collaborative programs and services between the public school districts and the community college for facilitating the acquisition of general college knowledge by high school students before they graduate from high school.Item Perceived and reported occupational stressors and coping strategies of selected community college business faculty members in Texas(Texas A&M University, 2004-11-15) Allison, Genevieve J.Two primary purposes of this study were to explore and to identify the sources of occupational stressors and coping strategies perceived and reported by selected Texas community college faculty members and to generate current demographics about these faculty members that would be useful in understanding such stress. Another purpose of this study was to measure and to compare for possible relationships among stressors, coping strategies, and selected demographic characteristics. Participants who received a three-part survey questionnaire consisted of 90 community college faculty members who were members of either Texas Business and Technology Educators Association or the Accounting Section of the Texas Community College Teachers Association. Each participant was sent a survey questionnaire consisting of three sections. Sections I and II were used to gather data pertaining to the sources of occupational stressors and the coping strategies used by the participants. Section III was designed to request information concerning personal and professional demographic characteristics of each research participant. An analysis of the data was completed on all three sections. The major findings for the study indicated the following: 1. Community business teachers experienced high levels of stress from issues involving reward and recognition, time constraints, college/departmental influence, professional identity, and student interaction. 2. Community college business faculty members responded by identifying additional stressors, such as teaching inadequately prepared students to experiencing too heavy a teaching load. To relieve these stressors, these faculty members use coping strategies, such as talking to other persons about problems to experiencing nature. Based on the findings of this study, this researcher's recommendations include the following: 1. Community college districts should provide stress management training to their faculty, especially the new faculty, along with some clerical assistance for all faculty members, especially during the beginning and ending of a semester. 2. Community college administrators should encourage the establishment of wellness programs. 3. Community college faculty members should be encouraged to develop and to utilize effective coping strategies to reduce the negative effects of their stress.Item The impact of mathematics anxiety, gender, and mathematics achievement on ontogenetic indicators for Hispanic/Latino students in higher education mathematics classes(Texas A&M University, 2006-10-30) Perez, Armando IsaacA convenience sample of 123 Hispanic/Latino students from a predominantly Hispanic/Latino South Texas community college was used to determine if gender and/or journal-writing had any effects on mathematics anxiety or achievement. Eight sections of college-algebra courses were administered the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) to determine levels of mathematics anxiety and the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) to determine levels of mathematical achievement. Results of the study suggest that journal-writing decreases levels of mathematics anxiety among students. In addition, the study suggests that males and females do not differ in terms of mathematical achievement. These finding are consistent with previous studies. However, the study also suggested that males and females report the same levels of mathematics anxiety and that journal-writing does not increase mathematical achievement. This is in contrast to previous published studies.Item The relationship between graphing calculator use and the development of classroom norms in an exemplay teacher's college algebra course(Texas A&M University, 2008-10-10) Gerren, Sally SueThe purpose of this study was to advance knowledge about the relationship between graphing calculator use and classroom norm development. An interpretive case study design incorporating qualitative and quantitative research methods was used to explore the question: What happens when an exemplary teacher uses graphing calculators in a college algebra class? The purposively selected participants were the teacher and eleven students of a Texas community college algebra course. All 29 classes of the 14-week spring 2006 semester were observed in their entirety by the researcher. The theoretical frameworks guiding the study were the affective representation system and the Multiple Representations Model of Learning and Teaching with the use of the Mathematics and Science Classroom Observation System for data collection, analysis, and profiling of classroom lessons. Originally developed for grades K-12, the use of the instrument was extended to college algebra. Triangulation of data sources using constant comparative and content analysis methods were used to support the three major findings: (1) The instructor's proactive orchestration of specialized instruction, support materials, and designed activities contributed to the establishment of graphing calculator use as an essential part of classroom norms and promoted students' independent use of the tool; (2) The dynamic and interactive features of the TI-84 Plus graphing calculator facilitated the delivery of instruction at high cognitive levels during student interactive activities providing access to, exploration of, and use of multiple representations for some mathematical concepts and solutions not easily attainable using traditional methods; and (3) Although the majority of students had never used a graphing calculator before the course, all students used the tool at appropriate times during instructional activities, self-reporting that their use of the calculator was generally beneficial for enhancing their understanding of lessons and supporting class interactions. Additionally, all students independently chose to use the calculator during major assessments and reported knowledgeable use of the tool to facilitate improved test performance. Replication of the study is limited because the norms developed in this case are unique to the teacher and students who negotiated their establishment. Suggestions are given regarding educational policies, reform practices, and research extensions.Item Towards a culture of caring: formative assessment interactions to improve teaching and learning for developmental studies students in a community college(2009-05-15) Morales-Vale, SuzanneThe purpose of this study was to understand how formative assessment interactions in developmental education reading, writing, and mathematics courses at a community college were experienced by both students and faculty members and how they were perceived to impact learning and teaching. The specific assessment technique studied involved a series of one-on-one, out-of-class Feedback Intervention (FI) interactions that focused on discussions regarding students? strengths and weaknesses in relation to their course learning outcomes. In using a case study approach, I interviewed students and faculty members in focus group and individual settings. Using constant-comparative qualitative analysis, I examined their perceptions in order to better understand the impact student-faculty interactions had on students? learning and faculty members? teaching experiences. Questionnaires were also used to corroborate findings. The following research questions were used: (1) What are the contexts and learning experiences of developmental studies students? (2) How has formative assessment, specifically out-of-class interactions with their instructors, affected perceptions of their learning experiences? (3) How have these interactions affected developmental studies faculty members? perceptions about their teaching? When I considered the overall impact of the student-faculty interactions, one overarching theme emerged: the FI interaction did have a positive impact on learning, and to a lesser degree, teaching. This theme was supported through two main findings related to learning: the interaction increased students? motivation to learn and improved their learning strategies. In regards to teaching, the main finding was that facilitation of the FI interaction affected faculty members in that they became more learner-centered in their teaching strategies and methodologies. These findings confirmed a connective, dynamic learning process for both students and faculty members.