Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Advisor

Robert Rose

Committee Member

Maran Torrence

Committee Member

Maryellen Maher

Keywords

action planning, adult education, computer science, educational leadership, faculty development, technology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the adult education technology program at a chartered alternative adult education center in Florida. The adult education center had a low rate of students passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). This study examined the impact of the use of computer technology in an effort to improve student learning in mathematics, reading, and science. Computers at the institution were used by all students for tutorials to prepare them for the FCAT and to obtain a high school diploma. The research questions for this study were as follows:

  1. Is the education technology program of the adult education center achieving the desired school district’s goal?
  2. Does the curriculum provide the necessary technology skills to students that will enable them to pass the FCAT and obtain a high school diploma?

Research methods for this project were both qualitative and quantitative. The Content-Input-Process-Product (CIPP) model was used for the evaluation of the adult technology program. Fifty students were randomly selected from the pool of students who took the FCAT. The results of the FCAT were examined to determine if the students were achieving desirable scores in accordance with the school district’s standard. The results were compared with the previous year FCAT scores to see if there were positive improvements in student scores. Students and faculty were also surveyed by the use of a Likert-type survey. It was found that the education technology program of the adult education center was achieving the desired school district goal and that the curriculum was providing the necessary technology skills to students that would enable them to pass the FCAT and to obtain a high school diploma. With the use of technology at the adult education center, the rate of students passing the FCAT increased nearly 50% over the previous year.

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