Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Stan Hannah
Committee Member
Phyllis Olmstead
Committee Member
Anita Barrett
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
adjunct computer faculty, adjunct instructors, applied research projects, campus-based learning, college faculty, collegiality, computer courses, curriculum design, curriculum development, El Centro, evaluation criteria, evaluation plans, faculty development, faculty development models, faculty development programs, faculty handbooks, grants, implementation plans, independent study, instructional effectiveness, mentors, online learning, participant satisfaction, professional development, program evaluation, program implementation, student complaints, student retention, teaching skills
Abstract
The purpose of this applied research project was to design a faculty development program for adjunct computer faculty at El Centro with a plan for implementation and evaluation. The problem was that a number of adjunct instructors teaching computer courses are ineffective in one or more teaching areas.
There were six research questions in this study. (a) What does the related literature indicate concerning effective teaching skills to be used by college instructors? (b) What are the contents and design of faculty development models in other institutions of higher education? (c) What are the contents of a faculty development program? (d) What are the curriculum design components of a faculty development program? (e) How will the resulting faculty development program be implemented? (f) What are the criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the resulting program?
This project used the development methodology for the design of the program and the implementation plan. The evaluation methodology was used to evaluate these elements.
Procedures included a literature review. Models from three other institutions were examined, criteria for the content of the program were developed, the curriculum and an implementation plan were designed, and an evaluation plan was developed.
The product was a program containing lessons in a variety of formats: campus-based, online, and independent study. The implementation plan included two participation levels, introductory and advanced, during two semesters and one semester respectively.
The evaluation plan sought to determine participant satisfaction, improved teaching skills, increased student retention, fewer student complaints, and program currency. Recommendations were to implement in the fall of 2003, to continue research for updating, and to consider applying for a grant.