Date of Award
3-1-1987
Document Type
Dissertation - NSU Access Only
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Center for the Advancement of Education
Abstract
The purpose of this Major Applied Research Project was to develop a model for teacher-directed evaluation of elements that impact on instructional effectiveness at Sheridan Vocational-Technical Center. The problem was that there was no process in place for teachers to initiate and then participate in the evaluation of their new instructional programs. The research question was: Can generic evaluation instruments be developed that could assess program quality in terms of context and process for the purpose of improving new vocational programs? Three evaluation instruments were developed to be utilized by the new Travel Agency Operations students, the advisory committee, and the planning team for the Travel program. The procedure was to have the instruments validated by representative from the six vocational disciplines that are offered at Sheridan Vocational-Technical Center. The instruments were then field-tested by the first group of Travel Agency Operations students , the advisory committee, and the staff. The results of this study provided a model and tools for teacher use in the evaluation of their own new programs as well as information that could be used in refining the new Travel Agency Operations program. The instruments, along with the results of the field test, will be presented to the director of the school and to the planning team. The major conclusion of this study was that teachers can direct their own evaluation efforts and that these efforts could contribute to the success of new vocational programs through the use of this model and instrumentation. Another conclusion was that the new Travel Agency Operations program was judged to be a quality program by students, advisory committee, and staff. Two sets of recommendations were derived from the study—one set in terms of the Travel Agency Operations program and one set in terms of the evaluation model and instrumentation. First, five specific investigation. Recommendation followed in those five areas: textbooks, appearance of school grounds, length of the training program, the Individualized Manpower Training System, and the departmental tour that was part of the students orientation. Another recommendation about the new program was to validate the quality indicators of the Travel Agency Operations program by comparing questionnaire results with placement follow-up reports and employer satisfaction surveys. Second, it was recommended that the evaluation model and instrumentation be used in subsequent new programs at Sheridan Vocational-Technical Center.