Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Programs for Higher Education
Advisor
Frederick C. Kintzer
Committee Member
Clifford L. Shisler
Committee Member
Susan Torbenson
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
academic year, benchmarking, colleges outcomes assessment, Community Colleges, continuous quality improvement, curriculum evaluation, data access, data collection, Department of Nursing, dissemination, Elgin Community College, evaluation findings, evaluation plan, evaluation procedures, faculty recommendations, implementation, literature review, nursing curriculum, nursing education, nursing faculty, outcome assessment, problem-solving methodology, questionnaire development, recommendations, research methodology, research questions, research techniques, systematic plan
Abstract
There were six research questions for this study. First, "What are the essential criteria/components of a systematic plan to address evaluation issues in the nursing curriculum?" Second, "What is the appropriate and valid format for a systematic plan to address evaluation issues in the nursing curriculum?" Third, "What types of data exist, where were the data located, how can the data be accessed for evaluation of the curriculum, and what essential data still needs to be collected?" Fourth, "What research techniques or strategies are most effective to evaluate the data collected on the nursing curriculum?" Fifth, "What types of recommendations are appropriate to be made to assure successful implementation of the plan and to whom should the recommendations be disseminated?" Sixth, “What is a feasible plan for evaluating the plan in the future?”
A review of the literature was conducted. The literature review centered on the following topics: the definitions of evaluation, essential criteria/components of a systematic plan to address evaluation issues in a nursing curriculum, data and methods that are most effective in evaluating various components of the curriculum, questionnaire development, benchmarking, the relationship of outcome assessment to curriculum evaluation, to whom and how the evaluation findings should be disseminated and principles of continuous quality improvement as applied to the ongoing evaluation of the adequacy of the evaluation plan.
The development problem solving methodology was the primary methodology used to complete this applied dissertation. This methodology was appropriate since the development process used to complete the study resulted in a plan that meets the needs of the Department of Nursing to develop a systematic plan to address evaluation issues associated with the nursing curriculum. The plan provides a structured mechanism for ongoing evaluation of the nursing curriculum. The product developed is an evaluation plan, therefore, elements of the evaluation problem-solving methodology and the research methodology are evident throughout this applied dissertation.
It was concluded that the procedures followed in the writing of this applied dissertation provided answers to the six research questions and resulted in a comprehensive plan to address evaluation issues associated with the nursing curriculum at Elgin Community College. Finally, it was concluded that the nursing faculty are pioneers in their quest to implement the concept of continuous quality improvement in the nursing curriculum
Thirteen recommendations resulted from the writing of this applied dissertation. It was recommended that the results be disseminated to the entire nursing faculty at the annual end of semester meeting this academic year. Nine recommendations addressed further actions pertinent to the actual plan implementation, and three addressed the need for future considerations.