Purpose: This study investigates the effectiveness of ROTC programs in equipping students with competency-based skills crucial for career readiness. Methodology: Through a content analysis of ROTC curricula and employer expectations, this study compares what is being taught in ROTC to what employers expect college graduates to know. Key Findings:…

A changing landscape in youth sports and educational institutions has resulted in a growing number of high school student-athletes being coached by adults who do not work in the schools they attend. This study provides a foundational understanding of the relationship between in-building coaches, hereafter referred to as educator-coaches, and their…

This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of eleven current or former remote team leaders from five different job sectors, including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), medical, insurance and personal finance, international aid, and academia. Analysis of the data gained through interviews identified five…

There are jobs available today that did not exist 10 years ago. According to employers, there is a significant gap in essential universal skills in recent college graduates necessary for success in any career. Because of student debt and rising college tuition, more than ever, higher education is being held accountable for its contribution to…

Children who develop a negative student self-concept are more likely to disengage from school and this disengagement can lead them to eventually drop out. This study was designed to examine the experiences of an instructor-inclusive team tasked with using a logic model to identify a systemic problem that negatively impacted students and led them…

Despite generous funding, the current data shows slow-moving demographical changes in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, and little to no slowing in the decline of STEM-associated career interests in underserved communities (Leeker, Maxey, Cardella & Hynes, 2019). While a considerable amount has been written about the…

This study used a mixed methods approach to investigate the perceptions of administrators and instructors of full-time CTE programs in Oklahoma technology centers regarding their ability to develop employability skills in students. This study was framed by the human capital theory, which is described as the acquisition of a person's knowledge and…

Systems thinking is the ability to see the big picture and the related elements when designing, and how these relationships form the big picture. In engineering design, systems thinking is valuable to both industry, as well as engineering education. As such, it creates opportunities for researchers to better understand systems thinking of both…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore how Higher Education Institutions' (HEIs) instructors perceived the engagement of college learners with instructional practices online during the COVID-19 Pandemic at a college in New York. Underpinning the study was the engagement theory framework, which focuses on the use of…

Design thinking is a process for solving complex problems through creative actions. There are three primary ways design thinking is being used in education today: (a) as a teaching tool, (b) as a strategy for teachers to redesign their students' learning experiences, and (c) as a tool for school leaders to design school change (Gallagher &…

"There is a marked difference between possessing knowledge and skills and being able to use them well under taxing conditions. Personal accomplishments require not only skills but self-beliefs of efficacy to use them well" (Bandura, 1993, p. 119). Low school leader self-efficacy leads to the poor performance of school leaders and…

A multiple case study was designed to examine the components of data literacy used by formal and informal leaders to support the work of Data Teams. Nine formal leaders and ten informal leaders constituted the participants. One overarching central question and seven subquestions guided the research. The answer to the central question, How do…

Design problems are highly ill-structured, having "ambiguous specifications of goals, no determined solution path, and the need to integrate multiple knowledge domains" (Jonassen, 2000, p. 80). Design problems are generated by stakeholders to meet needs that exist outside of the classroom (Simon, 1973; Jonassen, 2000)--this is in…

The purpose of this qualitative case-study design was to better understand P-12 students' soft skills and postsecondary readiness through the perceptions of higher education counselors and advisors. Specifically, this study investigated the impact of students' soft skills and the relation to unprepared postsecondary students. Throughout the…

Orientation programs on college campuses across the United States exist to serve the needs of new students to transition and thrive in their new setting. Some students may arrive on campus for even more specialized programs beyond traditional orientation programs, such as athletic practice, that focus on academic courses or involve a wilderness…