This study investigated the role of academic collaborations in enhancing critical thinking skills among graduate students, drawing on Critical Theory. A qualitative research approach was utilized, incorporating an exploratory case study design to investigate the effects of collaborative academic practices on the development of critical thinking.…

This study investigated an early integrated research-based technology course's influence on online Ed.D. doctoral student information literacy skills development and research self-efficacy. The mixed methods research design used a one-group pretest-posttest supplemented by qualitative measures of document analysis, student focus groups, and…

The focus on equity and inclusion in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s led to the creation of Upward Bound (UB). The core mission of UB is to prepare high school students with the academic and social skills necessary to enroll in post-secondary education and beyond. However, there is a lack of empirical studies on how the growth of students'…

This paper explores how alumni of a multi-term public service program understand the connection between the program and their career development. Qualitative data were collected from 393 alumni based on six open-ended survey questions. While career and professional development is not an explicit goal of the program, a thematic analysis suggests…

Informal learning plays a critical role in supporting instructional design (ID) students to develop knowledge and skills they will need as future employees and to establish their professional development trajectory. This survey study is part of a larger design-based study that seeks to design, develop, and evaluate a technology-mediated learning…

This study examined the supports that female students sought out and found of value in an online database design course in a health informatics master's program. A target outcome was to help inform the practice of faculty and administrators in similar programs. Health informatics is a growing field that has faced shortages of qualified workers who…

Student surveys are often important elements of assessment in higher education, but alumni surveys can play a substantial role as well. However, little is known about how responses from these two groups compare to one another. Combining data from the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) and the National Survey of Student Engagement…

The purpose of the study was to analyze two certificate programs in regard to the impacts on alumni professional career and strengths and weaknesses of certificate programs in the views of their alumni. The sample consisted of 58 participants who completed one of the certificate programs. The results showed that alumni rated self-improvement as…

The purposes of this qualitative study were to determine the contribution of 4-H experiences to leadership life skill development of college-level 4-H alumni and to determine the effect of those skills on collegiate alumni's desire to continue involvement in 4-H. The research methods included semi-structured interviews. Major findings of the study…

US high schools appear to measure success according to the number of students admitted into four-year institutions each year. Although this is one measure, there are some schools that focus on developing important life skills needed to become productive members of society. Online surveys were sent out to alumni, students, teachers, and parents to…

Experiences of Eastern New Mexico University in conducting a student outcomes study are described. After tracing the background of the study, the following outcome dimensions are described: knowledge outcomes, skills outcomes, attitudes and values, student relationship with the university, and occupational outcomes. The university's Student…

The validity of skills developed in college to subsequent career performance was studied at Alverno College. The study sample included over 750 women students, over 60 alumnae, over 80 women nurses and over 100 women managers and executives from the Milwaukee community. Attention was directed to: whether the competencies and assessment techniques…