Marie Kraska

Cyberbullying: Assessment of Student Experience for Continuous Improvement Planning.

This study examines the use of polling students to improve conditions of learning in their school. Students from three schools (N = 2,006) in Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 completed an online poll about ho...This study examines the use of polling students to improve conditions of learning in their school. Students from three schools (N = 2,006) in Grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 completed an online poll about how cyberbullying affects their personal lives. Principals’ impressions about the benefits of student polling are explained along with the Cyberbullying Poll outcomes. Principals concluded that student input is an important contribution for consideration in development of continuous improvement planning for their school.

Adolescent Identity and Career Exploration.

The wish to be seen as an adult has been an adolescent goal for generations. This goal is more difficult to attain in a technological society because extended education is needed for employment but the criteria for adult recognition continue to reflect conditions of the past. Results are reported for an online poll of 288 high school students about their career orientation. Ways to improve student readiness for employment are recommended for schools, parents, and adolescents.

College of education assessment administrators: work experiences, challenges, and incongruities

The study was based upon surveying colleges/schools of education with graduate programs from the US News and World Report ‘Best Education Schools 2011’ (N = 89). Results indicated that greatest time was spent on data collection, data management, and compilation; while least time was focused on instrument technical characteristics and opportunities for professional development. Working with faculty to facilitate their engagement of the assessment process was viewed as most challenging; in contrast opportunities for professional development was seen as least challenging. Several benefits of a strong advisory assessment committee on time on tasks were also supported; however, there was no influence of years of work experience or type of data management system. A limited set of time spent on task–challenge discordant areas were identified, most notably occurring on intrapersonal or technical endeavors. The roles of these findings impacting the efficacy of the assessment process are also discussed.

Lisrel model of three latent variables from 19 meaning of work items for vocational students

The problem for this investigation was to clarify relationships among responses to manifest variables by using scores on theoretical latent variables. The Meaning and Value of Work Scale, part I: Meaning of Work, was administered to 482 high school students enrolled in their first year of a vocational education program in Alabama. Polychoric correlations and asymptotic variance and covariance matrices were computed with PRELIS for the 40 meaning of work items. Three latent variables, Self-Actualization, Independence, and Societal were identified for the study. Results are reported on an unweighted least squares analysis. Phi of .81 was obtained between Independence and Societal with a corresponding t-value exceeding 20. The total coefficient of determination (reliability) for the manifest Self-Actualization variable was .85, for the manifest Independence and Societal variables, .96, and for the structural equations, .89. Results indicated that an individuals attitudes toward independence and society in a work-related context may contribute to ones work-oriented self actualization.