| In a 90 minute Roundtable session, the first
rotation uses the first 45 minutes and the second rotation uses the last 45 minutes.
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| Roundtable Rotation I:
Multiple Case Study of College First Year Seminars From an Evaluative Perspective Using Critical Action Research Matrix Application (CARMA) |
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Roundtable Presentation 868 to be held in the Quartz Room Section A on Saturday, Nov 8, 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM
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Sponsored by the College Access Programs TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Karen M Reid,
University of Nevada Las Vegas,
reidk2@unlv.nevada.edu
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| Peggy Perkins,
Thomas University,
pperkins@thomasu.edu
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| LeAnn Putney,
University of Nevada Las Vegas,
leann.putney@unlv.edu
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| Abstract:
John N. Gardner in 1972 pioneered a concept called the first-year seminar to increase academic performance and freshman student retention. By 2002, 94% of America’s four-year institutions offered a first-year seminar to at least some students. Research has leaned towards a positive and almost always statistically significant relationship between seminar participation and college achievement and/or higher persistence. Unfortunately, these studies frequently reflected a variety of methodological issues. The purpose of this research was to address these shortfalls by defining for the reader the multiple dimensions of first-year seminars and a prescription for future success. An evaluative perspective was applied using Critical Action Research Matrix Application (CARMA) as the basis for collecting and analyzing the data. Analysis concentrated on the commonalities and differences associated with first-year seminar programs at three different institutions. The central question for this evaluative research was what should be the key components of a first year seminar?
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| Roundtable Rotation II:
Evaluating One Program Within a Systemic Reform Initiative: Discussion of Challenges and Potential Solutions for Isolating Program Impact |
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Roundtable Presentation 868 to be held in the Quartz Room Section A on Saturday, Nov 8, 10:45 AM to 12:15 PM
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Sponsored by the College Access Programs TIG
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| Presenter(s):
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| Doreen Finkelstein,
College Board,
dfinkelstein@collegeboard.org
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| Abstract:
The College Board has multiple systemic reform initiatives that provide a suite of programs and services for high schools. This type of systemic reform approach raises a difficult problem in evaluation: how does one understand the impact of one particular program or service within the context of the entire initiative? While it is useful and desirable to look at the effects of the whole reform package as a single large and multifaceted intervention, stakeholders also want to know whether certain components of the package are more effective than others, and if some components are redundant or perhaps even ineffectual. The proposed roundtable will explore the issues and generate ideas for evaluating the impact of one particular program within the context of a multifaceted systemic reform initiative. Questions for discussion with attendees will cover both methodological and statistical approaches for addressing this problem, and ideas and suggestions will be actively solicited.
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