ERIC Number: ED659229
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 185
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3836-8271-5
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Use of Improvement Science to Build the Instructional Capacity of Faculty in a Community College
Marianne E. Yohannan
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, University of South Carolina
Up to 78% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students experience poor academic achievement as defined by course grades of D, F and W in college. Students entering these fields are often not prepared (Chen & Soldner, 2013) and struggle to succeed in gateway STEM courses, with one-third of them possibly failing (Freeman et al., 2011). The success rates are lower among first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minoritized groups (Doerschuk et al., 2016). At Tri-County Technical College, 30-40% of introductory biology students are unsuccessful and receive low grades (Institutional Research, n.d.). Low academic achievement has a huge impact on our students and their success in future biology courses and other college courses. It affects their career journey, graduation, and employability in the job market. This dissertation describes the use of improvement science principles to investigate low academic achievement in biology courses. We used the following improvement science principles: 1) be problem-focused and user-centered, 2) attend to variability, 3) see the system, 4) embrace measurement, and 5) learn through disciplined inquiry. Through an improvement team and improvement science methods including empathy interviews, process mapping, five whys, fishbone diagrams, driver diagram, and Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles, we gathered information to gain an understanding of the problem before we tested change ideas. The results showed that we addressed our aim to develop and provide access to useful teaching resources for faculty and laid a foundation for future continuous improvements. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Capacity Building, Community Colleges, College Faculty, Educational Improvement, Academic Achievement, Introductory Courses, Biology, Science Instruction, Faculty Development, Low Achievement, Instructional Improvement, Science Achievement
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A