Teacher supervision methods in Virginia

Florence, Gregory Wayne Virginia Commonwealth University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

This study investigated teacher supervision methods in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the absence of state mandated requirements. The literature supports the use of formative and summative feedback, multiple data sources and methods, collaboration between teacher and supervisor, professional growth goals linked to school improvement, and measures of student learning. A web-based questionnaire was used to survey 229 public elementary school teachers across Virginia regarding which teacher supervision methods are used, teacher perceptions toward those methods, and whether teacher perceptions vary with the method, supervisor's leadership style, or teacher characteristics. The data suggest that a majority of school division supervision programs in Virginia use formative and summative methods with an emphasis on formative, and multiple data sources that include measures of student learning and standardized test scores. A majority of supervision programs also emphasize collaboration between supervisor and teacher, and individual professional growth goals. Weak to moderate correlations and significant differences were found between measures of the dependent variable, teacher perceptions of supervision, and measures of the independent variable, method of supervision and aspects of the supervisor's leadership style.

Women empowerment in the rural Kenya : a spur to achieve food security through indigenous vegetable production

Florence Nyaboke Onyancha Graduate School of Government and Business, Yonsei 2014 국내석사

Agronomic Land Management Effects on Soil Fertility and Grain Crop Productivity in Western Kenya and Ohio

Florence, Darlene Christina The Ohio State University 2012 해외박사(DDOD)

Soil, our planet's most abundant natural resource, requires mindful agronomic management to support an increasing world population. Soil fertility management provides a central tool to address nutrient-deficient soils and soils where excess nutrients move from the field potentially impairing the environmental. The three projects in this dissertation evaluated different aspects of agronomic decisions faced yearly by farmers in both the developed and developing world. These studies addressed both degraded and highly productive soils, and also considered soil impacts on plant productivity. All of the studies were field-based and carried out with a corn crop. The Ohio-based work was conducted on research farms in northeast, northwest and west-central parts of the state, whereas the work in Kenya was conducted in coordination with private landowners. In western Kenya, our study investigated a control plus three composted-manure placement options: spread evenly across the field and incorporated before planting (broadcast), below the seed (hole) and next to the row of seeds (banding), and no compost (control). Phosphorus availability and plant productivity were assessed for each compost placement treatment. All farm locations had soils that were moderately acidic. In terms of crop yield, the hole method tended to increase yield on the soils with low fertility, while no differences between the control and the placement treatments were observed on the moderate fertility farms. An Ohio-based study, the "Phosphorus Trial," examined five rates of a commercial phosphorus fertilizer applied using both broadcast and banding methods. The goals of the study were to evaluate more efficient use of phosphorus, which, when eroded with soil particles or lost via fertilizer runoff, can negatively affect the environmental through impairment of water bodies and results in an economic loss to the grower. Data from two site-years revealed a higher yield for 140 kg ha-1 broadcast over the control for both site years. In one year, the highest three starter rates (140, 112, and 84 kg ha-1) all had a higher yield than the control, whereas there was no difference in the second year. The Ohio-based "Omission Trial" project was designed to allow an examination of the agronomic system responses due to the interaction of multiple land management decisions. A contrast ANOVA statistical analysis enabled a ranking of the relative importance of each management aspect in terms of lodging, yield, and yield component (number of rows per ear and number of kernels per row). Our study included seeding rate, timing of fungicide application, and the rate, timing, and placement of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers. In 2010 and 2011, there were no yield differences; however, in 2011, there was a kernel per row reduction with reduction in N from the enhanced system at one site.

Missed Opportunities: Lack of Advancement of African American Females into Senior Executive Healthcare Leadership

Florence, Brandy ProQuest Dissertations & Theses University of Sout 2020 해외박사(DDOD)

This study presented the perspectives of 19 African American women occupying middle management and senior executive leadership positions in healthcare administration in the State of California. Specifically, data from this research indicated how education, mentorship, recruitment and retention, and diversity and inclusion influenced participants’ career trajectory into healthcare leadership. Participants shared any perceived barriers and challenges as well as the impact of any organizational support they received as they aspired to climb the ladder toward senior executive leadership positions. The researcher used a semi-structured, open-ended interview style to conduct face-to-face and telephone interviews. Data from the study indicated that African American women needed mentorship, advanced degrees, and organizational support to advance into senior executive positions. Every African American woman who participated in this study presented her unique experience as she aspired to advance into senior leadership positions in healthcare. Every participant proactively pursued middle management and senior executive positions.

Comparing soil testing methods for soil organic matter, lime requirements, and developing a phosphorus soil test correlation

Florence, Robert J Kansas State University 2015 해외박사(DDOD)

The Kansas State University Soil Testing Laboratory currently uses the Walkley-Black (WB) method for soil organic matter (SOM) estimations, the Shoemaker-Mclean-Pratt (SMP) buffer for lime recommendations, and bases the soybean phosphorus (P) critical value for P fertilizer recommendations off other crops. Hazardous waste is produced from WB and SMP creating a health hazard for workers, and substantial cost for handling and disposal. The substantial increase in land area devoted to soybean creates the need to validate currently assumed soil test P critical value and check the current P recommendations for that crop. Overarching objectives of this dissertation are to find suitable non-hazardous replacements for WB and SMP, and to find the soybean P critical value in Kansas. Three common methods used to estimate SOM are WB, dry combustion (DC), and loss on ignition (LOI). An experiment was set up using 98 Kansas soils to compare WB, scooped and weighed, LOI scooped, and DC weighed. All methods correlated well to each other with LOI to weighed WB, LOI to DC, and WB weighed to DC, having correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.98, and 0.98, respectively. The lowest variability was observed with DC, followed by WB weighed, LOI, and then WB scooped with average standard deviations of 0.04, 0.13, 0.17, and 0.24, respectively. Two non-hazardous alternatives to the SMP buffer to determine soil lime requirement are the Sikora buffer, and the modified-Mehlich buffer. Sikora's buffer is designed to mimic SMP. Buffer values alone or Mehlich's equation may be used to calculate lime requirements. Thirty seven soils with a pH less than 5.8 were incubated at lime rates 0, 2240, 4480, 8960, and 17920 kg ECC ha-1. Amount of lime required to reach pHs 6.0, 6.3, and 6.6 was calculated. Mehlich's equation better predicted lime requirements for all target pHs and buffers than buffer pH alone. The Sikora buffer with Mehlich's equation provided a better lime estimation than the Mehlich buffer using Mehlich's equation.. A P correlation and calibration study was conducted with soybeans at 23 sites in Eastern Kansas from 2011 to 2014. Soil Mehlich-3 P available P was compared to relative soybean yield at these sites.. Soybean P critical value was found to be between 10 and 15 or 11.6 mg kg-1 using Cate-Nelson, and linear-plateau models, respectively. A linear response to P and relative yield was observed on soils testing between 3 and 8 mg kg-1, but not on higher testing soils.

Effects of instructional elements in computer-based instruction

Martin, Florence Arizona State University 2005 해외박사(DDOD)

This study examined the effects of instructional elements (information, objectives, practice with feedback and review) on achievement, attitude and time in a computer-based, multimedia program. Undergraduate college students used the multimedia lesson to learn about artists and their painting styles. All participants received the same information and examples from the multimedia lesson; the programs varied based on the presence or absence of practice and objectives/review. The elements of instruction investigated in the study were combined into four different versions of the computer program which consisted of (1) a full version that included information, objectives, practice with feedback, and review, (2) a version that included information and practice with feedback, (3) a version with information, objectives and review, and (4) a lean version containing information only. Results indicated that practice had a significant effect on achievement while objectives and review did not. Participants who used the program with practice performed significantly better than those who did not receive practice. Student responses to the attitude survey showed that they were sensitive to the presence or absence of the instructional elements investigated in this study. Participants who used the lean program (information only) had the lowest overall attitudes. When the individual items on the attitude survey were analyzed, participants who received practice had significantly higher agreement with the item - "The program gave me enough opportunity to practice what I was learning." Results of paired comparison questions on the attitude survey revealed that participants perceived information, practice and review to be more helpful than objectives. Turning to time, participants who received the full program spent the most amount of time working though the multimedia lesson and those who received the lean program spent the least amount of time. This study has implications for the design and development of computer-based, multimedia instruction. Practice was the one consistently effective instructional element for enhancing student achievement and attitude in the study. The findings imply that practice with feedback should be included in computer-based, multimedia instruction especially when students are tested using items aligned with the objectives and practice items.

Examining the Relationship Between Community-Based Support Services Use and Mental Health in Black Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia

Johnson, Florence U University of Michigan ProQuest Dissertations & Th 2023 해외박사(DDOD)

Background: Without remuneration or training, spouses, family members, and friends provide 83% of dementia patients' basic personal care. Caring for a person living with dementia is stressful and can negatively impact the caregiver's health. Caregiver stress is a major issue for Black family caregivers. Black family caregivers' stress-related mental health issues can be addressed through community support services (CSS) such as support groups, help-seeking, respite, and dementia training. CSS can help the person living with dementia and their community-dwelling caregivers delay or avoid institutionalization and stay safe in their homes. This study examines how using CSS affects Black family caregivers' mental health.Framework: The study utilized Pearlin's caregiver stress model to guide the analysis, highlighting the importance of support services in moderating the relationship between stress and mental health outcomes.Method: This mixed-method study used logistic regression, bivariate, and multivariate models to analyze the nationally representative 2015 NHATS Round 5 and NSOC Rd II datasets (n= 2,204) caregivers using Stata 17. The RaDAR method was used to analyze and develop themes from the focus group (n=6) participant interview.Results/Conclusion: One-quarter (25%) of the Black caregivers reported feeling anxious, and over a fifth (23%) reported feeling depressed. Fewer than 5% of the dementia caregivers participated in support groups: only 7% received training. Regardless of dementia classification, neighborhood cohesion is lower for both White and Black caregivers. The results suggest that Black caregivers may be experiencing more anxiety and depression than their White counterparts. Further, there was no distinction between Black and White family caregiver stress or use of support services. The focus group (n = 6) participants validated the quantitative findings that Black caregivers are less likely to use CSS, particularly respite and support groups. The focus group participants reported that financial constraints and lack of free time were the main barriers to support group and respite use.

On Leveraging the First Impression: Learning, Achievement Motivation, and the Design of Digital Tasks

Manning, Florence Hung University of Illinois at Chicago 2014 해외박사(DDOD)

This research sought to gain a better understanding of the notion of the 'all important first impression' as it relates to digital learning by (1) investigating in more detail just what constitutes students' impressions of an impending educational task via the measurement of this construct and (2) examining how manipulations designed to elicit differing initial perceptions about what is essentially the same task might affect different aspects of the educational experience and how well students learn. The first major goal of the research was addressed via the creation and development of a new scale, Impressions of the Task. By capturing various perceptions a student might have with respect to a computer-based, educational task's quality characteristics, the scale successfully measures a students' overall impressions regarding the task at hand while providing a means for understanding in greater detail just what constitutes the impressions students may form about a task. In addition to perceptions regarding the quality characteristics of a given task, exploratory factor analysis revealed three underlying dimensions of the Impressions of the Task construct: Social Experience, Caliber, and Demands on the Learner.. To address the second major goal of this research, the effects of two vehicles of first impression formation---each representing a different channel leading to the first impression effect---were investigated: (1) the aesthetic elements of computer interface design and (2) verbal (i.e., in the form of words, written or spoken) information pertaining to the educational quality of the task. They were both examined with respect to elements of the learning process with respect to that task: students' first impressions; the formation of achievement motivation with respect to expectancies and task values; achievement-related choices; and finally the quality of learning that results, in terms of surface level and deep level knowledge. By addressing both first impression factors together within the same study, this research uncovered an interaction effect that exists between the two, yielding results that suggest some complexity with respect to just how they can affect learning. Whether the hypotheses for this study were supported depended on the website's aesthetic design. Type of knowledge (surface versus deep level) also played a role in understanding these effects. Findings demonstrate the intricacies involved regarding the influence of multiple contextual influences with respect to an educational task and how it is received.

Microfinance and women's empowerment in Uganda: A socioeconomic approach

Wakoko, Florence The Ohio State University 2003 해외박사(DDOD)

In the 1990s Ugandan farmers became increasingly interested in microfinancial resources (MFRs) that were being promoted nationally as important means for poverty alleviation and for women's empowerment. In Arua and Mukono, households diversified their income generating strategies through formal, semi-formal and informal financial institutions. However, little has been done neither to assess the position of women in credit/savings initiatives nor to assess the capacity of MFRs in empowering women. There have been no studies in Uganda that have used a methodology that adequately defines and measures women's empowerment. Available studies tend to focus only on defining a set of factors that affect women's access to microfinance, and they give the impression that women are a homogenous group for whom microfinance would provide automatic and uniform benefits. The present study examines the nature of women's empowerment as measured by decision-making power, in relation to various types of MFRs. It recognizes the multidimensional nature of empowerment as a process involving personal, social, economic and political dimensions. This study focuses on decision-making power as the basis for transforming lives at the household level and in the wider society. Data were derived from a questionnaire survey of a sample of 527 women and men farmers in the two regions. Causal analysis was attempted using Multiple Logistic Regression to determine the effects of microfinancial use on women's decision-making power in agricultural activities and household income use. The study establishes that participation in informal financial groups is the most important microfinancial resource promoting women's empowerment in Ugandan rural households. Both women and men use informal financial groups more than any other source of microfinance. However, the benefits are significantly influenced by other sociocultural factors. For example, participation in informal financial groups increases women's decision-making power over non-traditional matters---household income control, but not over women's traditional issues---agricultural production. On the other hand, rural men's empowerment is associated with their use of informal loans from individuals---friends, relatives or merchants. For women, individual-level factors such as occupation (farming, trading), and household level factors, notably household headship, have a profound influence on women's empowerment in both traditional and non-traditional spheres of decision-making. In contrast, rural men's empowerment is mainly associated with their gender rather than with household level conditions. The study recognizes the limits of the transformative capacities of MFRs, especially of the more formal sources of credit, and it shows that financial empowerment does not necessarily lead to a transformation in gender relationships. It concludes by advocating an integrated approach to microfinance delivery in Uganda, since the integrated informal sources offer the best opportunities for rural farmers in general and women in particular.

Synthesis of Polypyrrole/TiO2 nanocomposite with Enhanced Absorbance in the visible region by Simple Chemical Oxidative method

Nabulya Florence 강원대학교 2013 국내석사

In this thesis, polypyrrole/TiO2 nanocomposite has been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in presence of ferric chloride as the oxidant, TiO2 nanoparticles and water as the solvent. The TiO2 nanoparticles were first synthesized using the sol gel method. The nanocomposite was then prepared by in situ chemical oxidation of pyrrole solution in presence of the as prepared TiO2 nanoparticles. The characterization and data analysis was carried out using the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy which confirmed the synthesis of polypyrrole, TiO2 and the nanocomposite. It further showed that TiO2 was incorporated into the polypyrrole matrix. This observation is further confirmed by the XRD analysis which showed improved crystallinity as compared to pure polypyrrole. The crystalline sizes of TiO2, polypyrrole and polypyrrole/TiO2 are about 8.52nm, 48.25nm and 10.34nm respectively as calculated using Scherrer’s equation. The XRD also showed that the synthesized TiO2 is of the anatase phase only. The scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis also portrayed a more compact packing in the Polypyrrole/TiO2 nanocomposite as compared to plain polypyrrole which shows a more of porous-like structure. The UV-Vis spectrometer showed improvement in the absorbance of TiO2 in the visible region due to the presence of polypyrrole. The observed results show a significant increase of more than 10% in absorbance if we compare the absorbance of pure titanium dioxide nanoparticles with the polypyrrole/TiO2 nanocomposite in this work. The calculated band gaps of TiO2 and Polypyrrole/TiO2 are 3.1eV and 2.5eV respectively. In addition, the synthesized polypyrrole/TiO2 nanocomposite showed good thermal stability properties as seen from the TG-DTA analysis.