An Instrumental Case Study of the Phenomenon of Collaboration in the Process of Improving Community College Developmental Reading and Writing Instruction Patricia C
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University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2006 An instrumental case study of the phenomenon of collaboration in the process of improving community college developmental reading and writing instruction Patricia C. Gordin University of South Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the American Studies Commons Scholar Commons Citation Gordin, Patricia C., "An instrumental case study of the phenomenon of collaboration in the process of improving community college developmental reading and writing instruction" (2006). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/2536 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. An Instrumental Case Study of the Phenomenon of Collaboration in the Process of Improving Community College Developmental Reading and Writing Instruction by Patricia C. Gordin A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Adult, Career, and Higher Education College of Education University of South Florida Major Professor: Jan Ignash, Ph.D. Michael Mills, Ph.D. Robert Sullins, Ed.D. James White, Ph.D. Date of Approval: November 1, 2006 Keywords: community of practice, faculty learning community, institutional research, quality enhancement plan, assessment, student learning outcomes ©Copyright 2006 Patricia C. Gordin Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my husband, Larry Gordin, whose patience and unconditional support has propelled me though this program; to my boss, Maureen McClintock, who has shown me that a leader can also be a friend; and to my parents, Harold and Audrey Hayward, who invested in their children’s future by providing all three of them with a baccalaureate education. ii Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the contributions of the members of my program of study committee: Dr. Jan Ignash, Chair; Dr. Michael Mills, Dr. Robert Sullins, and Dr. James White. Further, I am indebted to the people of Sunshine State Community College, whose habits of self-reflection enabled me to conduct this research on their campus. iii Table of Contents List of Figures ................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v Abstract ............................................................................................................................. vi Chapter One Introduction and Background ......................................................................1 The Crisis in Developmental Education ..................................................................2 Improving the Effectiveness of Assessment Practice ..............................................4 Statement of the problem.........................................................................................9 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................9 Significance of the Study.......................................................................................10 Research Questions....................................................................................11 Limitations .................................................................................................11 Definition of Terms....................................................................................12 Summary................................................................................................................16 Chapter Two Review of the Literature ............................................................................17 Mandates of the Higher Education Act..................................................................18 New Pressures from Accrediting Agencies ...........................................................18 The Scholarship of Assessment .............................................................................25 One Corner of the Community College Stage .......................................................31 Faculty........................................................................................................32 Institutional Researchers (IR) as Assessment Professionals......................37 Other Players: Theories of Organizational Change ...............................................40 Structure and Function: Organizations as Bureaucracies ..........................40 Power Relationships: The Political Frame.................................................41 Professional Development: The Human Resources Frame .......................42 Values, Beliefs, and Symbols: The Cultural Frame...................................42 Re-framing: Understanding the Complexity of Organizational Change .......................................................................................................45 Loose-tight Coupling and Organizational Change ....................................46 Colleges as Schools that Learn ..................................................................49 Grassroots Model: the Anti-Strategic Plan ................................................51 Action Research and Organizational Change: Case Studies..................................52 Student Learning Problems and Measurement Opportunities ...............................56 Preparation for College..............................................................................57 i Study Attitudes...........................................................................................58 Engagement................................................................................................58 Diversity.....................................................................................................59 Growth and Development..........................................................................60 Best Practices in Developmental Education ..............................................61 Policies Governing Developmental Education in Florida .....................................63 Sunshine State Community College Measures......................................................67 Summary and Synthesis of the Literature Review.................................................70 Chapter Three Methods....................................................................................................72 Assumptions of Case Study Research....................................................................72 Case Worker’s Orientation to Community College Assessment...........................75 Conceptual Framework for Current Study.............................................................77 Research Design.....................................................................................................78 Research Questions....................................................................................79 Population/Unit of Study/ Sampling..........................................................79 Data Collection Procedures/Timetable ......................................................82 Data Analysis Process................................................................................91 Analysis Procedures...................................................................................93 Ethics ........................................................................................................98 Reliability and Validity: Ensuring Trustworthiness of the Data................99 Summary..............................................................................................................100 Chapter Four Results......................................................................................................101 I. Synopsis of Findings......................................................................................102 II. An Introduction to the Actors ........................................................................107 III. A Brief Timeline for the Genesis of the College’s Learning Improvement Focus .......................................................................................114 IV. Findings on Research Questions....................................................................118 V. Findings on Topical Issues.............................................................................154 VI. Chapter Four Summary..................................................................................168 Chapter Five Major Findings, Conclusions, and Implications for Theory, Practice and Research ..........................................................................................180 Major Findings.....................................................................................................181 Conclusion ...........................................................................................................192 Limitations ...........................................................................................................198 Implications for Theory .......................................................................................199 Implications for Practice......................................................................................205