Dissertation
Cooperative education and its impact on the student learning outcomes of business undergraduate students: a case study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
Nov 2019
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/8abp-g116
Abstract
During a college undergraduate's scholastic experience, it should be recognized that learning occurs in many ways, in different places and times, and through a variety of interactions. Deep and enhanced learning transpires when individuals are provided with a complex set of activities to grasp emerging concepts. The study of experiential learning, and cooperative education (co-op) in particular, is significant because it can inform how experiential teaching and learning can help students meet the contemporary challenges of the workplace. The educational experience of each student naturally extends beyond the classroom, and, while ultimately the entire learning experience is unique to each student, an institution that introduces experiential elements, such as a cooperative education, in the curriculum design believes in the academic importance of these elements. Such institutions consider to varying levels of strategies for integration within the total academic experience, rather a niche for these institutions. Within the framework of this study, through an investigation of established student and employer co-op surveys for business majors having participated in three cooperative education experiences, the research provides insights into their perceptions of co-op in the academic experience. This research investigates the extent to which work attributes developed during three co-op terms influenced the learning outcomes of business administration students at Drexel University. The researcher investigated whether students increased in their work attributes while in the co-op program and then mapped the work attributes to the student learning outcomes prescribed by a college of business. Through interviews, the researcher further examined whether feedback collected after the students' co-op experiences was being used to shape the curriculum and guide student development. The findings reveal limitations and opportunities in the survey instrument that may lead to refined survey design and learning outcomes assessment strategies, as well as the increased use of survey data to inform curriculum content and design.
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Details
- Title
- Cooperative education and its impact on the student learning outcomes of business undergraduate students
- Creators
- Lawrence F. Camacho - DU
- Contributors
- Paul E. Harrington (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 114 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 11016; 991014632272204721