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Southwestern Group
Posing Problems/Solving Problems
Presented by B. Allan Quigley
Debert Hospitality Centre
March 23 & 24, 2006
Southwestern Region Research Circle:
Gina Freeman - Lunenburg County Adult Learning Network Coordinator
Marlene Duckworth - Queens Learning Network Coordinator/Instructor
Lauren Seaton - Queens Learning Network Instructor
Krista Peterson - Shelburne & Queens
Learning Network Coordinator
Klaas Tuinman - Yarmouth County Learning
Network Instructor
Julie Nickerson - Yarmouth County Learning Network
Instructor
Donna MacKenzie - Yarmouth County Learning Network Instructor
Cheryl
Erickson - Shelburne County Learning Network - Tutor Coordinator
PROBLEM - POSING: Phase 1
- Poor Attendance Issues in the community based programs
with the goal to improve attendance.
PLANNING: Phase 2 - Planning the Action Research Project
Networks in the SW region research circle agreed to:
- April 1, 2006 - Attendance calendars
will be designed and distributed to all students in Yarmouth, Queens,
Lunenburg and Shelburne Community based programs to begin keeping
track of their attendance as of April 3
- April 2006 - Attendance
data will be gathered from Sept 2004 - June 2005 and Sept 2005 - June
2006. Attendance for all students in each month eg: 15 teaching days
per month x number (10) of students
15 x 10 = 150 teaching days
Days present by all students divided by number of teaching days.
- April 30, 2006 - Request meeting with various funders to pose
the problem of attendance and to enlist their participation and
support.
- September 2006 - If yes, from April's request
- a meeting will be scheduled with all involved (staff, students
and funders) initiated by the funders.
- If no, Networks
will proceed with attendance calendars and new policies.
Observing - Phase 3
- September 2006 - Implementation of calendars and any new policies regarding attendance.
- Review of data collected
- Collaborate with other Networks to Re-evaluate - continue? Adjust?
Reflection - Phase 4
- Mid-January 2007 meeting with others in research circle
Flip Chart Notes:
- What's the Itch?
- Recruitment
- Attendance
- Mental health/Physical issues
- Anger management
- How can we tell which learners will hit the wall?
- What do we do with learners that hit the wall?
The itch was decided by a show of hands by the research circle. Poor attendance issues were chosen.
- Reasons for poor attendance:
- Transportation issues
- Child care issues
- Health issues (includes family health issues)
- Forced to attend programs
- Lack of commitment
- Financial
- DCS - scheduled mini programs for their clients during class time
- Professional/Court appointments
- Cheque day
- Self induced illnesses (staying up late)
- Lack of support systems
- How do others perceive it?
- Stakeholders - Unrealistic expectations
- Wider Community - Reduces the image of our programs
- "What if" there were consequences? Such as:
- Debiting/crediting money
- Removal from the program
- Rewarding good attendance
- Connect attendance sheets to cheques (travel, childcare)
- What if students were asked for their input on how to solve the attendance issues?
- What if calendars were used for daily attendance records by students?
- What if staff phoned students about their absence? (all ready doing!)
- What if we have more contact with funders regarding student's attendance? (includes Service Canada, DCS, Person with disabilities, etc.)
- What if Networks introduce new policies and hope funders will support them. Gather funders, students and staff in a meeting to discuss new policies?
Baseline: Attendance Data
From: September 2004 - June 2005
September 2005 - June 2006
Attendance for all students each month for the above periods
- Timeline 1 (phase)
- Calendar for attendance to all students (Julie will design - showing reasons for absence) - Will be implemented in the SW regions - Yarmouth, Queens, Lunenburg and Shelburne - community based programs by April 3, 2006.
- Timeline 2 (phase)
- Request meeting with funders to pose the problem of attendance and enlist their participation and support.
- If yes, schedule meeting with all involved (staff, students, funders) initiated by the funders.
- If no, we will proceed with new policies.
- Timeline 3 (phase)
- Implementation of policy in September 2006
- Timeline 4 (phase) - Mid-January 2007
- Review of data collected
- Collaborate with other networks
- Re-evaluate
Data Collection
- Daily attendance record - calendar for students to keep track of their own attendance (instructors also have an additional attendance record), not only indicating the absence but also the reason for the absence so this info can be tracked.
- Questionnaire - open and closed questions - at onset and during the project for the students to complete. Also must be done for Phase 4 of our timeline.
- Comment section for students and staff on calendar, will serve as research journal.
Criteria for Success
- Improved overall attendance
- Accountability
- Transferable skills - transfer the ability to meet timelines in all aspects of life. e.g. Always having their child on time for school, but never being on time for their classes.
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