ERIC ED368824: To Increase the Number of Participants Utilizing the Homework Assistance Program in a Youth Center Setting through Tutoring, a Conducive Learning Environment, and Computer Instruction.

103 Pages·1993·1.5 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
UD 029 811
ED 368 824
Hall, Annette Frances
AUTHOR
To Increase the Number of Participants Utilizing the
TITLE
Homework Assistance Program in a Youth Center Setting
through Tutoring, a Conducive Learning Environment,
and Computer Instruction.
PUB DATE
93
103p.; Ed.D. Practicum Paper, Nova University.
NOTE
Research/Technical (143)
Reports
PUB TYPE
Tests/Evaluation Instruments (160)
MF01/PC05 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Academic Achievement; *Computer Assisted Instruction;
DESCRIPTORS
Elementary School Students; Elementary Secondary
Education; Helping Relationship; *Homework;
Incentives; Individual Instruction; Interpersonal
Relationship; Practicums; Program Development;
*Recreational Activities; Secondary School Students;
Social Support Groups; Student Attitudes; Student
Motivation; *Tutorial Programs; Tutors; *Youth
Programs
ABSTRACT
This practicum was designed to develop an effective
homework-assistance program in an after school and evening youth
center. Before the program was introduced, a facility was available,
but few students attended. The author reorganized and restructured
the facility and its services to attract participants, motivate them
to complete their homework, and as a consequence, to improve their
academic skills. Before implementation, the program was publicized,
and rooms were redesigned to provide an environment conducive to
learning. During implementation, tutors were recruited and computers
employed to support student learning. Recreation and snacks were
other enticements that encouraged students to learn. Students
(largest sample.'73) were asked to complete a questionnaire about the
program. Results were positive: the number of students attending the
program had quadrupled. Teachers reported that participants
experienced improvement in academic subjects, social skills, and
attitudes toward school. Parents and students recorded increases in
motivation to complete homework assignments. Seven tables and four
figures illustrate the practicum paper. Eight appendixes contain the
surveys and supporting documents. (Contains 23 references.)
(Author/SLD)
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*
*
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
*
*
from the original document.
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To Increase The Number Of Participants Utilizing The
Homework Assistance Program In A Youth Center Setting
Through Tutoring, a Conducive Learning Environment, and
Computer Instruction
by
Annette Frances Hall
Cluster 48
A Practicum I Report Presented to the Ed.D. Program
In Child and Youth Studies in Partial
Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Education
Nova University
1993
S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS
...
ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
ED
MA
RI
HAS BEEN GRANYED BY
CENTER (ERIC)
lhrs document has been reproduced its
(aiiLLA
received horn the perscn or oreani/ation
or iginatincl d
latakAigic
Minor changes hare been made to
ImpimermothictwtquAly
Points of clew or opinions slated in this
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
document do not necessarily represent
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC).
official OERI position or Policy
2
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
PRACTICUM APPROVAL PAGE
This practicum took place as described
Verifier:
(e)
411. P
M
ilfgnor dohn O'Brien
Pastor
e w York 11215
225 Si t h Avenue, Brooklyn,
April 9, 1993
Date
This practicum report was submitted by Annette Frances
below. It was
Hall under the direction of the adviser listed
submitted to the Ed.D. Program in Child and Youth Studies
for
and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements
the degree of Doctor of Education at Nova University.
Approved:
_______
I' ,
''') 3
t-a-i-A---i-,-a--
Gorgianna
Lowen, Ed.D., -,14-1-1,.
of Final Approval of
Dat
Adviser
Report
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The writer acknowledges the people who have given her
make it
support during the practicum process and helped to
possible. Thanks is given to Monsignor John O'Brien for
is
allowing her and her staff complete reign. Appreciation
given to Sister Kathleen Sullivan and the teachers of St.
Francis Xavier for their support and cooperation in the
project. Maryanne Beach is acknowledged for her comments and
evaluation during the critical proposal stage.
Special thanks is given to the youth center's staff,
Catherine Cabeza and Victor Almena who were involved in the
homework project, shared decision-making, and helped in the
restructuring process. Gratitude is extended to t:'e
volunteers: Rosemarie Aquilone, Kevin Beattie, Israel
Cortez, Susan Draper, Julianne Fattarusso, Jack Franca,
Steve Francois, Kenneth Hall, Michael Hall, Ahmad Hassan,
Vladimir Joseph, Helen McCann, Phil Pasquale, Melinda
Rankin, Geovanni and Ernest Urbina. A special commendation
is extended to all of the participants who demonstrated an
appreciation is
eagerness to improve their skills. Immense
given to Dr. Georgianna Lowen, Pract.cum Advisor, for her
support and guidance throughout the practicum process.
Recognition is extended to Vincent, my father, and to my
family, Saeida, Melissa and Michele for their support and
patience.
iii
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF TABLES
Chapter
INTRODUCTION
1
I
Description of Community
1
Writer's Work Setting and Role
3
STUDY OF THE PROBLEM
6
II
Problem Description
6
Problem Documentation
6
10
Causative Analysis
14
Relationship of the Problem to the Literature
ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES AND EVALUATION INSTRUMENTS... 17
III
17
Goals and Expectations
17
Expected Outcomes
18
Measurement of Outcomes
21
SOLUTION STRATEGY
IV
Discussion and Evaluation of Possible Solutions... 21
Description of Selected Solution
29
Report of Action Taken
32
V
49
RESULTS, DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDP_TION
50
Results
57
Discussicn
64
Recommendations
68
Dissemination
71
REFERENCES
iv
Page
Appendices
73
STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRE
A
76
ATTENDANCE SHEET
B
STUDENT EVALUATION
78
C
81
TEACHER QUESTIONNAIRE
D
TEACHER SURVEY
84
E
PARENT QUESTIONNAIRE
87
F
NEWSLETTER
90
G
95
PHOTOGRAPHS
H
LIST OF TABLES
Table
1 The Value of Homework in the Learning Process
7
2 Needed Homework Assistance
7
3 Homework Helpers
8
4 Responses to the Expansion of the Homework Facility
9
5 Identification of Weak Subject Areas
9
6 Student Motivation
52
7 Parent's Perception of Child's Attitude
55
LIST OF FIGURES
Figures
50
1 First Month
51
2 Attendance Pattern
54
3 Student Improvement
4 Students' Perception
54
ABSTRACT
The
Of Participants Utilizing
To Increase The Number
Setting
In A Youth Center
Homework Assistance Program
and
Conducive Learning Environment,
Through Tutoring, a
Practicum
Hall, Annette F., 1993:
Computer Instruction.
and Youth
Ed.D. Program in Child
Report, Nova University,
Studies.
School/Urban/Homework/Computer Usage/
Youth Center/After
Volunteers/ Recreation/
Tutoring/Community Involvement/
High School/
Motivation/Adolescents/Elementary/Junior
Training/ Study Groups/Peer
High School/Leadership
Tutoring/Parents
effective homework
to develop an
This practicum was designed
school/evening youth center. Before
program in an after
facility was available
implementation of the practicum, a
homework.
utilize to complete their
for participants to
attended the program.
However, very few students
facility and its
and restructured the
The writer reorganized
participants to the program,
services so as to attract
their homework, and as a
motivate them to complete
their academic skills. Before
consequence improve
publicized and rooms were
implementation, the program was
learning.
environment conducive to
redesigned to provide an
recruited and computers
During implementation, tutors were
learning. Recreation and snacks
employed to support student
students to attend.
enticements that encouraged
were other
extremely positive. The
The results of the program were
attending the program quadrupled.
number of students
improvement
participants experienced
Teachers reported that
towards
social skills and attitude
in academic subjects,
motivation
recorded increase in
school. Parents and students
assignments.
to complete homework
********
Permission Statement
and Youth
Ed.D Program in Child
As a student in the
to Nova University to
Studies, I do give permission
from
practicum report on request
distribute copes of this
Nova
is my understanding that
interested individuals. It
this dissemination except to
University will not charge for
mailing of
microfiching, handling, and
cover the costs of
the materials.
a 2,
/79-E
e-
Date
vi
7
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Description of Communitv
Community Board
is
The youth program is a non-profit organization that
sponsored by a local religious parish. It is located in a
into
large metropolitan area that is further sub-divided
community boards. The total area of the community board is
3.5 square miles.
The multicultural community board that the youth center
is situated in has a total population of 102,000 people. Of
white
that number, approximately 48% of the population are
Non-Hispanic, 15% Black Non-Hispanic, 25% Hispanic, and the
remaining 12% either Asian-American/Eskimo/Native American.
The youth in the community board comprise 20% of the
population.
Besides the cultural mix, the socio-economic situation
in the community board is also diverse. There are 13,000
people on public assistance with an additional 2,500
residents qualifying for food stamp assistance. There is
middle class
also a large number of middle class and upper
8
2
residents as well.
There are approximately 47,000 housing units. Of that
number, there are two large housing projects, a few other
elevated buildings, approximately 5,000 one-two family
homes, several hundred walk-up homes, a number of
condominiums and cooperative apartments (Statistics, Source
Book, 1991).
Parish
families.
The parish has a membership of over 800
Although the parish is actually a microcosm of the larger
communi%.y board, the ethnic percentages differ somewhat from
white Non-
the larger community board. In the parish, the
Hispanic population comprises 65% of the membership, the
Hispanic population is a total of 20%, the African-
American/Caribbean Black community comprise 10%, and the
remaining membership are either Asian-American or Native
American.
The parish and the surrounding neighborhood are
eTeriencing a drop in population as well as an influx of
lower income families. As a result, the parish
administration is concerned about the decrease in
contributions and the continual support of many of the
outreach programs that are in greater demand because of the
in the community.
present economic crisis in the nation and
this practicum,
Matter of fact, during the implementation of
9
3
the senior citizens
been informed that the youth program and
functioning with parish financial
programs cannot continue
support.
Writer's Work Setting and Role
the
The pastor is the executive administrator of
parish. He is supported by an associate pastor and
ministers, or directors who are responsible for
outrear,i
coordinating, managing, and supervising the various
neighborhood residents.
programs for the parishioners and
include a
The outreach programs are extensive. They
senior citizen's center, a shelter program that offers
lodging for the homeless during the winter months, a food
distribution program, a school, a spiritual growth program,
and a youth program.
This writer is the director of youth ministries for the
from
parish. She came to this work location eight years ago
trainer. Her prior extensive
a school setting as a teacher
and
experiences include supervising, teaching, counseling,
coaching in various educational settings and youth programs.
developing,
Presently, she is responsible for organizing,
in the
and implementing activities for the youth
neighborhood. She believes that each child's skills,
snowflakes
talents, and capabilities are as unique as fallen
rainbow. Therefore,
and are as different as the colors in a
various degrees of
they require diverse support programs and
10