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What’s the CSRA? This brand-new organization, sponsored by CSI, is custom-designed in response to our friends’ and clients’ interests.
It’s:
- A mechanism to share ideas and lessons learned;
- An opportunity to advance the concept mapping methodology;
- Ability to present, get, and give feedback on research projects that contribute to the public good; and,
- Networking with a multi-disciplinary community of colleagues with a common methodological and philosophical approach.
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Some of the specific services that will be offered via membership in the CSRA are:
Members-only listserv;
Searchable directory of concept mapping research;
Quarterly Concept Mapping Seminar via conference call, addressing questions and topics submitted by members
Members-only web page to find seminar dates and topics, links to the listserv and the directory, and project management tips;
Complimentary half-hour of project support from knowledgeable and experienced CSI staff.
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We anticipate the launch of the CSRA will occur on September 1st, with the membership year running from November 1 – October 31. As a charter member, you get the first two months free, just for being friends of CSI! Annual dues are $150 and a discounted rate of $75 is available for graduate students. Call us for more information, and join the club!
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Danna Diaz Joseph:
Danna is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Administration at The University of Texas at Austin. A former bilingual teacher, school administrator and aspiring superintendent, she is interested in learning how school systems can better serve students, especially Hispanic students. The Hispanic student population is the largest population enrolling in the public schools and they are dropping out at higher rates than other ethnic groups.
Danna's research:
In November 2001, I was introduced to concept mapping in one of my classes at the University. I was eager to learn how I could use this methodology in my research. I soon discovered that concept mapping had not been utilized in dropout research before; therefore, I inquired about the training and went to Ithaca, New York in the spring 2002.
The title of my dissertation is Hispanic Dropouts Speak Out: A study of their experiences in the public school system. My goals are to identify institutional attributes that cause students to drop out of school. Institutional attributes is a term used in Tinto’s Theory of Student Departure, a theoretical framework I am using in my research. I am hoping to identify school practices that may perpetuate students’ withdrawal from school before acquiring a high school diploma.
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The focus statement I use in my focus group brainstorming session is: Describe the “one thing” that happened at school that caused you to withdraw. The demographic data I collected were: Gender, Ethnicity, Age, and the year they withdrew from school. I conducted two brainstorming focus group sessions and most of my participants were present. The sorting and the rating sessions were completed by a cohort group of participants that will also interpret the results. Currently, I am analyzing the data.
The data collected from the concept mapping methodology and the interviews that I conducted will be used to identify themes that emerged. These themes may identify institutional attributes that cause students to withdraw from school before acquiring a high school diploma. The findings will be written as a chapter in my dissertation with another chapter giving recommendations for school system leaders on how they can better serve students.
Thus far, the personnel at Concept Systems have been very helpful with any technical support and research data that I need. I even contacted William Trochim and he replied immediately. I believe that I will continue to use concept mapping, not only to finish my analysis of data for my dissertation, but also as a strategic planning tool as an aspiring school system leader.
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CSI Project Spotlight describes work that the CSI consulting team is engaged in, and features unique applications of the concept mapping methodology and new uses of project results.
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Project Officer of the Future: First Pilot Course Completed
The first of five pilot courses in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Project Officer of the Future training initiative was successfully rolled out during May and June. Concept Systems Inc. has had the pleasure of doing the training needs assessment with concept mapping, and leading the instructional design team for this professional development program designed to broaden and sharpen project officers’ expertise and increase the effectiveness of their programs. Project officers are the vital link between CDC and the states, cities, research institutions, and other partners who receive cooperative agreement grants from CDC.
Project officers and CDC partners were encouraged by the success of the first course,"Understanding Your Partner’s Context and Being a Program Champion."
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Twenty-four project officers from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion attended the course. Some of the project officers had many years of experience, some only months. But it was a rich learning experience for all, as the participants were able to learn from the instructors, the materials, and one another during the course. The final day of the course was dedicated to participant presentations, and participants were able to practice their oral communication skills in this context. Just as valuable was the support and information sharing that occurred among these project officers from across the Center.
CSI is looking forward to rolling out the 4 remaining courses over the next year. These courses are Consulting, Leadership and Resource Linkage for Effective Partnerships and Sustainable Programs; CDC Stewardship: Navigating Partners through Cooperative Agreements; Getting to Results: Planning, Implementation & Evaluation; The Art and Science of Public Health: Perspectives, Theory & Practice.
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Browse our past newsletters:
Apr/May 2004
Jan/Feb 2004
May/June 2003
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