Date of Award

2002

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Ulm, Gregg R

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyse how the adoption of an electronic writing portfolio led to institutional change at an institution of higher education that chose to adopt the Electronic Writing Portfolio(EWP)to assess the writing skills of their students.This study also analyzed the perceptions and experiences of key administrators and faculty that participated in the adoption of the EWP.The research questions addressed in this study were:1)To what extent has the institution demonstrated that the EWP is linked to the mission of the institution? 2)What is the institutional evidence that faculty participated in the development of the EWP? 3) what is the institutional evidence that the EWP is institution-wide in conceptualization and scope? 4)To what degree has the perceptions of key faculty and administrators,regarding the development and implementation process of the EWP,been congruent with the Four-Frame Model for organizational change developed by Bolman and deal(1997)? The research was a qualitative study using a case study design.Eastern Ilinois University,located in Charleston,Illinois was the case study institution.The case study was conducted in accordance with the protocol established in Research Designs by John W Creswell(1994).Information was gathered from archival data and through interviews with key faculty and administrators.A literature review related to organizational change and assessment in higher education was conducted.Minutes taken from meetings of the Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning were reviewed and analysed.Minutes from the Writing Across the Curriculum and the Council on Academic Affairs were also reviewed and analyzed.The conclusions indicated that faculty and administrators consistently demonstrated in their interviews that the Electronic Writing Portfolio and the University's mission statement are linked.Faculty also consistently demonstrated that faculty was engaged in the development of the Electronic Writing Portfolio.Interviews also indicated,however,that administrators believe there was not enough faculty involvement.The research also indicated,that the issue of second tier assessment has not been resolved.This indicated congruence with Bolman and Deal's(1997)political framework,which states that conflict is natural and inevitable.Future study is recommended to analyze the effects of the fully implemented EWP from student's freshman through senior year.The effects of the EWP on teaching and learning should be studied as well.Additionally,a study is recommended to analyze why there is a difference of opinion between faculty and administartion concerning the level of faculty participation in the development and implementation of the EWP.

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