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This qualitative case study examined the homeschool STEM educational activities and the role of the parent in those activities. Twenty-nine homeschooling parents from within a purposefully selected homeschool cooperative learning group in a southern community in the United States participated in the study. Data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire, which was then followed up with observations, interviews, and collection of documents. Analysis of the data pointed to an eclectic mix of STEM educational activities including both curricular activities such as online courses, tutors, and self-study, as well as curriculum extensions such as field trips and local STEM clubs and teams. Parents in this case study depended heavily on community resources available to them to provide these educational activities for their students. Parents played multiple roles in their child's education including the role of facilitator, the role of counsellor, and the role of presenter or lecturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wealth of information and research is available about business leadership in general and its importance, but much less attention has been given to the nature of R&D leadership specifically. Given the importance of innovation to most organizations’ success, and even survival, understanding the skills and attributes required to achieve success in R&D management is critical. To address this gap, IRI’s Research-on-Research working group R&D Leadership Skills and Styles sought to both identify leadership skills and attributes important to R&D success and to assess the relative importance of known leadership attributes for R&D compared to other business units. After identifying key themes in innovation leadership through a series of interviews with established technical leaders, the group embarked on comprehensive analyses of data from CCL leadership survey instruments to explore these themes. The analyses reveal a general perception that R&D managers are typically not as effective as those outside R&D on the majority of leadership skill measures, except in a small number of areas, most of which are technical. Further analysis of the interview trends and data suggests unique opportunities to develop successful R&D leaders by maintaining technical insight while expanding interpersonal skills. In other areas, R&D leaders would be well served by work to develop the leadership skills and attributes identified as generally important, as they are widely perceived as lacking a number of these attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using a qualitative case study approach, this study looked at the educational activities that constitute a typical day in a homeschool family and the role that the parent has within those activities. Three homeschooling families with high school students in a single community in a southern state in the United States participated in the case study. Data was collected using observations, field notes, interviews and artifacts. Analysis of the data pointed to an eclectic mix of instructional modalities and activities used by families. Students often participated in a variety of instructional activities such as online courses, private tutors, and self-taught classes through the use of a flexible daily schedule. Parents were seen to be more of a facilitator or director of educational activities for their children rather than the direct providers of instruction in the homeschool setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]