Curbing Drug Use at Hazelwood Central High: A Staff Development Program - Research Paper

Introduction

The topic of my Capstone Project is student illegal drug use and preventive awareness program at Hazelwood Central High School. Illegal drug use has become a common encounter at the high school, which is affecting the more significant percentage of the young generation, and to students, it affects their class performance and the school as a whole (Walter, 2019). Therefore, there is a need for staff development that will help improve this epidemic of concern. The program will provide many elements and concepts that will create a mass transfer of learning for the teaching staff and school administrations, with the potential of mitigating student illegal drug use (Caffarella & Daffron, 2013).

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Describe the significance of your topic to the specialization of adult education in at least one fully developed paragraph

As a reflection on adult education, there are learning theories that provide a unique understanding of how and why adults interpret learning. According to Merriam and Bierema (2014), andragogy, also known as adult learning theory, explains that teachers are receptive to being self-directed, internally motivated, and ready to learn. Adult learners tend to reflect on what they are taught rather than just internalizing it and memorizing it (Dogra, Dabas, & Nair, 2018). Therefore, as a significant approach to the given topic, a deliverable method by way of a professional development training will be utilized for the teaching and administrative staff. The effects of drug use will be explained in details and how it affects the general health of a student (Bessen, 2015). Such helps the adults to understand the repercussions of drug use hence enabling them to advise their students accordingly. The continued exposure creates awareness, where they will use the information to guide their students not only to avoid drugs but also to be aware of the side effects.

Describe the systems principles that will generalize the topic beyond your specific institution. This section should consist of several paragraphs.

The primary system's principle of this topic is that the environment influences behaviour; hence, the behaviour of teachers' administrative staff in schools can positively impact students. According to research by Proudfoot, Weary, LeBlanc, Mamedova, and Keyserlingk, 2018, environment affects behaviour. Notably, their study was based on farm animals. Nevertheless, the authors expressed the transferability of the findings to explain the behaviour of human beings who equally face disturbances to their routine like delayed feeding because of environmental factors (Proudfoot et al., 2018). Meaning, illegal use of drugs and implementation of preventive awareness can be influenced through adult education through using teachers as a change agent.

Another system principle is that the illegal use of drugs and preventive awareness can be successful if the students agree to receive the knowledge and skills from the administrative staff and teachers. According to Dogra et al., 2018, teachers are ready to learn and are relatively receptive compared to students (Dogra et al., 2018). Meaning, if they agree to receive knowledge and skills, then they will persuade the students and influence their behaviour towards ending the illegal use of drugs and preventive measures.

The findings on the students' illegal drug use and preventive measures awareness will contribute to the profession by adding to resources for problem-solving. Consequently, the subjects can use them to create awareness on the ending of illegal drug use among students. When the administrative staff and teaching staff proactively participate as change agents in addressing the menace of drug use among students, they need resources. It will improve success in changing the attitude and behaviour of students related to the use of drugs. Therefore, the capstone project will be an additional point of reference.

Provide evidence that the capstone will contribute to the profession. Remember that evidence at the doctoral level means literature citations, which should be used in each of the paragraphs you write for this assignment.

Bessen, J. (2015). Learning by Doing: The real connection between innovation, wages, and wealth. New Haven: Yale University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=972458&site=ehost-live

Dogra, T. D., Dabas, N., & Nair, A. (2018). Andragogy and educational philosophies: An overview. Indian journal of health sciences and care, 5(2), 60-64.

Merriam, S. B., & Bierema, L. L. (2014). Adult learning: linking theory and practice. John Wiley & Sons.

Proudfoot, K. L., Weary, D. M., LeBlanc, S. J., Mamedova, L. K., & von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. (2018). Exposure to an unpredictable and competitive social environment affects behavior and health of transition dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 101(10), 9309-9320. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2017-14115

Walter, P. (2019). Innovations in teaching adult education: Living history museums and transformative learning in the university classroom. Adult learning, 30(3), 121-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1045159519826074