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Faculty Members Publish Research on Adult Learners

January 06, 2021 by: Trident University Categories: News and Events

January 6, 2021 – Chandler, AZ – Trident University International (Trident) faculty members Dr. George del Hierro and Dr. Timothy Mullen have published research examining the use of appreciative instruction methods in an associate degree program for adult learners.

“Examining the Appreciative Instruction Methods Used by Instructors within an Adult Degree Completion Associate’s Program” appears in Vol. 6 of Journal of Appreciative Education. Co-authoring this research was Dr. Scott Amundsen of Winthrop University.

This paper looks at appreciative instruction methods used by instructors in an all-online Adult Degree Completion Program for Associate of Science in Professional Studies (ASPS). The results of the study revealed key themes of the instructional methods used by instructors within the ASPS program, helping to contribute to the development of a Model for Appreciative Instruction within Adult Degree Completion Programs.

Appreciate education is a strengths-based teaching approach that leverages the peak performance experiences of students in classroom instruction,” explains Dr. del Hierro. “This research allowed us to enhance a framework to be used in developing and delivering our programs.

Dr. del Hierro and Dr. Mullen are both Full-time faculty members in Trident’s University College.

Dr. del Hierro joined Trident in 2010, and currently serves as a Full-time Instructor and Course Coordinator. He earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Trident. He also holds a Master of Science in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Long Beach.

His research interests include student success, person-environment congruence, and andragogy (the method and practice of teaching adult learners).

Dr. Mullen joined Trident in 2013 as Professor of English and Literature. He earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, a Master of Arts in English Literature from Chapman University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Loyola University Chicago.

His research interests include active learning, psychoanalytic literary criticism, D.H. Lawrence, and the modern British novel.

About Trident University 
Founded in 1998, Trident University International (Trident) is a leading online post-secondary university serving adult learners. Trident developed the Trident Learning Model, which employs case-based learning in an online setting to teach real-world relevant critical thinking skills to enhance student’s lives and careers. Trident offers high-quality bachelors, masters, and doctoral degree programs, led by a qualified faculty team, over 80% of whom have doctoral degrees. Visit www.trident.edu, Trident’s Facebook page, or call at 800-579-3197 to learn more about Trident’s wide range of program offerings.