Keywords

Fuzzy, Set Theory, Modeling, Mathematical, Qualitative, Quantitative

Abstract

The utilization of fuzzy mathematical modeling for quantification of the quality of training and educational delivery is an innovative application that can result in measurable and repeatable results. This research was designed to apply proven quantification techniques and Industrial Engineering methodologies to a nontraditional environment. The outcomes of this research provide the foundation, initial steps and preliminary validation for the development of a systematic fuzzy theoretical model to be applied for the quantification of various areas within training and education delivery. The test bed for this methodology is Orange County Public School system, the twelfth largest school district in the nation. The organizational and operational factors of a large school district are highly compatible with Systems Engineering concepts. The debate over education reform has drawn from referenced areas within the Industrial Engineering community including quality, continuous improvement, benchmarking and metrics development, data analysis, and scientific/systemic justification requirements. In spite of these applications, the literature does not reflect a consistent and broad application of these techniques in addressing the evaluation and quantification of educational delivery systems. This research draws on the previously listed areas within Industrial Engineering to apply these techniques to enhance the understanding and promote quantification of the multiple factors acting on the educational delivery system. The importance of addressing these issues is a national concern given the significant changes in the United States educational delivery system. For example, over the past 40 years there has been a more than three-hundred percent increase in per-pupil appropriations yet the academic performance gains have been limited and the quantification and measurement of those gains is even more limited. This body of work willidentify the systems, sub-systems, system factors, and factor degrees of existence necessary to quantify and measure these performance changes. Finally, the research will quantify the inputs and produce a model that provides a numeric value that represents the condition of the system and various subsystems of an educational system.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2005

Semester

Fall

Advisor

McCauley-Bell, Pamela

Degree

Master of Science in Industrial Engineering (M.S.I.E.)

College

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Department

Industrial Engineering and Management Systems

Degree Program

Industrial Engineering and Management Systems

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000890

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000890

Language

English

Release Date

January 2006

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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