• 418-1 EE - Distance Learning Education: The New Generation of Skills-based Learning
  Presented by: Lover LM Chancler, Lorenza Lockett, Melinda Markham

• 418-2 FF - Doing Social Justice: (Re)tooling Critical Feminisms as Praxis
  Presented by: Lee Ann De Reus, Libby Balter Blume

• 418-3 RT - The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale for Parents of Youth With Autism
  Presented by: Melissa J. Herzog, Tia R. Schultz, Janine P. Stichter

• 418-4 FS - Online Education: Lessons Learned by Faculty and Administrators
  Presented by: Leslie Ann Koepke, Julie Zaloudek, Dorothy Rombo

• 418-5 RT - Exploring Reciprocal Effects between Parenting Behaviors and Child's Cognitive Development
  Presented by: Young-Hee Park, Ithel Jones

• 418-6 EM - The Cost of Being Different: Low-income and Children With Special Needs
  Presented by: Juli Meagan Sams, MinJung Jung

• 418-7 EE - Online Parenting Education and Support: The Digital Parenting Project 2.0
  Presented by: Stephen Small, Anne Samuelson, Rebecca Mather

• 418-8 FP - Using Blogs in a Graduate-level Family Policy Seminar
  Presented by: Catherine A. Solheim, Patrick Cheek

• 418-9 IN - Expanding Cultural Awareness – As Told From Student and Faculty Perspectives
  Presented by: Sterling Kendall Wall, Cuiting Li, Elizabeth Newman

• 418-10 RT - Assessing Decision Making in Young Adult Romantic Relationships
  Presented by: Amber V. Vennum, Frank D. Fincham

Abstracts

Distance Learning Education: The New Generation of Skills-Based Learning

Presented by: Lover LM Chancler, Lorenza Lockett, Melinda Markham

Distance Learning Education (DLE), also referred to as on-line education, has become commonplace in several disciplines within higher education.   There is an increasing demand for this medium of delivery (Brown & Freeman, 2010).  This medium offers several attractive features, but there are particular challenges when teaching skills-based curriculum.  The proposed roundtable discussion will allow instructors and those interested in DLE to: 1) identify the challenges in teaching skills-based classes online, 2) explore different ways to present DLE courses, and 3) demonstrate the implications the movement toward DLE has for the field of family studies.

Doing Social Justice: (Re)tooling Critical Feminisms as Praxis

Presented by: Lee Ann De Reus, Libby Balter Blume

The purpose of this roundtable is to engage participants in a discussion of how critical feminisms can inform work for social justice in our professional and personal lives. Specifically, the theoretical frameworks of Multicultural and Critical Race feminisms, Postcolonial and Transnational feminisms, Postmodern and Queer Theories, and Eco-feminism will be presented as tools for seeking social justice through teaching, research and praxis. Examples of a wide range of actions including writing against racism, deconstructing our privilege, or using research to raise awareness will be offered for each theory.

The Parenting Sense of Competence Scale for Parents of Youth with Autism

Presented by: Melissa J. Herzog, Tia R. Schultz, Janine P. Stichter

Parents' sense of competence (self-efficacy, satisfaction) has been linked to both parent and child behavior. A gap exists in understanding parenting competence among parents of youth with special needs. The Parent Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) has been well researched with parents of typically developing youth. The current study examined the factor structure of the 17-item PSOC among 49 mothers of youth (ages 6-14) with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Principal components analyses suggested a two-factor structure (Efficacy, Satisfaction) across nine retained items. Results and implications are discussed within the context of challenges associated with parenting youth with ASD.

Online Education: Lessons Learned by Faculty and Administrators

Presented by: Leslie Ann Koepke, Julie Zaloudek, Dorothy Rombo

Currently, there are fewer than a dozen online family studies degree programs offered in the U.S.; however in light of continuous budget cuts, distance education will likely increase since fiscal security of academic departments depends on  research grants; student credit hour production, and online programming.

The purpose of this roundtable, based upon one university's experience with developing an online undergraduate Family Studies program, is to discuss the range of variables for consideration when developing an online family studies program, and in particular to discuss how instructional approaches to online learning may influence specific curricular and methodological decisions.

Exploring Reciprocal Effects between Parenting Behaviors and Child's Cognitive Development

Presented by: Young-Hee Park, Ithel Jones

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (ECLS-B), the reciprocal effects between parenting behaviors and a child's cognitive development will be explored from infancy through preschool, accounting for changes in both parenting behaviors and the child's cognitive development. The dynamics of parenting behaviors will be verified across early childhood. Children with parents who modify their parenting behaviors at the pace of the child's cognitive development will tend to have higher cognitive development outcomes. Parenting behaviors will uniquely contribute to a child's cognitive abilities over early childhood. Similarly, a child's cognitive abilities will relate to later parenting behaviors.

The Cost of Being Different: Low-income and Children with Special Needs

Presented by: Juli Meagan Sams, MinJung Jung

Young children with special needs often require specialized care and services to aid in their development because they are at risk of falling behind their peers. However, children in low-income families are especially vulnerable to the presence of a disability as resources do not match the additional needs. As one aspect, such as childcare, becomes threatened, all areas of family functioning are susceptible to potentially detrimental outcomes. In this paper we examine various influences on this cycle with regard to policy, community, immediate environment, and both parent and child characteristics. Implications will be discussed in light of the findings.

Online Parenting Education and Support: The Digital Parenting Project 2.0

Presented by: Stephen Small, Anne Samuelson, Rebecca Mather

We describe the development and evaluation of the Digital Parenting Project 2.0 (DPP2.0), an online program for parents of 10-14 year olds. DPP2.0 utilizes interactive Web 2.0 technology to provide information and encourage a supportive online community for parents.  Given the current economy, the typical barriers to participation in parenting education, such as travel and childcare, may be increasingly potent barriers to families' participation in parenting programs.  Online education, such as DPP2.0, meets parents wherever their are.

Using Blogs in a Graduate-level Family Policy Seminar

Presented by: Catherine A. Solheim, Patrick Cheek

Graduate family science programs often include courses designed to develop students' policy analysis skills. But traditional course designs may not effectively develop the requisite skills needed for engagement in today's Internet-based policy development arena. This presentation describes the redesign of a graduate-level family policy seminar incorporating blogs as a tool to actively engage students in web-based family policy dialogue.  Students chose a policy issue, communicated their on-going analysis via blogs, and responded to other students' blogs.  Results from student evaluations and instructor reflections will be shared.

Expanding Cultural Awareness – As Told From Student and Faculty Perspectives

Presented by: Sterling Kendall Wall, Cuiting Li, Elizabeth Newman

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, systems of higher education are charged with preparing a more globally aware citizenry and workforce. Towards that end, students are encouraged to study abroad, and diverse faculty and student body are recruited. All sides of this intercultural endeavor are explored through student's eyes, as they share their stories of experiences abroad, through a Chinese faculty members eyes who has grappled with the U.S. system of Higher Education as both student and professor, and through a colleagues eyes who has witnessed both her and his students growth as they grapple with cultural differences.

Assessing Decision Making in Young Adult Romantic Relationships

Presented by: Amber V. Vennum, Frank D. Fincham

Lack of active decision making in romantic relationships (sliding) can lead to increases in constraints that promote the continuation of relationships that would have otherwise ended, leading to increased risk of relationship distress. The purpose of this paper was to develop a measure of decision making in romantic relationships to be used in research and applied settings with populations that may be at risk for sliding. This paper explores the factor structure and reliability of the Relationship Deciding Scale (RDS), demonstrates concurrent and predictive validity, and examines the influence of a semester long intervention targeted at increasing deciding in relationships.