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About the Study About the Partners Contact
 

 

Professional Development Opportunity in Science

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Participation

 

Who can participate in the study?

  • 9 th and 10 th grade teachers who teach science to students who will take the Living Environment Regents Examination can participate in this study.

How do I enroll in the study?

  • E-mail Alice Anderson at ABE-NY@edc.org and let her know that you are interested. She will contact you to begin the enrollment process.

I teach science to 9 th and 10 th grade students who will take the Living Environment Regents Examination, but I do not use the Living Environment Core Curriculum. Do I qualify for this study?

  • Yes. Teachers who have any number of students who will be eligible to take the Living Environment Regents Examination qualify for this study, even if they do not use the Living Environments Core Curriculum.

 

What do I get for participating in this study?

  • All teachers in this study receive a free online professional development course and a stipend for each year of participation.

How much is the stipend?

  • The stipend ranges from $200 to $600 depending on teachers' yearly tasks. Teachers will receive a stipend every year of the study, but the amount will vary each year based on the number of research-related activities. For example, if teachers are taking the online course in a particular year, their stipend would be higher than the other years when they will be collecting student data and filling out forms.

Can my colleagues also participate in this study?

  • You are welcome to tell other colleagues about the study. They must, however, be a 9th or 10th grade science teacher whose students take the Living Environment Regents Examination. If they are interested, they should contact Alice Anderson at ABE-NY@edc.org .

How long will the study last?

  • Teachers' participation in this study will begin in summer 2008 and end in either May 2010 or May 2011, depending on which group they are assigned.

How much of my time will be taken up by participating in this study?

  • In the year that you take the online professional development course, you will:
    • Take pre- and post- course assessments (summer).
    • Take the online course (summer).
    • Distribute student consent forms (fall).
    • Complete a teacher information questionnaire (fall).
    • Have students complete a short science assessment that is provided at the beginning and end of each school year (fall/spring).
    • Complete a rich media usage questionnaire (spring).
  • In the year(s) that you do not take the online professional development course, you will:
    • Distribute student consent forms (fall).
    • Complete a teacher information questionnaire (fall).
    • Have students complete a short science assessment that is provided at the beginning and end of each school year (fall/spring).
    • Complete a rich media usage questionnaire (spring).

Course Requirements

 

What tools will I need to complete this course?

  • In order to participate in this study, you must have a computer, either at home or at school, with access to the internet, a working email account, and word processing software (for example, Microsoft Word).

 

How do I know if my computer has the necessary system requirements to complete the course?

  • When it is time for you to take the course, you can go to the TeacherLine website to install any additional software that you will need for the course. All software for the course can be downloaded for free from the internet.

Course

 

Can I choose which summer I take this course?

  • No. This course offering is available as part of an experimental study. For the purposes of this study, teachers must be randomly assigned to the summer they will take the course.

Do I get to choose between the different versions of the course?

  • No. This course offering is available as part of an experimental study. For the purposes of this study, teachers must be randomly assigned to the course.

 

Assessment

 

Will my pre- and post-course assessment scores be publicly posted?

  • No. Your scores will be kept confidential.

Are there any implications of my scores on the pre- and post-course assessments?

  • No. The scores are strictly for use in the study. The pre- and post- course assessments will not affect your final course grade.

What if I want to leave the study?

 

If I start the study and decide to withdraw, will I face a penalty?

  • No. Participation in any research study is voluntary. However, you will not receive credit for an unfinished course. In addition, teachers will receive the stipend only for the years in which they participate in the study.

I read somewhere that there was a refund policy associated with this course. Can I get money if I decide to withdraw from this study?

  • No. The refund policy is only for teachers who pay to take the course.

Sponsors

 

What is TeacherLine?

  • TeacherLine is a professional development service offered through the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).

What is the Education Development Center 's Center for Children and Technology?

  • Education Development Center (EDC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing learning, promoting health, and fostering a deeper understanding about the world. The Center for Children and Technology (CCT) is part of the Education Development Center . CCT investigates ways that technology can make a difference in children's classrooms, schools, and communities through research.

 

Click to download an FAQs pdf.

General Overview

Course Specifics

 

For more information, please contact:

Alice Anderson

ABE-NY Study Coordinator

EDC/Center for Children and Technology

ABE-NY@edc.org

212-807-4267
 
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