INFORMED CONSENT FORM: FOR STEM EDUCATORS
Co-Designing Innovative Strategies in Developing Multilingual Students’ STEM Literacies in Public Schools
Dear Teacher _________,
I am Dr. Angel Lin at the Faculty of Education, Simon Fraser University and I am conducting a research study to investigate a cutting-edge pedagogy to facilitate successful integration of language support in content teaching.
Our team is as follows and we invite you to participate in our research:
Principal Investigator: Dr. (Angel) Mei Yi Lin, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Professor, Simon Fraser University
Co-Investigator: Dr. Bong-gi Sohn, Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Fraser University
Collaborators: Dr. Sean Chorney, Assistant Professor, SFU; Joan Sharp, Teaching Professor, SFU; and Megan Barker, Lecturer, SFU
Research Consultants: Dr. Maurice Cheng, Associate Professor, University of Waikato, New Zealand; and Dr. Kok-Sing Tang, Associate Professor, Curtin University of Technology
Research Assistants: Dr. Arlene Spracklin, Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Fraser University; Dr. Ivy Tsang, Postdoctoral Fellow, Simon Fraser University; Pedro dos Santos, PhD Candidate, SFU; and Qinghua Chen, PhD Candidate, SFU
Why are we doing this study?
The research aims (1) to investigate the implementation of an innovative method to tackle the critical issue of how to integrate concept learning with language learning (the ‘Content-Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approach) in education contexts where there are many English-as-an-additional language (EAL) learners; and (2) to advance the theory and methodology for its wider application in Bilingual Education programs, which employ students’ second or additional language (L2) as the main language of instruction for the purpose of teaching both content and the additional language (e.g. Immersion, Dual Language programs). To conduct this research, I would like to invite you as one of the STEM educators at (Institution Name: ______) to participate and collaborate with our research team to co-develop and try out the ‘CLIL’ pedagogy to improve both content and language education at your classroom. The findings of this research will also contribute to the enhancement of teacher’s reflective practice and professional development by building up faculty capacity in LAC (language across the curriculum) and CLIL (content and language integrated learning) practices in EAL classrooms. As you expressed your interest in our previous online research meetings, I am now seeking your consent to participate in the research.
Your participation is voluntary.
You have the right to refuse to participate in this study. If you indicated in the consent form that you do not want participate, we will not collect any data. If you decide to participate, you may still choose to withdraw from the study at any time without any negative consequences. You can contact either PI or Co-PI for the withdraw (contact information available on page 4).
What happens if you say, “Yes, I want to be in the study?”
There will be two main stages in this research. In Stage I, you will be invited to participate in virtual brainstorming meetings or exchange emails on integration of content and language learning for your classroom(s). In Stage II, you will work closely with the research team for 2 semesters to develop a school-based example on the implementation of CLIL teaching method in one of your classes. During collaboration with the research team at this stage, a series of data collection methods will be piloted with your class. The data collection methods include:
- Online classroom observation and audio- or video-recorded classroom collection: the research team member will access to your online platform to understand the regular practices of your online class; the teacher’s self-audio- or video-recorded lectures will be collected to focus on you and your explanations and use of the CLIL approach in the teaching process. Any students who have not given consent to the study in the purview will not be included in the teacher’s audio-or video-recorded lectures. In the case that some students who have not given consent get into the purview of the camera when interacting with you, this part will be deleted entirely from the audio- or videotape. In all presentations and reports (oral or written) of the findings of the study, only data from those participants who have given consent will be used. And if any excerpts of video data are used in subsequent presentations (oral or written) of the findings of the study, all student faces will be blocked and all potentially identifying details of the student participants will be removed.
- allow the research team to collect student parent’s self-recorded audio or video of the student interacting with their family related to STEM literacies: to understand STEM-related literacy practices of the focal students with their families. The parent will either audio- or video-record his/her child which shows how he/she interact with his/her family related to STEM subjects at home. The parent will send his/her recordings to SFU Vault link that were provided by a RA that they have closely worked with. SFU Vault is the university owned online space which will be used for storing all the participants’ electronic files. This SFU Vault link is owned by the principal investigator and shared with the research team. The principal investigator will create folders delegated to each participant, using pseudonyms (e.g., Teacher A; Family B). Each participant will have a folder link to upload his/her audio- or video-recorded data. The participants will not have an access to other participants’ folders. Once the participants upload their files, all identifying information will be changed; and the names of people, places, and institutions will be replaced with pseudonyms. For audio and video recordings, we will remove any information that identifies a participant, including the file names (e.g., Family B_Interview 1). For video recordings, we will block the participants faces when we publicize the data.
Those who have not consented to participate will still be engaged interacting with the focal students, but the data about them will not be collected and used in the research. Any family members who have not given consent to the study will not be included from their self-audiotaped or videotaped data. In the case that some family members who have not given consent get into the view of the camera when interacting with a focal student, this part will be deleted entirely from the videotape. In all presentations and reports (oral or written) of the findings of the study, only data from those participants who have given consent will be used. And if any excerpts of video data are used in subsequent presentations (oral or written) of the findings of the study, all your faces will be blocked and all potentially identifying details of the participants will be removed.
- Individual interviews for students: interviews (around 30 minutes each) will be regularly conducted virtually (e.g. at the completion of each topical unit) with 4-6 volunteered students in your class (from only those who have given consent to the study) to get their feedback on the CLIL approach. Before recording, the research team will ask the student participant consent for the recording and they will be able to choose which recording devices (i.e., audio-recorder or video-recorder) to be used.
- Parent interviews: individual interviews (around 30 minutes each) will be regularly conducted virtually (e.g. at the completion of each topical unit) with selected parents (from only those who have given consent to the study) to get their views on CLIL approach used by the teacher and outside of classroom. Before recording, the research team will ask the parent participant consent for the recording and they will be able to choose which recording devices (i.e., audio-recorder or video-recorder) to be used.
- Stimulated recall interviews and semi-structured interviews: online interviews (around 60 minutes each) will be regularly conducted with you on your views and reflection on the process of trying out the CLIL approach. Before recording, the research team will ask the teacher participant consent for the recording and they will be able to choose which recording devices (i.e., audio-recorder or video-recorder) to be used.
- Collection of samples of students’ work: samples of students’ work are regularly collected (and scanned copies are made of them) from those students who have given consent to the study. All identifying details (e.g. names) will be deleted from them. Electronic copies of the student works will be collected instead of hard copies.
- Collection of students’ works in pre- and post-tasks: participating students will be given pre-tasks and post-tasks before and after a topical teaching unit. These will be co-designed and co-developed by the participating teachers and the research team. Their work will be collected and scanned copies are made of them. All identifying details (e.g. names) will be deleted from them.
Is there any way this study could be bad for you?
There are no risks associated with participation in this study. You will take part in the research on a voluntary basis and you have the right to review the lesson recording and request to erase part of or the entire recording. You can withdraw at any time without any negative consequences. If this happens, all the data related to you will be destroyed.
What are the benefits of participating?
By focusing on integrating (scientific & mathematic) knowledge and communicative literacies using Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) approaches, we expect to enhance STEM literacies where students need to integrate communicative skills with scientific knowledge and conceptualization. Through our transdisciplinary collaboration, we will foster (Institution Name: ______) students’ learning and developing their disciplinary reasoning and STEM literacies. If you participate in the study, you will receive small gifts (stationary or gift card $50 equivalent) for your participation.
How will your privacy be maintained?
This research project guarantees confidentiality of the data about you, your students and your school. Only the Principal Investigator and our team members (Bong-gi Sohn, Sean Chorney, Joan Sharp, Megan Barker, Maurice Cheng, Kok-Sing Tang, Arlene Spracklin, Ivy Tsang, Pedro dos Santos, and Qinghua Chen) will have access to the data collected in this research. Any publication resulting from the research will not identify individuals or school.
After the completion of the study, the final written data set (i.e. lesson and interview transcripts) will be uploaded to an online repository—SFU RADAR (https://researchdata.sfu.ca/). These files will be stripped of any information that could identify students (e.g., names, email addresses) to ensure privacy. All audio-visual data (i.e. video/audio-recorded lessons and interviews) will be securely stored at the researchers’ password-protected computers and the principal investigator’s password-protected SFU Vault folder. The SFU Vault folder link that we will provide to you will be only accessible by you and the research team.
During the interim period, computer equipment containing password-protected data will be stored in each researcher’s locked cabinet at home, and all audio-visual data (i.e. video/audio-recorded lessons and interviews) will be securely stored at the principal investigator’s password-protected SFU Vault folder. Once the interim period ends, it will be locked in the principal investigator’s cabinet in the University for a maximum of five years upon completion of the research. After this, all of these will be destroyed.
The written data transcripts that have been completely anonymized (i.e. removing all identifying details such as names of students/teachers/schools/districts) will be made available for open access to other education researchers after completion of the research.
What if I decide to withdraw my consent to participate?
You may withdraw from this study at any time without giving reasons. If you choose to enter the study and then decide to withdraw at a later time, all data collected about you during your involvement in the study will be destroyed.
Study results.
We will share our main findings with our collaborating teachers in verbal and written form in order to assist them to advance their teaching practices. The main findings of this study will also be presented at academic conferences and/or published in academic journals and books. These will be available in the PI’s website (www.angellin.ca) and the research participants can contact the research team directly if they have any inquiries.
Who can you contact if you have questions about the study?
You can contact Dr. Angel Lin (Email: angellin_2018@sfu.ca Phone: 778 782 5789) or Dr. Bong-gi Sohn (Email: bsohn@sfu.ca Phone: 778 782 3111).
Who can you contact if you have complaints or concerns about the study?
If you have any concerns about your rights as a research participant and/or your experiences while participating in this study, you may contact Dr. Jeffrey Toward, Director, Office of Research Ethics (Email: jtoward@sfu.ca Phone: 778 782 6593).
PARTICIPANT CONSENT
Taking part in this study is entirely up to you. You have the right to refuse to participate in this study. If you decide to take part, you may choose to pull out of the study at any time without giving a reason and without any negative impact on your status as a teacher of (Institution’s name) ________.
- Your signature below indicates that you have received a copy of this consent form for your own records.
- Your signature indicates that you consent to participate in this study.
- You do not waive any of your legal rights by participating in this study.
Please check every item that you consent to.
☐ I consent to being observed and allow the research team to collect my self-audio- or video-recorded lectures.
☐ I consent to being interviewed about my class and on my views on the process of trying out the CLIL approach to being audio/video-recorded during this interview.
______________________________ _____________________________
Participant Signature Date (yyyy/mm/dd)
______________________________
Printed Name of the Participant signing above
*The University and those conducting this project subscribe to the ethical conduct of research and to the protection at all times of the interests, comfort, and safety of subjects. This form and the information it contains are given to you for your own protection and full understanding of the procedures. Your signature on this form will signify that you voluntarily agree to participate in the research project.