Teacher Confidential Consent
Title of the Project:
Integrating Instructional Design and Cognitive Load Theory: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry into Grades 3-5 Teaching
Principal Investigator:
Cassandra S. Spearman, Doctoral Candidate, School of Education, Instructional Design and Technology, Liberty University
Key Information about the Research Study
You are invited to participate in a research study. To participate, you must be a classroom teacher, currently teaching in Grades 3-5 in the United States, have completed professional development, coursework, or instructional design experience related to cognitive load theory, and not be an investigator in this inquiry, an administrator, instructional coach, substitute, or support staff rather than full-time classroom teachers.
Things you should know:
The purpose of the study is to understand the experiences of third through fifth grade teachers as they utilize instructional design and cognitive load principles in various elementary school settings across the United States.
If you choose to participate, you will be asked to: complete a reflective learning activity (20-30 minutes), upload 2 lesson plans with a brief explanation (20-30 minutes), and take part in an individaul interview via Zoom (45-60 minutes). Participants will have the option of reviewing the transcript of the interview for accuracy (5-10 minutes).
Partcipants would not expect a direct benefit from participating in this study.
Taking part in this research project is voluntary. You do not have to participate, and you can stop at any time.
Please read this entire form and ask questions before deciding whether to participate in this research.
What is the study about and why is it being done?
The purpose of the study is to understand the experiences of third through fifth grade teachers as they utilize instructional design and cognitive load principles in various elementary school settings across the United States.
What will happen if you take part in this study?
If you agree to be in this study. I will ask you to do the following:
Reflective Learning Activity (20-30 minutes): Complete a short reflective letter describing how you have used cognitive load theory in the classroom.
Lesson Plan Activity (20-30 minutes): Participants will upload two past lesson plans and write a brief explanation of how they used the cognitive load theory to reduce unnecessary instructional load.
Video-Recorded Interview (45-60 minutes): Participate in online, video-recorded interview via Zoom.
Optional Member Checking (5-10 minutes): Review your interview transcript to confirm accuracy and ensure comments are properly labeled.
How could you or others benefit from this study?
Participants should not expect a direct benefit from participating in this study.
Benefits to society include contributing to improved instructional design practices, enhanced understanding of cognitive load theory in elementary settings and increased knowledge within the field of instructional design and teacher professional development.
What risks might you experience from being in this study?
The expected risks from participating in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks you would encounter in everyday life.
I am a mandatory reporter. During this study, of I receive information about a child abuse, child neglect, elder abuse or intent to harm self or others, I will be required to report it to the appropriate authorities.
How will personal information be protected?
The records of this study will be kept private. Published reports will not include any information that would make it possible to identify a participant. Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher and faculty advisor will have access to the records.
Participants responses will be kept confidential by replacing names with pseudonyms.
Interviews will be conducted in a location where others will not easily overhear the conversation.
Data collected from you mat ne used in future research studies and/or shared with other researchers. If data collected from you is reused or shared, any information that could identify you, if applicable, will be removed before hand.
Electronic data will be stored on a password-protected computer, an encrypted external hard drive and secure, institutional-approved digital storage. Only the researcher and faculty advisor will have access to the data. After three years, all electrical records will be permanently deleted.
Recordings will be stored on a password-protected computer and in secure, institutional-approved digital storage. Only the researcher and faculty advisor will have access to the recordings. After three years, all recordings will be permanently deleted.
How will you be compensated for being part of the study?
Participants who complete all the study activities will receive a $50.00 Visa e-gift card.
Is study participation voluntary?
Taking part in this study is completely voluntary. Your decision whether to participate will not affect your current or futurre relations with Liberty University. If you decide to particpate, you are free not to answer or withdraw at any time without affecting those relationships.
What should you do if you decide to withdraw for this study?
If you choose to withdraw from the study, please contact the researcher at the email address or phone number listed in the next section. Should you withdraw, the data collected from you will be destroyed immediately and will not be included in this study.
Whom do you contact if you have questions or concerns about this study?
The researcher conducting this study is Cassandra S. Spearman. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact her at (901) 605-2685 or cspearman6@liberty.edu. You may also contact the researcher's faculty sponsor, Dr, Rebecca Lunde, at mfitch@liberty.edu.
Whom do you contact if you have questions about your rights as a research participant?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and want to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the IRB. Our physical address is Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd., Green Hall Ste. 2845, Lynchburg, VA, 24515; our phone number is 434-592-5530, and our email address is irb@liberty.edu.
Disclaimer: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) ensures that human subjects research will be conducted ethically as defined and required by federal regulations. The topics covered and viewpoints expressed or alluded to by student and faculty researchers are those of the researchers and do not necessarily reflect the official policies of Liberty University.
Your Consent
By signing this document you are agreeing to be in this study. Make sure you understand what the study is about before you sign. You will ne given a copy of this document for your records. The researcher will keep a copy with the student records. If you have any questions about the study after you sign this document, you can contact the study team usingn the information provided above.
I have read and understood the above information. I have asked questions and have received answers. I consent to participate in the study.