KEY INFORMATION:

*This form seeks your consent to participate in a UAH research study. Participation is voluntary. The study evaluates features of language that make it more or less accessible to English Learners (EL), students for whom English is not a native language, and how teachers employ classroom instructional language to increase accessibility for ELs.

*The study also examines teachers’ reported self-efficacy related to EL instruction.

*There are no foreseeable risks associated with participating.

*Participants will be paid $100 each time they submit a recorded teaching demo and survey.

The Principal Investigator is Dr. Andrea Word, from The University of Alabama in Huntsville. The Co-PIs are Dr. Christina Steidl and Dr. Amanda Giles, both from The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

WHAT ARE PARTICIPANTS BEING ASKED TO DO?

Participation in this study is completely voluntary. For participants, the study will require approximately one hour of your time per semester, for three semesters (Fall 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026). Each of these semesters, you will be asked to provide a 15-20 minute audio recording of you teaching in your classroom. You can choose exactly when you wish to record. Recording equipment and instructions will be provided so that you can create and upload the recording using your smartphone. After completing the recording, you will be asked to go online and complete a brief survey (approximately 20 minutes) within 48 hours.

DISCOMFORTS AND RISKS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THIS STUDY:

There are no expected risks associated with your participation. See confidentiality of results, below, for additional information regarding protection of all data.

EXPECTED BENEFITS:

Results from this study can benefit students and educators by helping us understand specific types of language structures that may make it easier for students to understand lesson content. Although the primary benefit is expected relative to understanding linguistic accommodations and design for ELs, it is anticipated that this understanding could also benefit all linguistically diverse and divergent educators and students.

INCENTIVES AND COMPENSATION FOR PARTICIPATION:

Participants who submit both the recording and the survey will be paid $100 each semester - for a total of $300 over the course of the project.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF RESULTS:

Participant numbers will be used to record your data, including audio samples and surveys, and these numbers will be made available only to those researchers directly involved with this study, thereby ensuring strict confidentiality. Recordings and/or surveys will not be available to school district personnel. This consent form will be destroyed after 3 years.

FREEDOM TO WITHDRAW:

You are free to withdraw from the study at any time. You will not be penalized because of withdrawal in any form. Investigators reserve the right to remove any participant from the study without regard to the participant’s consent.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

If you have any questions, please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Andrea Word, at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, at 256-824-2329 or at andrea.word@uah.edu or the Co-Principal Investigator, Dr. Christina Steidl, at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, at 256-824-2299 or at christina.steidl@uah.edu.

If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, or concerns or complaints about the research, you may contact the Office of the IRB (IRB) at 256-824-2465 or email the IRB chair Dr. Ann Bianchi at irb@uah.edu.

Please indicate your consent to participate in this research by clicking the appropriate radio button below.

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at UAH and will expire on September 29, 2024.