CONSENT FORM FOR HUMAN PARTICIPANTS IN RESEARCH

UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO

Project Title: The Cognitive Load Impacts of zSpace Virtual Reality Technology on Academic Performance of Public School Students in Grades 7-12

Researchers:

  • Heng-Yu Ku, Ph.D., School of Teacher Education, 970-371-1893,
  • Charles R. Farnsworth Jr., Ed.D., STEM Teacher, Window Rock Unified School District #8, 970-405-2293,
  • Cheryl L. Farnsworth, MA, STEM Teacher, Window Rock Unified School District #8, 970-405 2293,
  • Jamis J. Perrett, Ph.D., Product Analysis Lead, Monsanto Company, 314-694-3651,
  • Sheldon Yazzie, Director of Information Technology, Window Rock Unified School District #8, 928-729-6724,

We are researching the impact of zSpace STEM technology on public students’ academic performance in their math and science courses. If you grant permission and if your child indicates to us a willingness to participate, we foresee no risks to subjects beyond those that are normally encountered during usual daily educational activities.

If your child is enrolled in a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) course using zSpace virtual reality computer technology we will invite him/her to be a participant in the intervention group because of this unique technology implementation. If your child is taking regular science and math classes but is not enrolled in a zSpace virtual reality computer technology class, we will invite him/her to be a participant in the control group of this study. Participants in both the intervention and control groups will be trained by members of the research team in the use of a dedicated website for the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) cognitive load instrument. Your child will be issued a unique password to logon to the NASA-TLX website which contains a 6-item scale for self-measurement of cognitive load levels upon completion of academic tasks in STEM, science and math classes. The NASA-TLX is very easy to use and participants are expected to be able to complete the on-line ratings in 5-10 minutes on average and will need to do this three to four times per week. It will be possible for your child to access the NASA-TLX website from any electronic device that has Internet access from home or at school.

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(Parent’s initials here)

In order to monitor your child’s progress in STEM, science and math courses the research team will also have access to teacher generated course grades as well as state and district level academic assessment scores. We will need to acquire your student’s scores from these assessment tools from the previous academic year as well.

Be assured that we intend to keep all data collected from your child’s academic performance during this study private. To further help maintain confidentiality, computer files of children’s performance will be created and children's names will be replaced by numerical identifiers. The names of subjects will not appear in any professional report of this research.

Please feel free to phone me or any member of the research team if you have any questions or concerns about this research and please retain one copy of this letter for your records.

Thank you for assisting with our research.

Sincerely,

Heng-Yu Ku, Ph.D., Charles R. Farnsworth Jr., Ed.D., Cheryl L. Farnsworth, M.A., Jamis J. Perrett, Ph.D., and Sheldon Yazzie

Participation is voluntary. You may decide not to allow your child to participate in this study and if (s)he begins participation you may still decide to stop and withdraw at any time. Your decision will be respected and will not result in loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Having read the above and having had an opportunity to ask any questions, please sign below if you would like to participate in this research. A copy of this form will be given to you to retain for future reference. If you have any concerns about your selection or treatment as a research participant, please contact Sherry May, IRB Administrator, Office of Sponsored Programs, Kepner Hall, University of Northern Colorado Greeley, CO 80639; 970-351-1910.

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Child’s Full Name (please print) Child’s Birth Date (month/day/year)

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Parent/Guardian’s Signature Date

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Researcher’s Signature Date