Informed Consent: Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Program Site: Connecting with Community Colleges

If you are accepted into the RET program, you will be asked to read and sign an Informed Consent form. We request that you review the consent form below before applying to ensure you understand the requirements and conditions of the program. Please do not submit the informed consent form with your application.

Revised 7 March 2013.

Project Title	Site RET in Engineering: Connecting with Community Colleges
Purpose of the Study	This research program is being directed by Isabel K. Lloyd at the University of Maryland, College Park. Program evaluation research is an integral aspect of the overall program. The External Program Evaluator and Researcher is Action Research and Associates, Inc., Dr. Kris Juffer. We are inviting you to participate in this research project because you are a community college faculty member at Anne Arundel Community College, Carroll Community College, Cecil Community College, Harford Community College, Howard Community College, Montgomery College, or Prince George’s Community College who teaching is STEM classes. The purpose of this NSF Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering program is to increase the interest of community college students in STEM research and innovation. The goals of the project are to: 1) Engage community college faculty in cutting edge research; 2) Design relevant classroom materials based on the research experience of the community college faculty with the intent to foster student awareness, interest, and preparation for STEM academic studies and careers; and 3) Build relationships between community colleges in Maryland and the A. James Clark School of Engineering to facilitate the successful transition of Associate Degree students into the University of Maryland. The six week summer professional development program will involve your participation in: a team based research project with a faculty mentor in the A. James Clark School of Engineering; a workshop on laboratory safety; weekly lunch seminars on such as: ethics in engineering and science; entrepreneurship and intellectual property; teamwork, informed discovery and creative thinking for design; and building student and faculty ties between community colleges and the Clark School; a weekly three hour seminar where you collaboratively develop curriculum elements (lectures, demonstrations, laboratories, assignments) based on your research with the PI, co-PI and other participating community college faculty. During the academic year following the summer program, there will be monthly on-line discussions with the PI, co-PI and other participants regarding implementation of the curriculum elements as well as two half day workshops. The RET study will use surveys, questionnaires and classroom observations, and final summer presentations to detect the educational outcomes from the summer program, on-line discussions and workshops. The results of the study will help to determine if incorporating current, cutting-edge engineering, science and technology research experiences into the community college STEM curriculum is effective in increasing community college faculty’s ability to increase their students’ interest in STEM classes, enrollment in additional STEM classes, and in their future pursuit of STEM-oriented careers. Note: Increasing interest and participation in STEM classes is a goal for both (1) students who are considering STEM based careers and (2) students who do not intend to move into STEM careers, because the former will address US needs with respect to increasing the ‘pipeline’ of students into STEM careers and the latter may help to increase the level of understanding and acceptance of science and technology by the overall population.
Procedures	The program research procedures involve: Pre/Post STEM Research Experience Surveys Final Summer Presentation of a research-based STEM Curriculum Unit Classroom Observations of STEM curriculum unit implementation Half day workshops in December and May to discuss implementation of curriculum elements, disseminate curriculum elements and evaluate overall program effectiveness. Monthly one hour on-line discussions with the PI and co-PI to: 1) discuss implementation strategies and their success; 2) provide feedback and suggestions to other participating community college faculty members; and 3) offer suggestions to improve the program, based on the participants’ experience.
Potential Risks and Discomforts	The risk is from incidents or accidents by the community college faculty while working in the research laboratories at UMD. As a condition of participating in the summer research experience, participants will be required to attend a laboratory safety course during the first week. In addition, individual research advisors might require additional instruction based upon their specific laboratory safety requirements. Participation in the surveys in this study pose no greater risk than that encountered in the performance of curriculum evaluation surveys or career guidance tests.
Potential Benefits	The benefits to you include a research based professional development activity where you develop a curriculum element that may improve your teaching and your students’ interest in the STEM class. It is hoped that, in the future, other community college students might benefit from this study through increased participation, understanding and interest in STEM related activities, classes, careers and developments.
Confidentiality	Any study records that identify you will be kept confidential to the extent possible by law. Participant records may be reviewed by the outside evaluator, Action Research & Associates, Inc., and the people responsible for making sure that research is done properly, including members of the University of Maryland Institutional Review Board, or officials from government agencies such as the National Science Foundation. (All of these people are required to keep your identity confidential). Otherwise, records that identify you will be available only to people working on the study, unless you give permission for other people to see the records. A code may be used on the program evaluation assessments to protect your identity. For coded identifiable information, if applicable: your name will not be included on the surveys and other collected data; a code will be placed on the surveys and other collected data; through the use of an identification key, the researcher will be able to link your survey and documents to your identity; and only the researcher and the external evaluator will have access to the identification key. Each document that is submitted with an individual’s name will be recorded with a code. The Principal Investigator will maintain the code independent of the records in a locked cabinet. Anonymous surveys will not contain information that may personally identify you. If we write a report or article about this research project, the results will be reported in the aggregate and your personal identity will be protected to the maximum extent possible. This research project involves making photographs, video and audio recordings of you involved in the program to exhibit for evaluations, research, reports, presentations and websites related to the program. ___ I agree to be photographed, video and/or audio-taped during my participation in this study and give my permission for my image and/or voice to be used for the purposes of this program, its evaluations, research reports, presentations, and related web sites. ___ I do not agree to be photographed, video or audio-taped during my participation in this study.
Medical Treatment	The University of Maryland does not provide any medical, hospitalization or other insurance for participants in this research study, nor will the University of Maryland provide any medical treatment or compensation for any injury sustained as a result of participation in this research study, except as required by law.
Right to Withdraw and Ask Questions	Your participation in this research is completely voluntary. You may choose not to take part at all. If you decide to participate in this research, you may stop participating at any time. If you decide not to participate in this study or if you stop participating at any time, you will not be penalized or lose any benefits to which you otherwise qualify. The National Science Foundation and other agencies offer programs for teachers including community college faculty to work directly in research laboratories without being required to participate in the curriculum development activities, evaluation processes, December and May half-day implementation and evaluation workshops, and monthly on-line discussion sessions of this study. If interested in these programs, the agencies can be contacted directly for information on how to apply. If you decide to stop taking part in the study, if you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or if you need to report an injury related to the research, please contact the investigator, Isabel K. Lloyd [Principal Investigator] at: 2135 CHE, Bldg 90, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2115, 301-405-5221, illoyd@umd.edu. If you have questions regarding the program surveys or other aspects of the program evaluation research please contact Action Research and Associates, Inc., Dr. Kris Juffer at drkjuffer@verizon.net or at 410-465-1299. Termination of participation: Under certain circumstances the PI may decide to end your participation before you have completed the study. Specifically, the PI may stop your participation if you have not fully participated in all the activities related to the overall research experience including seminars without the written permission of the Principal Investigator. There may also be other circumstances that would lead us to end your participation such as unsafe behavior in your research mentor’s laboratory. If we end your participation before you have completed the study, we will provide compensation for your participation up to that time.
Participant Rights	If you have questions about your rights as a research participant or wish to report a research-related injury, please contact: University of Maryland College Park Institutional Review Board Office 0101 Lee Building College Park, Maryland, 20742 E-mail: irb@umd.edu Telephone: 301-405-0678 This research has been reviewed according to the University of Maryland, College Park IRB procedures for research involving human subjects.
Statement of Consent	Your signature indicates that you are at least 18 years of age; you have read this consent form or have had it read to you; your questions have been answered to your satisfaction and you voluntarily agree to participate in this research study. You will receive a copy of this signed consent form. If you agree to participate, please sign your name below.
Signature and Date	PARTICIPANT NAME: [Please Print]
	PARTICIPANT SIGNATURE:
	DATE:

[Participants will sign and date the actual form if accepted into the program. Please do not complete or submit the form provided on this page.]

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.