Purdue University, in conjunction with WGBH Boston and Concord Evaluation Group (CEG), is
conducting a study to learn about kids’ interest in science, math, designing, creating, and building in
school and the types of activities they choose to take part in outside of school (NSF #EEC 1129342).
Sixty students from Indiana and Massachusetts will be taking part in this study, over a 20-31-month period.
If we are enrolled in the study, what will we be asked to do?
Year 1: During your child’s seventh grade year, we will come to your home (or a location that is comfortable for you) to interview you, your child’s other parent, and your child about school subjects that your child likes and dislikes and the kinds of activities your child enjoys outside of school. We will also interview your child’s teacher and any informal educators (such as extracurricular club leaders) to learn about the kinds of resources available to your child.
Over the following year, we will ask your child to use some educational activities that are available on the Internet. We will provide you and your child with monthly web surveys to keep track of your child’s online activity and thoughts about the educational resources that are available to him/her.
Year 2: When your child is in eighth grade, we will call to interview you and your child again. This interview will be about your child’s interests inside and outside of school. We will also interview your child’s seventh grade science or technology teacher and any informal educators (such as extracurricular club leaders) to learn about the educational resources available to your child. We will ask your child to continue using educational activities that are available on the Internet for the next year.
At the end of the study, before your child has completed eighth grade, we will come to your home to interview you and your child for a final time. We will also interview your child’s eighth grade science or technology teacher and any informal educators. We will pay you $100 at the start of the study (near the start of seventh grade), $100 at the halfway point (at the end of seventh grade) and $100 at the end of the study (at the end of eighth grade) upon completion of each interview.