Title: Cultivating Teacher Activists & Decolonizing Teacher Activism in Public Schools
Protocol #07312019.037
Researcher(s): Deanna Chappell Belcher, Doctoral Candidate, University of Oregon
Michelle M. Jacob & Joanna Goode, Dissertation Advisors, University of Oregon
Researcher Contact Info: 917-968-4699 (text)
deannacb@uoregon.edu (subject line: “RE: CULTIVATING TEACHER ACTIVISTS”)
You are being asked to participate in a research study. The box below highlights key information about this research for you to consider when making a decision whether or not to participate. Carefully consider this information and the more detailed information provided below the box. Please ask questions about any of the information you do not understand before you decide whether to participate.
Key Information for You to Consider
- Voluntary Consent. You are being asked to volunteer for a research study. It is up to you whether you choose to participate or not. There will be no penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled if you choose not to participate or discontinue participation.
- Purpose. This study aims to explore the opportunities and challenges lead to the development and growth of a teacher activist identity, and how can we support and nurture that development. It also explores what is required of non-Native teachers, if they intend to decolonize their activist work, given that all public schools are established on stolen land and modeled on settler colonial logics and assumptions
- Duration. It is expected that your participation will last between 20 minutes and six weeks, depending on which pieces of the study you choose to do (details below).
- Procedures and Activities. You will be asked to take a brief online survey. From there you can choose to: tell your own story and/or submit realia to the study and/or participate in the six-week Teacher Inquiry Group.
- Risks. Some of the foreseeable risks or discomforts of your participation are minimal and include many of the same risks we undertake when participating in activist work (psychological or spiritual discomfort, risks associated with taking a public stand on a controversial issue, etc.)
- Benefits. Some of the direct benefits that may be expected include the opportunity to discuss our work with fellow education activists and consider new questions and points of view that hopefully will be valuable to our work. In addition, the researchers hope to better understand ways that we can nurture the activist spirit in other activists and encourage would-be activists and future education and teacher activists.
- Alternatives. “Participation is voluntary; the only alternative is to not participate.” But we hope you will benefit from the research in the future as you continue your activist work.
The different activities in this research project:
If you participate in this project you may be participating in one or two or all four of the following engaging activities: (1) Completing a brief (20 mins) survey that asks about you and your teaching and activism work; (2) telling the story of how you became a teacher and what spurred you to become an activist; (3) sharing some examples of your activist work (writing, art, news clippings, etc) and (4) participating in a six-week discussion group with up to 11 other teachers (12 total participants, plus the researcher) about decolonizing our education activism.
Note that the Teacher Inquiry Group meetings will be recorded using university-issued audio and/or video equipment. If you do not consent to be recorded, you will not be eligible to participate in the TIG activities. You can, however, participate in the Survey, Origin Story, and Realia without consenting to be recorded.
What happens to the information collected for this research?
Information collected for this research will be used to complete the researcher’s dissertation. We may also publish and/or present the information from the Teacher Inquiry Group discussions (including recordings and photographs from the TIG meetings, any realia submitted, excerpts from Origin Stories and compiled data from the Online Survey. With your permission, your name will be used in conferences or published reports about this study. If you prefer, we will keep your name and other identifying information confidential.
Identifiers might be removed from identifiable private information collected in this research. After removal of identifiers, the information may be used for future research, publication, or presentation.
How will my privacy and data confidentiality be protected?
We will take measures to protect your privacy including using University issued survey software and University protected online storage for documents and recordings, with a backup kept on a secure external drive at the researcher’s home. There are limits in any group research setting, such as the Teacher Inquiry Group, to how secure information can be. Despite taking steps to protect your privacy, we can never fully guarantee your privacy will be protected.
We will take measures to protect the security of all your personal information including secure storage of all research documentation as outlined above. Despite these precautions to protect the confidentiality of your information, we can never fully guarantee confidentiality of all study information.
- Individuals and organization that conduct or monitor this research may be permitted access to and inspect the research records. This may include access to your private information, recordings of Teacher Inquiry Group discussions, Origin Stories, and Realia. These individuals and organizations include: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) that reviewed this research, and the researcher’s faculty advisors.
- Identifiers might be removed from identifiable private information collected in this research. After removal of identifiers, the information may be used for future research without obtaining additional consent.
What if I want to stop participating in this research?
Taking part in this research study is your decision. Your participation in this study is voluntary. You do not have to take part in this study, but if you do, you can stop at any time. You have the right to choose not to participate in any study activity or completely withdraw from continued participation at any point in this study without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your relationship with the researchers or the University of Oregon.
If you decide to leave the project please contact the researcher to discuss how best to facilitate your exit while not jeopardizing the entire project (this will look different depending on which parts of the study you have contributed to; your data will not be able to be removed from the study).
Will I be paid for participating in this research?
For taking part in this research, you may be paid up to a total of $125 [gift cards]. Your compensation will be broken down as follows:
- Survey (approximately 20 minutes to complete): drawing for a $20 gift card
- Origin Story (between 10 and 30 minutes to complete): $5 gift card (first 20 participants), mailed to address they provide
- Realia (between 30 minutes and 2 hours to complete): $10 gift card (first 20 participants), mailed to address they provide
- Teacher
Inquiry Group (six weekly meetings of 2 hours; audio/video recorded):
- Week 2: Gift Card $20
- Week 4: Gift Card $20
- Week 6: Gift Card $50
Additional non-monetary compensation will be broken down as follows:
- Teacher Inquiry Group, incentives given during group meetings:
- Week 1: Journal for use during the TIG or however you see fit (approx. value $5)
- Week 3: Art supplies “white elephant” gift (approx. value $15)
- Week 5: Book: When We Fight We Win by Greg Jobin-Leeds and AgitArte ($15)
- Also note that if you join the TIG there is an additional in-person consent process, because the group will be recorded.
Who can answer my questions about this research?
If you have questions, concerns, or have experienced a research related injury, contact the research team at:
Deanna Chappell Belcher, 917-968-4699 (text), deannacb@uoregon.edu (Subject Line: CULTIVATING TEACHER ACTIVISTS)
An Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) is overseeing this research. An IRB is a group of people who perform independent review of research studies to ensure the rights and welfare of participants are protected. UO Research Compliance Services is the office that supports the IRB. If you have questions about your rights or wish to speak with someone other than the research team, you may contact:
RESEARCH COMPLIANCE SERVICES, 5237 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5237
541-346-2510
STATEMENT OF CONSENT
I have had the opportunity to read and consider the information in this form. I have asked any questions necessary to make a decision about my participation. I understand that I can ask additional questions throughout my participation.
I understand that by signing below, I volunteer to participate in this research. I understand that I am not waiving any legal rights. I have been provided with a copy of this consent form. I understand that if my ability to consent or assent for myself changes, either I or my legal representative may be asked to re-consent prior to my continued participation in this study.
As described above, you will be audio and/or video recorded and/or photographed while performing the activities described above. Recordings/photographs will be used for data analysis and/or included in conference presentations and publications and/or used for educational purposes.
Deanna Chappell 