eMINTS Grant Opportunity
The eMINTS National Center at the University of Missouri is excited to share information regarding the U.S. Department of Education's Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant to support the development of Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms in Missouri. We are currently recruiting schools to participate in the program, professional development, and research study included in the grant.
In this study, 5th grade math and science teachers in thirty-six schools will participate in professional development to implement prosocial and problem-based learning strategies in their classrooms. The 5th grade teachers and students will each receive a Chromebook. Teachers will participate in 65 hours of professional development. Teachers will also receive a minimum of 6 in-class coaching sessions to support the transfer of new strategies into practice.
The professional learning sessions are based on the eMINTS Instructional Model and will focus on strategies to support prosocial behaviors and research-based instructional strategies that enhance problem-based learning experiences in a technology-rich learning environment. In addition, the Efficacy Phase will include the following data collection activities by researchers at the University of Missouri and American Institutes of Research:
* Feedback collected through interviews with teachers and administrators about professional development and program implementation
* Classroom observations
* Teacher interviews
* Teacher, administrator and student surveys
The efficacy phase of the project is divided into 2 cohorts. This random control study comprises 36 schools that will be randomized into 2 cohorts: treatment and control groups. Once recruitment is complete the districts will be randomized and placed into treatment and control groups. Treatment schools will begin participating 2021 - 2022. Control schools will participate in 2022 - 2023. Participation in the project and data submission is strictly voluntary. We strongly encourage the involvement of all stakeholders including superintendents, principals, teachers, technology coordinators, and other stakeholders to review the PAL informational website (https://sites.google.com/emints.org/eirpalclassrooms/home [1]) or the project website (pal.emints.org [2]) and ask questions regarding the program so that you may make an informed decision before submitting an agreement to participate.
We will be hosting an informational webinar on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. and Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. These webinars will provide additional details regarding the project as well as a question and answer period. It is only necessary to attend one webinar. The webinars will be recorded and made available to anyone unable to attend either of the live sessions. To receive a link and password to the webinars, please complete this form [3] by November 16, 2020.
Thank you again for your interest and support of the Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classroom project. We look forward to hearing from you!
To sign-up, complete the School Eligibility Form [4].
Investigators' Contact Information:
Cara Wylie Ed.D
Program Coordinator - eMINTS National Center
University of Missouri - Columbia
College of Education
111 Townsend Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
wyliec@emints.org
636-357-5358
Christi Bergin PhD
Associate Dean of Research & Innovation
University of Missouri - Columbia
College of Education
109 Hill Hall
Columbia, MO 65211
berginc@missouri.edu
573-882-7832
Jen Foster
eMINTS Instructional Specialist
University of Missouri
(417) 274-1894
fosterjen@emints.org