Querium Study Teacher Consent Form

Thank you for your interest in WestEd’s research study of Querium's Virtual Tutor. Please read the information on this page. If you are interested in participating in this research, fill in the relevant information and hit the "Submit" button at the bottom of the page.

What is the study about?
WestEd, a non-profit research and development organization, is conducting product research for Querium. Querium is an educational technology company that provides online Algebra support for students (www.querium.com). Querium has developed the StepWise Virtual Tutor for Algebra (StepWise), an online tutor that helps teens and adults learn Algebra on mobile devices and computers. While the students solve problems in StepWise, the system tracks each of their steps, catches and identifies errors, provides hints, and aggregates information through the Teacher Interface to help teachers address chronic misconceptions. The product is intended to supplement your classroom instruction. The purpose of the implementation study is to find out how StepWise might be used in a classroom setting and to what extent it can support student learning.

What will I have to do for the study?
You will be randomly assigned to either 1) use Querium in your math class, or 2) conduct your math class as usual, without the use of Querium.

Regardless of your assignment, you will:

Fill out a short survey about your teaching background and a math content knowledge survey, at the beginning and end of the study
Administer a brief pre- and post-test, and a brief survey, to students in your classroom.
Facilitate the distribution and collection of opt out forms from students in your classroom.

If randomly assigned to use Querium in your classroom, you will:

Participate in a brief virtual training and introduction to the product.
Use the product with students in your classroom for at least one hour per week, over 6 weeks, and log how Querium was used.
Allow a WestEd researcher to visit your classroom and observe 1 lesson where you are using the product with your students.
Allow a WestEd researcher to visit your classroom and conduct a focus group with 4-5 students who are willing to participate.

Do I have to participate in this study?
No. It is completely voluntary. There are no penalties for you if you do not participate in this study. You also have the right to withdraw from the study if you change your mind later. There are no penalties for withdrawing early from the study.

Will my privacy be protected?
Yes. All identifying information we collect about you will be kept confidential, will only be used for the research, and will never be shared outside the study team. After the end of the study, we will destroy records that contain personal information about you.

Are there any risks to being in the study?
We do not believe there will be any additional risks to you beyond those associated with your normal teaching duties.

Are there any benefits?
The results of the study will help Querium to further refine and improve upon their product.

Will I be compensated?
Yes. If you are assigned to the treatment condition, you will receive a $800 stipend for your participation in the study. If you are assigned to the control condition, you will receive a $600 stipend for your participation. Treatment teachers who opt to participate in an optional observation will receive an additional $50.

I have more questions. Who do I contact?
If you have further questions about this research study, you may contact Jennifer Wang at 650-381-6431 or querium@wested.org. If you have questions or concerns regarding your rights as a research participant, you may contact the WestEd Institutional Review Board (IRB) at 844-472-5437 or subjects@wested.org.

How do I participate in the study?
Please fill out the consent form below.

Question Title

* 1. Please review the information above. To consent to participation in this study, check the box below and fill in the requested information. If you do not wish to participate in the study, close the browser window or navigate to a different page without submitting the form.

I consent to take part in the study of Querium, a virtual tutor that helps students learn Algebra by providing personalized, step-by-step tutoring assistance.

Question Title

* 2. Please provide your contact information below.

First Name:

Last Name:

School Name:

District Name:

City:

State:

Preferred Phone Number:

Preferred Email (during the school year):

Preferred Email (during the summer):

Question Title

* 3. Do you teach an Algebra 1 class?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Which grade level do you teach Algebra 1?

6th grade

7th grade

8th grade

9th grade

10th grade

11th grade

12th grade

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* 5. Please describe your students' access to computers, laptops or other tablet devices during the school day:

All students in my classroom have access to an iPad/ChromeBook or other tablet device (1:1 ratio).

There are a set of internet-connected computers in my classroom that students can share (1:many ratio).

There are a set of internet-connected computers in our computer lab that students have some/limited access to (1: many ratio).

The students in my classroom have no access to computers.

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Do you have any comments, questions, or concerns?

Please hit the "Submit" button below to submit your response.