One part of the mission for UT Elementary is “To provide opportunities for professional development and outreach for The University of Texas at Austin’s academic units.” This part of our mission is exemplified by the school’s participation in and facilitation for research projects conducted with students at our elementary school.
Students and faculty of UT Elementary have participated in almost 100 research projects. The majority have been in conjunction with The University of Texas at Austin but other universities have and are welcome to contact us for more information.
To contact the principal for questions or additional information, please see the UT Elementary directory page.
GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING RESEARCH AT UT ELEMENTARY
- Researchers must contact the principal or her designated representative after their application has been approved by the UT Elementary Management Board and the UT IRB and before beginning data collection. The principal or designated representative will work with the researcher to identify potential groups of children to participate in the study and to schedule data collection and space, if it is needed.
- Researchers must collaborate with classroom teachers to make sure that data collection does not disrupt the educational program.
- Researchers must follow the sign-in procedures and visitor policies of UT Elementary.
- Sign-out sheets are to be used when taking children out of class. The researcher is responsible for notifying the teacher when removing a child from the classroom. The name of the child, the location where the child will be and the time of his/her departure should be noted on the sign-out sheet. After the research session is complete the researcher must return to the classroom with the child and record the time of the child’s return on the same sheet. This sign-out sheet is to be kept in the classroom during the research and must be returned to the principal’s office at the end of the research.
- Tangible rewards may not be given to children by researchers. An exception may be made in unusual situations. Prior approval of the Research Committee must be obtained before any rewards can be given.
- Researchers must follow fire drill procedures. During fire drills, researchers are to accompany all children under their supervision to a paved area at least 20 feet from the building in which they are working.
- Written communications with parents are to be screened by the principal. All letters to parents should be cleared with, and preferably co-signed by, the principal or her designated representative.
- Researchers must notify the principal when their projects are complete.
To apply to conduct a research project at UT Elementary, please fully complete the application found here: UTES Research Application
RESEARCH PROJECTS
Almost 100 research projects have been conducted at UT Elementary since our founding in 2003. This list is not comprehensive, but it does provide examples of the types of research projects that have been successfully conducted with our participation.
- Project SMART: Educational Games to Increase Child Mobility; Darla Castelli, Ph.D., Christin Julien, Ph.D., 2019
- Effect of Cognitive Learning Principles on the Mathematics Performance of Students with Mathematics Difficulties in First Grade; Maryam Nozari sponsored by Diane Bryant, Ph.D., 2018
- Data Mountain: Self-Monitoring, Goal Setting, and Motivational Training to Improve Struggling Readers’ Fluency; Lisa Didion sponsored by Jessica Toste, Ph.D., 2018
- Technology-Based Physical Activity Promotion among Latino Children; Xiofen Keating and Miguel Ferguson, 2017
- The Effects of Geometry Intervention on Geometry Skills for Elementary Students; Meijia Liu sponsored by Diane Bryant, Ph.D. 2017
- Teaching Reading Comprehension and Writing Strategies in 4th and 5th Grade; Philip Capin sponsored by Elizabeth Swanson and Sharon Vaughn, Ph.D. 2016
- Effects of Explicit, Strategic Teacher Directed Instruction with iPad Application Practice on the Performance of 4th & 5th Grade Students with LD on Multiplication Facts; Min Wook Ok sponsored by Diane Bryant, Ph.D., 2013
For more information about UT Elementary Research Projects, please contact the UT Elementary Principal.
For more information about Research Projects at The University of Texas at Austin, please see the UT Austin Office of Research Support and Compliance.
