Sustainable Fisheries 4-H SPIN Club – Letter to Parents
December 21, 2020
Dear parent(s)/guardian(s) of student enrolling in the Spring 2021 4-H Spin Club,
By enrolling in this 4-H Spin Club you consent to your child’s participation in my study. I am writing to explain my research study.
I am a Masters student at the University of Maine (Orono) in the Masters of Science in Teaching program in the Research in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education department. My advisor, Elizabeth Hufnagel, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Science Education in the College of Education and Human Development and will be helping me with this study.
As a science teacher I am interested in learning about how youth experience relevance (connect with or make sense of) in a science learning setting and when learning about sustainable fishing. In particular, I am researching how youth express emotions about science and sustainable fishing. For example, youth may relate to the lessons or content because they go fishing or like the outdoors in general. Or maybe they relate to the stories other youth share during the lessons. I am performing a descriptive study in that I am observing how emotions emerge (or not) from youth talk and writing to consider how to best help my future students experience relevance during my lessons.
In order to complete this research, I will be doing the following:
● Recording observations during the virtual club meetings
● Collecting and analyzing your child’s artifacts (google form reflection responses, drawings, data tables and collaborations on virtual platforms)
● Video recording the zoom classes to reference later
Registering for the 4-H Spin Club means that you consent to your child participating in the study. Please reference the google consent form for specifics on what data I will be collecting, how I will be keeping it confidential, etc. After consent, you will need to attend a meeting (5-10 minutes) with me and your child where I will read an assent form explaining the study to your child and answer any questions you have about the study and/or program.
Please read the link regarding the informed consent of you and your child to be involved in this research study. Please sign and return the form to me as soon as possible. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me via email gabrielle.brodek@maine.edu or phone 207.735.7420 (cell). Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gabrielle Brodek