Question 1

What is Active Playful Learning (APL)?

Accepted Answer

Active Playful Learning (APL) is a pedagogical approach designed to enhance the existing curriculum used by teachers. It is not a standalone curriculum, but rather a method to enrich the educational experience. As a new, nationwide project, APL is a collaboration between the University of Virginia and Loudoun County Public Schools designed to implement and examine an educational model that emphasizes active, engaged, and meaningful learning that is collaborative, iterative, and joyful.

Question 2

How does the program impact my child's classroom experience?

Accepted Answer

The APL program aims to make teaching more playful and engaging by supplementing the existing curriculum. There is no additional work required from students; rather, the approach enriches their learning experience with more interactive and enjoyable activities.

Question 3

Why is parental consent required?

Accepted Answer

Parental consent is required to ensure that you are informed about the study and its impact on your child. The consent form provides details about the research, including how it will be conducted and how your child’s experience will contribute to understanding the effectiveness of APL.

Question 4

Is participation in the study mandatory?

Accepted Answer

Participation is entirely voluntary. If you choose to allow your child to participate, their involvement will help us learn more about how APL impacts students and how it might benefit other schools in the future. However, even if consent is not given, your child will still benefit from the program’s enriched resources and activities.

Question 5

What if I want my child to participate in a coaching classroom?

Accepted Answer

The study features two learning pathways: coaching and self-paced training. Both pathways will be provided with resources and support. Please note that students will not have a choice in which pathway they are assigned to. The goal is to evaluate which approach most effectively supports the implementation of APL.

Question 6

What happens if my child’s teacher does not participate this year?

Accepted Answer

The APL program is designed to be sustainable, with ongoing efforts to support schools even after initial implementation. We have been working with the LCPS central office and other partners to ensure that the benefits of the program can continue to support schools in the future.

Question 7

What data will be collected, and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

Data collected will be de-identified school records such as attendance and achievement, with no personal information linked to individual students. Teachers will report on skills related to the "portrait of a graduate," focusing on academic and social competencies. All data is aggregated across sites for analysis and confidentiality is strictly maintained.

Question 8

How is confidentiality maintained?

Accepted Answer

To ensure confidentiality, all participants are assigned randomly generated ID numbers. Personal identifiers are kept secure and separate from the collected data. The information shared with us does not include private details but rather general demographic and performance data.

Question 9

Can I learn more or get involved?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We are interested in engaging parents as collaborators. If you would like more information or wish to receive materials related to the program, please let us know. We are also working with local libraries to send additional information home.
If you have further questions or need more details, feel free to reach out at: APLproject@virginia.edu

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UVA IRB Protocol #: 5914 | Project Title: Active Playful Learning | PI: Peg Burchinal Ph.D.