Active Learning Umbrella IRB

Has active learning improved students’ academic success?

If you are developing a research project that relates to this question, you may be able to submit your proposal under the CTL’s active learning umbrella IRB. This service is intended to make it easier and more efficient for you to navigate the IRB process. More information is available on our Umbrella IRB form.

An Umbrella IRB Protocol allows for multiple, similar research projects to be conducted under one IRB application. In our case, the CTL maintains and manages this Active Learning Umbrella IRB in service to UGA, hopefully making it relatively straightforward for you to conduct your research, while adhering to important policies and procedures governing research involving human beings.

Project Eligibility

Projects under this Umbrella IRB must:

• Fit under the umbrella research question: Has active learning improved students’ academic success?
• Include only project personnel who have completed their human subjects training as required by UGA’s IRB. This will typically include completing CITI training modules for Social & Behavioral Research and Social & Behavioral Research — Internet.
• Use a student consent form that follows our Umbrella IRB template (if the study includes collection of sensitive and/or FERPA-protected data).
• Investigate pedagogical techniques (e.g., textbook comparison studies would not be eligible).

Projects under this Umbrella IRB may not:

• Investigate teaching in k-12 schools.
• Incorporate interaction with non-university students or with students younger than 18.
• Make use of student data from the past without informed consent.

Getting Started

To get started select the “START APPLICATION” button below to complete and submit this form. The CTL’sPI for this Umbrella IRB will get back to you soon with more information and/or follow-up questions.

Start application

To complete this form you will need the following information:

1. Names & UGA email addresses of study team members.
2. Articulation of your project’s research question(s).
3. Intended study timeframe.
4. Description of your target study population/participants and how you will recruit them.
5. Data: description of what data you will collect, how you plan to collect it, and how you will store sensitive or FERPA protected data.
6. Consent form: explanation of how you plan to distribute your consent form.

After You’re Done

Once you have submitted this form, a member of the CTL will be in touch with you within about two business days. They may have some clarification questions, or they may be ready for next steps. In the meantime, you should plan to gather the following materials for inclusion with the IRB:

1. CITI training certificates for all members of the research team.
2. Copies of each tool to be used in your study (e.g., test questions, surveys, focus group protocols, etc.).
3. An edited version of our AL study consent form template.