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 designed to make the IRB process more efficient. Detailed instructions and requirements can be found on the Active Learning Umbrella IRB Application Form.

An Umbrella IRB Protocol allows for multiple, similar research projects to be conducted under one IRB application. The CTL manages this protocol to help UGA instructors conduct research while adhering to policies governing research involving human subjects.

Project Eligibility

Projects under this Umbrella IRB must:

• Fit under the research question: Has active learning improved students’ academic success?
• Include only personnel who have completed required UGA CITI human subjects training.
• Use a student consent form based on the approved Umbrella IRB template.
• Investigate pedagogical techniques (textbook comparison studies are not eligible).

Projects under this Umbrella IRB may not:

• Investigate teaching in k-12 schools.
• Incorporate interaction with non-university students or minors under 18.
• Use historical student data without informed consent.

IRB Review for Other Educational Research Studies

If your study is not centered on active learning but qualifies as educational research, please visit our Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) resource page for guidance.

Getting Started

To begin, select the button below to complete the application. The CTL’s Principal Investigator (PI) will contact you with follow-up information.

Start Umbrella IRB Application

To complete the application, you will need the following:

1. Names and UGA email addresses of all study team members.
2. Specific research question(s) for your project.
3. Intended study timeframe.
4. Description of target population and recruitment methods.
5. Data collection plan and storage protocols for sensitive or FERPA-protected data.
6. Consent form distribution plan.

After You’re Done

Once submitted, a CTL member will contact you within two business days. In the meantime, prepare the following materials:

1. CITI training certificates for all research team members.
2. Copies of all study tools (test questions, surveys, or protocols).
3. An editable version of the Active Learning Study Consent Form Template (Word Download).