Project Activities
In the first phase of the project, the project team will iteratively develop and test the Youth Stand Up curriculum in collaboration with seven teachers' diverse classrooms in three regions of the nation. The Youth Stand Up curriculum development will include
- a six-step curriculum, built on the free PBS Learning Media Interactive Lesson platform, focused on equipping students with the skills and scaffolding needed to envision, research, plan, and execute a civic action project of direct relevance to their community
- original videos of young civic leaders, historic and present, who explicitly contextualize current and historical issues and events through multiple diverse perspectives and provide students with practical "road maps" for civic action projects
- an annual civic project media pitch showcase designed to promote the visibility of student projects for greater impact.
After completing development, the researchers will conduct a pilot study of the intervention across diverse schools in different states.
Structured Abstract
Setting
The team will conduct formative research in classrooms in California, Massachusetts, and Ohio, in urban, suburban, and rural schools. The team will conduct a pilot evaluation in 50 schools not involved in iterative development, spanning Massachusetts and at least 2 other states.
Sample
Participants in the iterative development will include at least 7 teachers and approximately 700 students. Participants in the pilot study will include 4 districts, 50 schools, and a total sample of approximately 4,400 students. The sample will reflect diversity in demographic characteristics for ethnicity and socioeconomic status, as well as geographic (rural, urban, suburban) location.
The Youth Stand Up curriculum module will be aligned to the Common Core State Standards, the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards, as well as state specific standards for Massachusetts. Youth Stand Up's diverse video library and student-led experiential learning component will allow teachers to structure the curriculum to address issues most relevant to their students' interests. The curriculum unit unfolds over three phases: analysis of case studies of near-peer civic leaders; development of critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills; and preparation for and execution of student-led action projects. The Youth Stand Up intervention will operate on the PBS LearningMedia platform ([http://www.pbslearningmedia.org%3c/a]http://www.pbslearningmedia.org) and be able to be completed within 14 to 21 class periods, depending on period length. The web platform will also provide an interactive professional development module for participating teachers.
Research design and methods
The project team will use an iterative design-based approach where research and development will occur in 2-year cycles, with intermittent feedback points based on single classroom implementation completions. They will consolidate comprehensive feedback that is consistent across classrooms to inform design changes. Following the design phase, the team will conduct a pilot study, using a cluster randomized trial to assess the impact of the curriculum on students' civic identity, efficacy, skills, and knowledge multisite. This study will take place with school districts serving as randomization blocks. In the final phase of the project, the team will conduct all data analysis, write up, and dissemination findings and information on the intervention.
Control condition
Schools assigned to the control condition will be a business-as-usual sample with the opportunity to use the Youth Stand Up curriculum after the conclusion of data collection.
Key measures
The formative and pilot studies will employ researcher-developed as well as standardized assessments, classroom observations, and student-user logs. In the pilot study, researchers will assess student pre- and post-intervention outcomes using surveys that include measures of civic identity, civic efficacy, civic knowledge, critical thinking, and problem solving, and civic participatory skills.
Data analytic strategy
Researchers will use the hierarchical linear modeling framework as a model-based method of accounting for the multilevel data structure and estimate the causal impact of participating in the Youth Stand Up intervention, after adjusting for covariate differences between groups.
Cost analysis strategy
The researchers will determine the costs associated with implementing the intervention using the ingredients method. During the pilot, they will collect and analyze all expenditures on personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, and training.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
Products: In addition to Youth Stand Up, the researchers team will share knowledge on teacher implementation and student outcomes around civic learning and engagement, through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications.
Supplemental information
Co-Principal Investigators: Littenberg-Tobias, Joshua; Stevens, Kaylene
* This application was submitted to the FY 2022 Education Research Grants (84.305A) competition and awarded in FY 2023 when funds were available.
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
