Curiosity in Classrooms

We think it is important to understand the role curiosity plays in education, and critically, how education can promote curiosity (1). Your participation will support our efforts to learn what curiosity looks like in schools, how it changes in response to classroom instruction, and how it supports the development of other intellectual virtues.

Parental Package

Teachers will facilitate sending the Curiosity in the Classroom Parent package by including it in the student’s home folder/beginning school package. Parent Packages will be mailed to teachers.

The Parent Package will include:

Classroom Observation Notification letter
Parent Consent Forms (Student survey and Curiosity and Creativity Measures).

Download the Parent Package here!

Classroom Recording

To learn more about teacher instruction, and curiosity elements in the classroom, a UVA team member will schedule a visit to record instruction based on the teacher's preferred time. This way, we can take the time needed to understand teachers' instructional practice while minimizing time spent in the classroom.

Teachers will be compensated $25 per observation (1/month).
Teachers DO NOT need to prepare for observations (business-as-usual classroom instruction)
Self-recording available if preferred.

Student Survey

To gain an insight into children's character strengths, a short survey (~15 min.) will be administered to consented students by research team.

Teachers can schedule a time for a researcher to come (2-3 times) and administer survey to students.
Teachers will be compensated $50 for scheduling the survey.

Student Hands on Activity

Curiosity and creativity tasks will be conducted by an UVA team member and will include consented students only.

Tasks last 20 minutes at a time.
Teachers will coordinate to have a researcher come and work one-on-one with consented students.
Teachers will be compensated $50 for scheduling these tasks.

Optional: Teacher Interview & Survey

Teachers have the option of participating in a survey (15 minutes) and interview (45 minutes) about their experiences with curiosity and creativity in the classroom outside of the school day.

Teachers will be compensated $25 for the survey and $50 for the interview.
Consent: Teacher consent form
One time only, can be done online

Frequently asked questions

We would like to answer any questions you might have of the project, its activities, time commitment, etc. Please let us know if you are considering participating and want to chat with us!

Time required from teacher? - max 3.5 hours per year for scheduling and optional activities
Do teachers need to prepare or change instruction? - Not at all, business as usual.
What are the teacher responsibilities? - Coordinate with us to schedule visits.
Time required from students? - Max 2 hours a year
What is the framework of this study? - Find it here.