Informed Consent Form for Richelle Hirlehey’s Research: Elementary Dance Education: A Review of the 2009 Revised Arts Document: Dance Strand
Researcher: Richelle Hirlehey, MA candidate, Graduate Program in Dance, York University
Purpose of the Research: The Ontario Ministry of Education published a revision of The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts document in 2009, separating the subject Dance, from its original link to Drama. Now a year and a half after its publication, I wish to conduct a review of the dance curriculum with a look at dance education as it is delivered at the Elementary Level. Teachers are required to teach dance as a core subject as outlined in the 2009 revised curriculum arts document. This review will focus on teacher preparedness and background education of both the generalist and specialist elementary level teachers, also commonly referred to herein as classroom or rotary/exchange teachers respectively. It will investigate the newly stated importance of the creative process within the curriculum and will seek to discover their reactions to the revised document and how teachers are implementing the revised Dance Curriculum and most importantly, what resources and professional development opportunities are required for them to properly implement the curriculum. Through an online survey, I wish to gain insight into the following questions:
1. How well are elementary school teachers prepared to teach dance as outlined by the revised edition of The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts?
2. Are teachers well versed in the work of Rudolph Laban?
3. Do teachers have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the creative process to properly plan and conduct dance units and lessons at the Elementary level?
4. What dance education resources and professional development opportunities would be useful for both the Generalist and Specialist Elementary level teachers to support their understanding and implementation of the 2009 Revised, The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts document?
All teacher participants are asked to complete this online survey about The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts document and your personal background and teaching experiences as related to dance education. This survey will take approximately 10-12 minutes to complete.
I do not foresee any risks or discomfort from your participation in the research. However, by participating in this research I hope to gain insight into the types of resources that would be helpful to Elementary classroom teachers so that they feel comfortable and qualified to teach dance as a core curriculum subject. It is my hope that eventually, my research will lead to the development of valuable resources and in-service professional development in the area of dance and possibly to dance education for Pre-Service Teachers.
Your participation in the study is completely voluntary and you may choose to stop participating at any time by simply exiting the survey. Your decision to stop participating, or to refuse to answer particular questions, will not affect your relationship with the researchers, York University, or any other group associated with this project. In the event you withdraw from the study, all associated data collected will be immediately destroyed wherever possible.
All information you supply during the research will be held in confidence. Your name will not appear in any report or publication of the research. Quoted statistics or qualitative data will be cited as “Teacher." Confidentiality will be provided to the fullest extent possible by law.
If you have questions about the research in general or about your role in the study, please feel free to contact me by phone at 519-494-6949 or by email at richelle.hirlehey@gmail.com or my Graduate Supervisor – Professor Mary-Elizabeth Manley either by telephone at 416-736-5137, extension 88688 or by e-mail memanley@yorku.ca. You may also contact my Graduate Program in Dance, 301 Accolade East, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3J 1P3, Tel: 416-736-5137. This research has been reviewed and approved by the Human Participants Review Sub-Committee; York University’s Ethics Review Board and conforms to the standards of the Canadian Tri-Council Research Ethics guidelines.
If you have any questions about this process, or about your rights as a participant in the study, please contact the Sr. Manager & Policy Advisor for the Office of Research Ethics, 5th Floor, York Research Tower, York University (telephone 416-736-5914 or e-mail ore@yorku.ca).
By clicking the "NEXT" button below you consent to participate in the project Elementary Dance Education: A Review of the 2009 Revised Arts Document: Dance Strand conducted by Richelle Hirlehey. I have understood the nature of this project and wish to participate. I am not waiving any of my legal rights by clicking the "NEXT" button below.
1. * Are you presently employed with the Thames Valley District School Board?
2. * How long have you been teaching?
3. How long have you been teaching dance at the elementary level?
4. * What grade levels have you taught previously?
5. * What grade levels do you currently teach?