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Learn more about our study!

Fill out this form to attend our

Webinar on Thursday, August 13th at 6pm!

Attending the webinar is not binding-- just a way to find out more information about involvement in this project

If you are a school leader or 2nd and 3rd grade teacher who would like to participate in our Fall 2026 Curiosity in Classrooms project, please fill out this form and we will reach out!

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Can't make the webinar? Still fill out this form and we'll be in touch with more information to sign up!

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UVA 26-27 Curiosity Project:

Exploring how promoting curiosity can supports learning

WHAT ROLE DO LEARNING EXPERIENCES HAVE IN STUDENTS’ CURIOSITY?

Curiosity can promote motivation, learning, and academic achievement; but many questions remain about what factors relate to students becoming curious. We will explore:

 

  • When do students become curious during classroom learning?

  • How does curiosity vary across individuals, academic content areas, and time?

  • What can teachers tell us about how they promote curiosity in their students?

SEEKING SCHOOL AND TEACHER RESEARCH PARTNERS

We are seeking administrators and teachers with an interest in learning more about students’ curiosity during academic learning to partner with us in our work. Our long-term goal is to better understand how to promote curiosity and the role it plays in education and student learning. Participation as a partner involves:

  • Collaboration developed through discussions about school and teacher goals and priorities that align with this project, and how future PD can address specific needs of schools

  • Observations of instruction: Teachers will be asked to allow us to observe students learning in their classrooms- no prep from teachers needed!

  • Data collection with students: two time points (early/late in school year)

    • Individual assessments will be conducted for about 10 students per classroom depending on consent rates, students will get to choose a book to keep each time

 

Students with parental consent to participate will receive their choice of a book at each of the two participation times, and teachers will receive gift cards for $100 for participating. Participating schools will also receive a $100 gift card for their contributions to the project, and we will offer an optional professional development workshop. We will also provide a report summarizing the findings of our research with suggestions for practical implications, as well as reports specific to the interests of participating schools.

 

Interested in learning more? Fill out the form above!

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UVA IRB SBS #4880

Frequently Asked Questions

Curiosity in Classrooms Fall 2026 Project FAQs

  • Who is conducting this research? 

    • The Research in Education and Learning (REAL) Lab at the University of Virginia, directed by Dr. Jamie Jirout. A small group of trained undergraduate and graduate research assistants will be helping with data collection and will be observing the classrooms.  

  • Who can participate?

    •  Any schools in Virginia with 2nd and/or 3rd grade classrooms are welcome to participate. ​

  • Why are you conducting this research?

    • No research has systematically looked at children’s curiosity in the classroom as it happens, yet we know that curiosity is a powerful motivator for learning. With this work, we hope to learn how children exhibit curiosity in their classrooms.  

  • Is the study approved by an ethics board? 

    • Yes. It is approved by UVA's Institutional Review Board (IRB #4880) which reviews all research involving human participants, including children.  

  • Have the researchers been background-checked? 

    • Yes. Every researcher who enters a classroom has completed a background check and all Human Subjects research training. We can provide documentation on request.  

  • What is involved in participating? 

    • We will quietly observe what is happening in the classroom, only observing those who provide consent. For one-on-one sessions with children, we will pull children aside for about 10-15 minutes at a time that works for the teacher.  

  • What exactly will you observe, and will it disrupt class? 

    • We observe instruction as it normally happens and take handwritten notes. There is no script, no filming, and nothing for teachers to change or prepare. Two to three researchers attend each visit and remain out of the way.  

  • What data do you collect, and how is it protected? 

    • We collect observation notes on activities students are doing and questions they’re asking on pen and paper (no additional technology in the room). All data is de-identified and stored securely on password protected servers. No individually identifiable student information appears in any report, presentation, or publication.  

  • What about student participation and parent consent? 

    • Only students whose parents provide written permission take part in the short activity. We will schedule a time with each classroom teacher to be able to pull students for the activity. Participating students receive a book of their choice.  

  • How much time does this take? 

    • We would like to observe 6–10 hours per classroom total, spread across multiple visits scheduled at each teacher's convenience, during the fall and winter. One-on-one sessions take 10-15 minutes per child.   

  • What do teachers and the school get? 

    • Participating teachers receive a $100 thank-you (in whatever form fits your policies). The school receives a findings report and optional professional development or presentations for staff and families.  

  • Who can we contact with questions? 

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