Smart Project

The Usability of Social-emotional and Behavioral Interventions: Links to Implementation and Translation to Youth Outcomes (USABILITY)

PIs Aaron R. Lyon, PhD / Eric Bruns, PhD
Research Team Vaughan Collins, MSW / Taylor Ullrich, MS / Sofia Redondo / Aislyn Gordon / Roger Goosey / Kathryn Bruzios, PhD
Other Co-PIs Catherine Corbin (University of Florida)
Team Name USABILITY
Funding Institute of Education Sciences R305A230391
Project Status Recruiting
Want to participate?

See information below.

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Project Information

The aims of this project are to:

  1. Evaluate the usability of leading, evidence-based Tier 1 social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and practices and identify unique and common usability problems.
  2. Explore the links between SEL programs/practices usability and implementation and student outcomes.
  3. Refine the USABILITY theory of change, develop a matrix of usability problems and redesign solutions, and articulate guidance to the field for designing usable Tier 1 SEL programs/practices.

 

The research reported here is supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A230391 to the University of Washington. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.

Institute of Education Sciences

Importance

This is the first study to evaluate the usability of school-wide, universal SEL programs – in other words, how easy (or hard) they are to implement from the perspectives of teachers and students. We will also explore how much a SEL program/practice’s usability matters to school and student outcomes.

 

Recruitment

The study is actively recruiting participants to complete the virtual user testing component.

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ELIGIBILITY

We invite teachers and students who meet the following criteria to participate.

Teachers

  • Employed at elementary school
  • Teach K – 6th grade
  • Teach general education students
  • Any range of previous experience with SEL programs and practices

View informational flyer here >

Complete interest survey >

Teachers will not participate as a representative of their school or district.

Students

  • Enrolled at elementary school
  • Enrolled in 4th – 6th grade
  • General education student
  • Any range of previous experience with SEL programs and practices

View informational flyer here >

Complete interest survey >

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PARTICIPATION

Participants are asked to complete virtual testing of 2 SEL programs where they will:

  • Teachers will be asked to review digital SEL program materials 2 weeks prior to the session
  • Share thoughts and experiences on their engagement with the programs
  • Complete brief surveys on perspectives of the programs

Teachers

  • Will participate individually
  • Have the option to complete one 2-hour session or split their time across two 1-hour sessions
  • Will receive $250 digital gift card (halved if only one session is attended out of two)

Students

  • Will participate in a group setting of 2 – 3 students
  • Will complete one 2-hour session
  • Will receive $200 digital gift card