Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms Grant Project

The model will generalize to multiple subjects and grades, but this project targets 5th grade mathematics and science, serving about 126 teachers and 2,640 students with over 50% from high-poverty, rural, Title I-eligible schools throughout the 5 years of the grant.  These classrooms will equip teachers and students with Chromebooks to be utilized in supporting active learning experiences that engage students in problem-based learning activities. This project will conduct a randomized control study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classroom program in impacting student prosocial behavior and academic achievement.  

We will provide teachers with 60 hours of PD, a minimum of 6 in-class coaching visits, optional virtual collaborative case study sessions (ECHO's), and ongoing virtual support as they strive to create PAL Classrooms. 

eMINTS has a history of successful PD to promote Problem-based Learning (PBL). We build on this foundation by adding practical research-based strategies that can be used in everyday teaching to increase students’ prosocial behavior. 

Teachers will add a variety of new tools to their teacher toolbox arsenal to help students learn and practice using prosocial skills. Teachers will also learn to develop and facilitate problem-based learning experiences that support their curriculum and give students the opportunity to practice using prosocial skills.

This is a randomized control study. What does that mean? Once we have recruited all participants, our evaluation partners the American Institutes for Research (AIR) will randomly place schools into two equal groups. 

Group A will be the treatment schools. They will receive their equipment and begin PD in the Summer of 2022. Group B will be our control schools. They will receive their equipment in 2023 to begin data collection and begin PD in the Summer of 2024.