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District to pilot IU-backed Democracy Quest VR civics unit; DOD-funded, IRB-approved study includes parent consent
Summary
Franklin schools sought approval Sept. 9 to pilot Democracy Quest, a virtual-reality civics curriculum aligned with fifth- and sixth-grade civic standards; the project is IRB-approved by Indiana University and the Department of Defense is the funding source, with teacher compensation, VR headsets and a November classroom pilot planned.
The Franklin Community School Corp. board heard Sept. 9 about a planned pilot of Democracy Quest, a virtual‑reality civics module developed with the IU Center on Representative Government. District staff requested approval to identify 2–3 teachers to participate in a professional‑development cohort, to obtain parental consent links for research surveys, and to pilot the Philadelphia 1787 curriculum module in classrooms during a two‑day November pilot.
A representative of the Center on Representative Government told the board the project has institutional review board (IRB) approval from Indiana University and from the Department of Defense, which is the project’s funding source. The representative said the DOD funds the work because it views civic education and consensus-building skills as important to national preparedness. The research design will collect pre‑ and post‑surveys and a small number of student interviews; only students whose parents consent will have their survey data included in the research, and students may assent or decline participation on the day of the pilot.
Participating teachers would receive $250 for the pre‑project survey and initial professional development and could receive up to $750 more for additional tasks; each participating classroom would receive a VR headset to keep in the classroom. The group hopes to host a professional development session Nov. 1 and to run the two‑day classroom experiences during the week of Thanksgiving.
Board members were asked to consider approval for the pilot in time to allow a potential IU presidential visit on Oct. 4 and to permit required public notice and family-consent processes ahead of the November classroom sessions.
Provenance: The Democracy Quest pilot and IRB/funding details were presented during superintendent reports and a public‑facing presentation by the Center on Representative Government.
