Purpose of the Study and Research Questions

Purpose of the Study and Research Questions

                              

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the study is to investigate if altruistic behaviors can be developed in low income minority students as a result of engagement in project based learning centered around an environemntal theme.  The study will attempt to measure the student's intrinisic motivation throughout the Arts based service learning project and predict from those outcomes if the student will engage in future environmental  leader roles without extrinsic motivators. 

Purpose of the Study

            Engaging students in authentic learning linked to post secondary or real life applications is the studies main focus.  The study will measure engagement attitudes of students in grades 3-5 before and after running a classroom business.  The students will be using Art class to create, promote, sell, and budget for their business.  Students will also be mindful that a portion of their profits will benefit charity.  Art is cross curricular and integrates the areas of Design alongside those of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Cultural Studies.

Guiding Questions

1.      How does the integration of altruistic projects effect engagement?

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5.      Will collaboration with local community partners increase the community learning goals of the center's leadership objectives?

6.      Will families of participating students report change in altruistic behavior?

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8.  In what ways will intrinsic motivation increase throughout the project?
9.  After the project will student's become more invested in seeking to become environmental role models to peers.
10.  How will student's communicate the project to others after the project?
11.  Will the student exhibit future altruistic behaviors without teacher support?