CS 502: Computing Methods for Digital Libraries

Nomadic Computing Experiment
Privacy Statement and Consent Form

Privacy Statement

As part of the research program on nomadic computing in education, the research team will be gathering and analysis information about how students use computing in classes.  This research will include surveys, questionnaires and logging of computer transactions.  It will be carried out in a manner that protects that privacy of students.

• Each class will announce on the first day of classes which aspects of the research are optional and which are required components of the class.
• No information gathered by the study will be used for grading or assessment, except for assignments explicitly identified.
• All research results will be reported in a way that conceals the identity of individual students.
• The research program will be reviewed in advance by the University Committee on Human Subjects.

Consent Form

Computer Science Department
4130 Upson Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

Statement of Purpose: The Department of Computer Science, Cornell University requests your participation in a study of the use of laptop computing technology and wireless networking in educational environments. Our research partner is the Human-Computer Interaction Group (HCI-Group), Department of Communication. As part of your enrollment in this class and participation in this research, you will be loaned a laptop computer for use during this semester only. Our investigation involves a consideration of the impact of the technology on your learning and on classroom activities. Your participation will contribute to research focused on the social and technical construction of educational communication technologies.

Freedom to Withdraw: You may withdraw from this study at any time without any penalties or obligations.

By signing below, I give my consent to the staff of the Computer Science Department and their research partners to use my responses to surveys, recorded interview data, observational data (videotaped or otherwise recorded), and documents or computer files related to the projects. I understand that my usage of the laptop device may be monitored through the observation of various files on the laptop itself or on the server. I may be asked to provide researchers access to the laptop computer at various intervals. No information gathered by the study will be used for grading or assessment, except for assignments explicitly identified.

I understand that the researchers in Computer Science and the HCI-Group will be studying the use of mobile computing technology and will be preserving the information for future analysis by the research community. They have guaranteed that all records will be maintained in a strictly confidential manner and that pseudonyms will be used in any publications. The Computer Science Department and its partners can use this information in publication of this research, in print or on the World Wide Web.

Signature: ________________________________________ Date: _____________

Printed Name: ____________________________________ NetID: _____________

Questions: If there are any other questions, please direct them to Prof. William Arms, at 255-3046. Email wya@cs.cornell.edu.

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(wya@cs.cornell.edu)
Last changed: January 24, 2000