veriii ac

Course Curriculum for Students

Student-Centered Research Curriculum

The veriii AC Research Foundations curriculum equips students with foundational research skills through a project-based learning approach. Rooted in Penn GSE’s expertise in project-based learning and academic research, the curriculum supports students as they explore authentic research questions while building academic research literacy across disciplines.

The curriculum introduces students to various disciplinary research methods and ways of knowing, fostering critical thinking and inquiry. Over the course of 30 lesson hours, students will engage in identifying compelling questions, selecting and applying appropriate research strategies, analyzing findings and showcasing scholarly work.

Schools implement the one-year (two-semester) veriii AC Research Foundations program in their schools. The curriculum will be taught by school teachers who will be trained and certified by KSE and Penn GSE, based on a membership program.

Penn GSE will provide all curricular and lesson content, including class slides, teacher guides, and student materials. Additional 3-5 minute mini-lecture videos recorded by Penn GSE professors will complement core classroom content.

If needed, schools will have flexibility to offer the standard content per module across more hours by flexing the provided content.

As needed, schools may choose to offer the program in the standard one-year timeframe, in just 1 semester or any other time duration that meets their needs. Classes may be conducted in person or online, and may be scheduled after school hours in the evenings or weekends as desired.

Program Modules

AC 01 through AC 06 are six mandatory modules to successfully complete in 2 semesters, 3 modules per semester, along with AC Capstone.

AC Capstone is a mandatory group or individual research capstone project which can be completed through the second semester, concurrent with modules 3-6. It requires the preparation of a research paper by the students who then also have the option of credentialing their work through the veriii Assessment program. (see description of the program in the After ACsection of this website).

All modules are aligned with the ACT Holistic Framework

Each module is designed for 5 hours of classroom instruction / engagement.

AC 01: Introduction to Academic Research

Understand the stages of the research process as an inquiry-based, critical thinking endeavor, not just a search for facts.

Recognize how a researcher's identity, experiences, and assumptions shape research decisions and interpretations.

Develop awareness of researcher positionality and its impact on the ethical and analytical dimensions of research.

Analyze how transparency in research methods and identity enhances credibility and trustworthiness.

Differentiate among major research approaches, including inductive vs. deductive reasoning, qualitative vs. quantitative methods, and experimental vs. non-experimental designs.

Apply understanding of research methods to select appropriate study designs based on research questions and disciplinary context.

AC 02: Identifying and Refining Research Questions

Understand the question generation process, including brainstorming, reviewing existing literature, and identifying gaps.

Identify and analyze the qualities of a strong research question.

Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research questions through examples and case studies.

Draft, critique, and refine original research questions for clarity, focus, and purpose.

AC 03: Seeking & Synthesizing Background Information

Explain the purpose of a literature review and how it supports academic research.

Use scholarly databases and develop effective search strategies to locate credible sources.

Summarize, evaluate, and synthesize findings from multiple sources.

Create and annotate citations in appropriate formats (APA, MLA, etc.).

Begin drafting a literature review that puts sources in conversation with one another.

AC 04: Designing for Data Collection

Analyze how research questions, disciplinary context, and ethical considerations influence methodological choices.

Evaluate and compare strengths and limitations of multiple data collection methods.

Demonstrate awareness of the ethical and validity challenges that can arise during data collection and propose strategies to minimize those risks.

Select and justify appropriate data collection methods and instruments aligned with a self-developed research question.

AC 05: Analyzing and Evaluating Findings

Explain and compare different methods of analyzing research data—including thematic, descriptive, and inferential approaches—and identify how each method shapes what we learn from the same data.

Apply qualitative and quantitative tools to interpret data, including coding interview excerpts, calculating basic descriptive statistics, and selecting appropriate visual representations to clarify patterns or findings.

Evaluate the strengths, limitations, and ethical considerations involved in analyzing data, acknowledging how researcher perspective, methodological choices, and bias influence interpretations.

Use evidence to construct clear, well-reasoned claims that respond to a research question, drawing on coded qualitative data, statistical summaries, and visualizations to support their interpretations.

AC 06: Showcasing Scholarly Work

Explain how research papers and presentations are structured in order to communicate ideas clearly and logically.

Use an academic voice to write clearly, objectively, and credibly about research.

Plan and deliver an effective oral presentation of research that is clear, purposeful, and engaging.

on their development as researchers and the steps they will take as they prepare to carry out their own studies.

AC CAPSTONE

Individual or Group Research Project Capstone, with independent research and the submission of a Research Paper along with a 15-minute Thesis Defense video.