IGDI Lab, housed within the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota, has an occasional need for part-time, temporary or casual employees for a nationwide study. Our work focuses on assessment and data-based decision-making within a multi-tiered system of support for English- and Spanish-speaking children ranging from 3-5 years of age.
Were currently hiring for our I-SPEAK project (Interactive Storybook Platform for the Equitable Assessment of Knowledge). I-SPEAK is an innovative preschool assessment that uses storytelling to create a culturally and linguistically responsive, engaging experience for young children. The assessment includes three English stories (each centering African American/Black children, Latine children, or children experiencing economic hardship) and a Spanish story centering Spanish-speaking children. Data collectors can give assessments in Spanish, English, or both languages depending on their language proficiency.
Positions are available throughout the U.S. in locations where we have study partnerships. Confirmed locations include Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN and Atlanta, GA. We also anticipate openings in Ohio, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, and other states.
The position requires an interest in and knowledge of early childhood assessment. This data collection position includes training on assessments and interacting with young children to collect data. Data collectors will travel to early childhood classrooms and use iPads to assess children. Once hired, all data collectors will be trained and are required to achieve 90% fidelity before they are allowed to begin testing. After completing training, data collectors are required to test children, record the data, and report updates to the research team.
This position is based in-person. This position is an hourly temp casual position with hours that ebb and flow with the needs of data collection for the IGDI Lab. The position is expected to last through August 2026.
Data collection will primarily take place during daytime hours (short shifts generally between the hours of 8am-5pm M-F). There may also be occasional shifts in evenings and/or weekends. The work schedule is temporary in nature, meaning the employee is limited to 67 days of work in a calendar year. It can also be casual in nature, meaning the employee can work 14 or fewer hours per week. A set number of hours are not guaranteed each week.
Employees working in this position are paid an hourly rate; temporary and casual employees are not eligible for retirement plans, health insurance, vacation, sick leave, or the Regents Scholarship.
Job Responsibilities:
Data Collection and Data Entry (100%):
- Travel to school and childcare sites and collect assessment data with preschool children
- Document all assessment scores
- Transfer data each session by recording progress in a tracking spreadsheet