LPSL Learning & Performance Support Laboratory University of Georgia

View our projects:

Emerging Learning Environments

Teacher Education & School Reform

Assessment & Evaluation

If this FAQ page doesn't fully satisfy your questions, please feel free to contact us at 706-542-3157.
  1. How can non-University of Georgia researchers collaborate with the LPSL?

    The LPSL is interested in developing broad-based collaborations with individuals and organizations whose research interests are similar to the LPSL mission thrusts:
    1. Emerging Learning Environments
    2. Teacher Education and School Reform
    3. Assessment and Evaluation
    Interested collaborators should contact the LPSL at 706-542-3157.

  2. If I am a graduate student at the University of Georgia, who do I contact about possible assistantships in the LPSL? Where do I get information about graduate assistantships in the lab? Who can apply? Do I need a tech background?

    Contact the lab's Office Manager at 542-3157, or stop by 611 Aderhold between 8 AM and 5 PM Monday-Friday, and drop off a brief resume. Be sure to identify your research and technical skills and provide any information you can related to previous experience in research or development. Our needs vary as a function of project priorities, so a technical background is often but not always important.

  3. Once I am given an assistantship, what is the process of assigning GA's to projects?

    We make every effort to identify the best possible match between the project needs and requirements and the talents and interests of the applicants.

  4. What are the possible hours for assistantship? 10, 13, 20 hours?

    Based upon project needs and the availability of funds, assistantships range between 13 and 20 hours per week. In some cases, partial assistantships are available where the student combines time between the lab and other responsibilities. In no instance, however, do assistantships total more than 20 hours per week.

  5. If I am given an assistantship, are courses paid for as well? benefits?

    Tuition is waived. But, you are responsible for the student/activity fees. You pay these fees each semester. Fees are subject to change each year. Graduate assistantships in the LPSL provide the same benefits as other assistantships at UGA. In some cases, support is also provided to attend/present at professional conferences in the students' field-again, based on the availability of funds and at the discretion of the lead project researcher.

  6. Do you have to be a graduate student in a certain department to receive an assistantship in the LPSL?

    Graduate students from across the university have assistantships in the lab. Priority is usually given by the lead investigator to graduate students in her/his academic department, but many projects are interdisciplinary in nature and draw from a wide range of departments.

  7. How many hours do you need in order to qualify for an assistantship?

    Twelve hours starting Spring Semester 2003.

  8. How does/can LPSL engage in educational reform efforts with government agencies?

    We have a number of both funded and unfunded initiatives involving interactions as well as collaborations with state and regional government agencies. Since external funding is essential to the lab's continued existence, our ability to engage in sustained unfunded efforts is limited but we frequently contribute time and effort to reform efforts at local, regional and state levels.

  9. What projects or resources does LPSL have related to professional development?

    By browsing the "Teacher Education and School Reform" cluster on our Website, you can learn about several ongoing and recently completed projects related to professional development.

  10. What are some examples of emerging technologies used in LSPL?

    Given that technology is integral part of all our project efforts, there is a significant technology dimension to every project. By browsing the "Emerging Learning Environments" cluster on the lab's Website, you can learn of a variety of such examples.

  11. How can graduate students maximize their experience in the lab professionally?

    Students are encouraged to become partners rather than employees in their respective projects. Many students have become involved in problem solving and R&D issues beyond their projects as well, broadening both their experience as well as their benefit to the lab. Successful students have published research papers, presented at national and international conferences, been nominated for special awards and recognitions, received travel support for professional development, and participated in local or regional conferences and workshops. Lab experiences have proven significant assets in securing employment upon graduation.

  12. What does the "Support" part of Learning & Performance Support meant?

    Support, in the lab's name and in our work, involves augmenting, extending or supplanting the performance of individuals. A related phrase, Electronic Performance Support Systems (EPSSs), relates to those performance support activities that are technology-facilitated or enhanced; given the lab's focus and mission, this is how we apply the term. For an interesting example, see our TRIAD project.

  13. How are these projects funded?

    The LPSL must generate sufficient funding to support both our individual program of research as well as to create the infrastructure needed to advance the collective mission of the lab. Our funding comes from a variety of sources, including federal government (e.g., National Science Foundation, US Department of Education) and corporate foundations.

  14. Is the lab tied to any courses in the college of education? Does it share its software and other resources to be used in courses taught at UGA? Or is it totally autonomous from the academic departments in the college of education?

    Administratively, the LPSL is located in the Dean's Office in the College of Education. We offer no courses or degrees per se, but have a strong tie to both across the College and university. The LPSL has formed a unique team of tenure-line faculty and soft- money research scientists, as well as numerous faculty members whose primary assignment is within an academic department. Our faculty participate actively in an academic unit based on the "fit" between their interests and the department. This is done to ensure a strong intellectual as well as programmatic link between the lab and the academic programs. A wide range of credit-based activities are undertaken including thesis research, independent studies, development projects, evaluation projects, and the like.

  15. How and why was the lab started? What is the history of the lab?

    The Learning & Performance Support Laboratory (LPSL) was established in 1994 through funding from the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) to advance technology- related research in strategic areas considered vital to the state's future. The LPSL is focuses on education-related research and development (R&D)-one of a handful of educational technology research laboratories nationwide. The lab focuses on three strategic "impact" areas: Emerging technologies in learning and cognition School reform and teacher education Assessment and evaluation.

  16. Is the lab solely a UGA endeavor or does it collaborate with other researchers in other places?

    We engage in a number of collaborations with external agencies, laboratories, companies, universities, schools, and individuals.

  17. These projects seem to be research-oriented. How are the findings/conclusions of the research at the lab made public?

    Our research is published, presented and disseminated through a range of outlets, including project reports, professional and scholarly journals, conference presentations, working papers, and technical reports.

  18. Does LPSL work with school systems? In what ways?

    LPSL has a strong working relationship with area schools. These range from a reform partnership with one nearby district, to contacts in other area schools and with area teachers. Our school-based work is typically focused on a combination of professional development and research efforts.

  19. Has LPSL engaged in work related to learning standards? Do any of your current projects address ISTE technology standards?

    Much of the work in the school reform and professional development efforts in the Lab are explicitly linked to standards. We focus on a variety of standards as they are appropriate. These include the ISTE technology standards, NCTM mathematics standards, and the NSES standards. See InterMath and LTTS for two examples of working with standards.

  20. If I have an assistantship in the summer, is tuition paid for the by the assistantship?

    Yes, the tuition is waived. Students that are employed as graduate assistants for both Fall and Spring semesters automatically receive a tuition fee waiver for summer. Please note that all graduate assistants must register for a minimum of 9 hours of credit for Summer semester, and the hours can be in any comination of the summer sessions (May, Extended, Thru, Short sessions).

  21. How are teachers/educators learning to integrate emerging technologies into teaching and learning through LPSL?

    Through our preservice, induction, and inservice projects, we are providing a variety of supports to teachers. In the recent Exploring Math project, we were able to provide classroom-based support for integration while in InterMath we provide a series of workshops that focus on technology-enhanced mathematics. Similarly, our partnership on the LTTS project and the PT3 project have involved developing module to guide teachers in technology integration. Our efforts focus on meeting the real classroom needs of teachers while attending to what research has shown about how technology can be used most effectively in classrooms.