Center for Integrative Research in Computing and Learning Sciences (CIRCLS)

Challenge

Rapid advances in technology create an urgent need to prepare learners of all ages for the changing world of work. Researchers are studying emerging learning technologies to identify strategies to ensure today’s students and workforce are ready to thrive in highly technological environments. Yet these researchers need support to connect with each other, build on each other’s work, and share their findings to inform and impact education.

Through the Center for Integrative Research in Computing and Learning Sciences (CIRCLS), EDC worked with lead partner Digital Promise, SRI Education, and the University of Pittsburgh to meet these needs. Together, we provided open access resources, supported researchers, and widely disseminated findings to support research uptake in practice, programs, and policies.

Key Activities

The CIRCLS team carried out the following activities:

• Hosted convenings to connect researchers, promote reflection on priority issues, and foster collaborative approaches to addressing tension and challenges (view recordings)
• Supported graduate students and early career scientists in working together to tackle challenges related to learning technologies, including artificial intelligence
• Developed research syntheses—including rapid community reports—that provide clear, compelling briefings on foundational topics or emerging designs and insights
• Expanded reach and uptake of research through use of social media, newsletters, the Expertise Exchange, and other strategies
• Produced project spotlights, features about researchers (Perspectives), roundups of current awards, professional development tools, and other resources to inform the field
• Worked closely with an advisory group to guide CIRCLS’ continual improvement

Our Impact

• Provided support to 49 teams of researchers funded by the National Science Foundation’s Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning program, as well as awardees of related programs
• Published three key reports: Unveiling the Value of Exploration, AI and The Future of Learning: Expert Panel Report and Ambitious Mashups: Reflections on a Decade of Cyberlearning Research (a look at work supported by Digital Promise, EDC, SRI International, and NORC through the former Center for Innovative Research on Cyberlearning)