Three-theme characterization of innovative interdisciplinary exploratory research: new frontiers, equitable co-design, and networked communities¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

From thematic analysis of principal investigator interviews, the report organizes the value of exploratory, interdisciplinary research into three themes. The first, exploration and discovery, holds that "Exploratory research created a space for innovative projects in underappreciated and understudied spaces." The second, equitable co-designed learning and practice, emphasizes co-design with underrepresented voices and practitioner expertise throughout the research process. The third, emerging impact through networked communities, holds that participation in communities like CIRCLS added capacity to teams and that researchers pursuing work outside established trajectories faced dissemination barriers.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Requires funding structures that permit exploratory, interdisciplinary work and flexibility to adapt or change course when necessary

Constraints¶

• Researchers conducting exploratory projects that do not fit established research trajectories faced barriers to disseminating novel or unprecedented findings, per the report

Target Learners¶

• Researchers and practitioners in learning sciences and computer science
• preK-12, postsecondary, and workforce learners served by the funded projects

Target Learning Objectives¶

• Advancing teaching and learning with emerging technologies
• broadening participation in STEM
• equitable technology-enhanced learning design

Claims¶

• The NSF EXP collaboration network connected 238 researchers across 87 projects and 116 expertise areas [+M]

Related Theories¶

• Ecological Paradigm of Interdisciplinary Learning
• Informal social learning networks as the coordinating mechanism of systemwide improvement
• Ambitious mashups: cyberlearning projects combine novel technologies, theories, methods, and equity goals in frontier-oriented integrations

Examples¶

• Four field-level recommendations for supporting exploratory, interdisciplinary research on emerging learning technologies
• Fund collaborative participatory teams and broaden dissemination to bridge edtech design and research for MLLs

Key Sources¶

• Prado, Y.; Ouyang, S.; Risha, Z.; Ferguson, C.; Gardner, S.; Mallavarapu A.; Kelley, C.; Martin, W.; Glazer, K.; Hampton, S.; Fusco, J.; Pillai, S.; Walker, E.; Roschelle, J. (2024). Unveiling the Value of Exploration: Insights from NSF-Funded Research on Emerging Technologies for Teaching and Learning [Report]. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/230