LSRI Speaker Series presents Dr. Craig De Voto, University of Illinois Chicago

Title: Examining Network Effectiveness in Research-Practice Partnerships

Abstract: Over the past decade, research-practice partnerships have become an increasingly popular approach for educational improvement. Despite such growth, there remains a significant gap surrounding their effectiveness (and how to define it), the affordances and limitations of specific designs, and the contextual conditions that play a complementary role. In this talk, I therefore reveal some of these important elements. Drawing from several RPPs over the past three years, I provide a glimpse into how recently established district math leadership teams have addressed local problems of practice. Extensive interview, survey, and social network data show that these DMLTs have either promoted or hindered such math improvement efforts based on several key elements: 1) the agreed upon roles, responsibilities, and structural processes; 2) shared understandings surrounding RPP goals; and 3) identifying a feasible problem of practice informed by rigorous data. However, these elements are further influenced by contextual conditions, particularly a district’s prior expertise and material resources. I conclude with a discussion about how universities looking to establish RPPs for educational improvement might successfully navigate these efforts with districts.

Bio: Craig De Voto is a visiting research assistant professor in the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. He uses qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the implementation of large-scale federal and state policies in several different areas, including the ESEA, edTPA, desegregation, and standards-based reform. He also studies innovative approaches in preparing urban school leaders. He earned his PhD at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Urban Education Policy Studies. Dr. De Voto’s work has appeared in various publications, including Journal of Research on Leadership Education, Journal of Teacher Education, Journal of Educational Change, Teachers College Record, and Education Technology Research & Development. He is also an Affiliated Faculty at Michigan State University’s Education Policy Innovation Collaborative.

Time and Place: Hybrid event. Oct. 28 from 1-2:30 p.m. 1245 W. Harrison, Suite 1535, or via Zoom.