School Research Network

Tap into the power of technology to help you meet your schools' goals.

 


What is the School Research Network?

The Leanlab School Research Network is a group of innovative educators and schools across the country. Educators in the network conduct research in collaboration with new and growing edtech companies that seek to solve real problems in classrooms. Through the honest feedback and advice that educators give over the course of the research study, educators directly contribute to the development and innovations of edtech solutions.

 

There are two ways to join…

As an individual

Get compensated $45 an hour to give feedback on emerging edtech tools via asynchronous surveys and/or focus groups. 

As a school

Qualify for a $4500 unrestricted grant as a signing bonus. Available for selected school systems that join the network by November 30, 2022.

Network Commitments

When joining the School Research Network, we ask educators and schools to be available to test and/or pilot new edtech tools.  After you join, we’ll get to know you and/or the school’s challenges and, using that information, we’ll match you with an edtech company working to solve that problem. 

If at any time, the opportunity is not of interest to you or the school, you can decline participation and remain open to future opportunities. All participants are directly compensated for their time.

 

Try it.

For edtech products that are early in their development, we might ask for 90 minutes of your time to give your first impressions of a product to help a company build a better product from the ground up.

Use it.

For edtech products that are further along in development, you’ll work with a company for 1-2 months to learn about how it works in the day-to-day realities of the classroom, in order to help make the product more usable and engaging.

Study it.

If you’re interested in longer-term research projects, we’ll pair you with an edtech company to study how the product impacts student and teacher outcomes over the course of a semester or longer.


“I appreciated seeing how students have used the new technology, the collaboration with the platform developer, and the ongoing support that Leanlab has provided to make the process as meaningful to our community as possible. It has been a catalyst for growth in many ways at our school.”

-Evan Linville, Counselor at Gordon Parks Elementary School

More reasons to join the network!

 
 

Learning Community
Join our community to learn from other educators and schools conducting research with us and collaborate with to share best practices and innovative solutions.

 

Exclusive Events
From webinars and school visits to our After School Special parties, our goal is to celebrate educators and provide you with the resources that you need to grow.

 

Research Stipends
In addition to the signing bonus, schools will receive $1000 - $10,000 for each research study. This amount is dependent on the type of study and the time commitment.

 
 

Edtech Expertise
The world of edtech can sometimes feel daunting but we’ve been studying it for years now and we’ve learned a thing or two. We’re here to help you navigate that world.

 

Network Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on the latest news in the education world with a monthly newsletter focused on edtech and innovation delivered directly to your inbox.

 

Shareable Badges
After you complete your first research study, you will receive a shareable badge indicating your commitment to research-based practices and innovation.

 

More questions about joining?

Still have a few questions about the School Research Network? Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

 

General FAQs

  • The Leanlab School Network is eligible to any PreK-12 educator and school.

  • When a relevant research opportunity becomes available, Leanlab will reach out to teachers directly (if you have signed up as an individual) or to the school administrators (for those that signed up the whole school) to see if you are able to participate. If so, teacher participants receive individual stipends that range from $25-500 depending on the scope of the research study. The school receives an unrestricted grant that ranges from $500-10,000 depending on the scope of the study.

  • Yes! There are many research opportunities that become available that are meant for just one or two teachers in the school building, and Leanlab will reach out to teachers that signed up individually when such opportunities arise. However, when the research study involves classroom implementation and/or using it with students, Leanlab will require buy-in from the administration who will need to sign an MOU (see more on this below) to ensure data privacy protections for students. As an individual, you’ll also enjoy all the other benefits of being in the school network, from special events to webinars to our newsletter and online community.

  • Codesign Product Research is what we call the type of research we conduct. Codesign is based on the simple idea that the "end-users" (students, teachers, parents) in education are the people with the expertise necessary to improve research design and education products.

    When we codesign, we engage in a collaborative process that unites critical insights from school communities with the expertise of researchers and product developers. The end result is that we make better products for school communities.

  • The research implementation period is dependent on the type of research. Studies can last anywhere from six weeks to one semester.

  • Time required is highly dependent on the type of research and the study design. We can help you find the right type of study to implement in your school or district or even with individual teachers based on your school's capacity.

  • The number of teachers, classrooms, students, and/or parents needed to participate in the pilot study will vary depending on the methodology established together. The most common scenario requires 4-5 teachers or support staff from one school implementing the edtech tool with students in their classrooms.

  • Total grant money is dependent on the study scope and the involvement we'll need from your school participants. We provide direct stipends to teachers and school grants up to $10K. Grant money is given on an unrestricted basis.

  • Leanlab Network Schools will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Leanlab that signals their intent to follow the steps and commit to the engagement requirements of the pilot process. This MOU will be co-created by Leanlab and your school and will outline specific study requirements. Some studies will require a data-sharing agreement. Once a research study is completed and all requirements outlined in the MOU are met, Leanlab will send payment directly to the school or district representative.