The University of Chicago Consortium on School Research conducts research that helps educators and policymakers understand what matters most for Chicago Public Schools and student success.
The Challenge
The Consortium had deep research and extensive data about the experiences and challenges of Chicago Public Schools teachers.
The opportunity was to help researchers move beyond sharing findings and learn new ways to translate those insights into tools, experiences, and resources that teachers could actually use.
What We Uncovered
Great research does not automatically lead to action.
Researchers needed practical ways to understand teachers in context, identify the most meaningful opportunities, and transform complex findings into solutions that could fit into the realities of educators’ everyday work.
How We Worked
Desklight worked alongside the Consortium team to build these capabilities through real work.
We introduced researchers to design research and human centered problem solving methods, then applied those methods together to explore the experiences of CPS teachers.
Through research, synthesis, workshops, and collaborative ideation, the team learned how to move from data to insight and from insight to tangible ideas.
What Changed
The work generated new concepts for making the Consortium’s research more accessible and actionable, including a reflection tool designed to help teachers learn from one another, build self awareness, and access relevant research in practical ways.
Just as importantly, Consortium researchers gained new approaches for translating academic research into tools and experiences designed around the people they serve.
Capabilities
Problem Solving Training • Design Research • Insight Synthesis • Workshop Facilitation • Capability Building
