At the heart of educational innovation lies an important element: implementing research into classroom practice. AIM Institute’s commitment to bridging this gap has led to impactful partnerships with leading literacy researchers and institutions. In this blog post, we’ll explore the research partnerships AIM has established over the course of the past 18 years, demonstrating our dedication to transforming lives through literacy.
The Importance of Research-to-Practice Partnerships
AIM’s in-school research partnerships are pivotal in translating academic findings into actionable strategies for educators. Dr. Don Compton, a member of AIM's Research Advisory Board, and Dr. Laura Steacy of the Florida Center for Reading and Research (FCRR) highlight the importance of these collaborations. They underscore that by working closely with AIM and engaging in annual visits to AIM Academy in Conshohocken, Pa., researchers can explore questions and gain insights that would be difficult to achieve outside the classroom setting.
Pioneering Research Partnerships
Haskins Global Literacy Hub–Yale Child Study Center
AIM is proud to have been the first education partner of the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, an international and interdisciplinary collaborative of researchers dedicated to harnessing neuroscience to enhance literacy outcomes. The partnership aims to accelerate the translation of research into classroom practice while integrating cutting-edge educational technology.
In 2022, Haskins Global Literacy Lab researchers, AIM Institute Co-Founders Nancy Blair and Pat Roberts, and AIM Academy Curriculum and Instruction Leader Aviva Coyne-Green, collaborated on a research paper titled Researcher–Practitioner Partnerships and In-School Laboratories Facilitate Translational Research in Reading. This paper explores the important role of researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) and in-school laboratories in advancing translational research in reading. By bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and classroom application, these collaborations enhance the impact of research by directly involving educators in the process. Discover how RPPs and in-school laboratories can transform reading interventions and improve outcomes for students by implementing evidence-based practices.
Stanford Reading & Dyslexia Research Program
The Stanford Reading & Dyslexia Research Program is dedicated to developing the Rapid Online Assessment of Reading (ROAR). This ongoing research project and online platform for assessing foundational reading skills aims to accurately reflect the abilities of students with language-based learning disabilities. This collaboration with AIM is essential for bridging research and practice, enabling researchers and educators to better understand and support the diverse needs of all learners.
Middle Tennessee State University
In partnership with AIM, Dr. Timothy Odegard, a member of our Research Advisory Board at Middle Tennessee State University, conducted research on the impact of online training in reading instruction. Published in Reading and Writing (June 2021), the study compared online and in-person professional learning experiences to enhance educators' knowledge and instructional skills.
Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR)
The Variable Vowel Collaborative is a partnership between the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR), the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, and the University of Connecticut. AIM is thrilled to be part of this initiative, which aims to address gaps in our understanding of how young readers learn context-dependent sound-to-spelling relationships and why some children acquire these relationships more easily than others.
AIM partnered with FCRR to develop their research paper titled Exploring the Role of Knowledge in Predicting Reading and Listening Comprehension in Fifth Grade Students. Published in August 2022, the paper explores how different sources of knowledge influence individual differences in reading comprehension skills among developing readers.
Another exciting collaboration with FCRR is Project Wordy. This initiative is dedicated to helping students, including those with dyslexia, master complex words by teaching advanced strategies for decoding and understanding multisyllabic words. The research conducted in Project Wordy aims to provide teachers with effective methods to support students with diverse learning needs, empowering educators to deliver more impactful reading instruction.
Expanding Our Impact
AIM Institute’s partnerships are an integral part of our mission to transform lives through literacy. By collaborating with leading researchers and institutions, we ensure that our professional development courses remain innovative, effective, and evidence-based. These partnerships not only enhance the educational experience for students but also empower educators to implement the most current and effective literacy strategies in their classrooms.
Did you know that all of AIM's professional learning opportunities are open for individual enrollment? If you are interested in group training for 20 or more educators in your school, district, or state, be sure to reach out and start a conversation today to develop a training schedule that meets your organization's needs.
About AIM Institute: The AIM Institute for Learning & Research® is a non-profit center for educational excellence and professional development, providing educators with the latest research, technology, and evidence-based practices in the fields of literacy and language-based learning disabilities.