Our Making Connections events are conducted in person, as webinars, or as screenings of documentary-style programs produced in partnership with public television stations. Learn about upcoming events and access archived videos, meeting materials, and related resources from past events.
Research-Based Resources, Considerations, and Strategies for Remote Learning
This webinar discusses research-based resources and strategies available for educators teaching in a remote setting, covering topics such as how to foster social-emotional learning in a remote environment.
Implementing Competency-Based Education Strategies: From Research to Practice
This webinar showcases how competency-based education strategies can positively affect student learning outcomes.
Quick Chat: Shifting Classroom Practices to a Virtual Environment
This brief webinar discusses five research-based strategies for transitioning classroom practices to an e-learning environment.
This poster session highlights the REL Midwest study of children’s knowledge and skills at kindergarten entry in Illinois.
This session at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness spring 2020 conference explores the strong focus on evidence-based decisionmaking that is the focus of federal research efforts.
This session at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness spring 2020 conference explores how three collaborations between research and practice support evidence-informed policy, including a REL Midwest study of teacher supply and demand in Michigan.
This session at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness spring 2020 conference features a REL Midwest report on student and school characteristics associated with academic performance and English language proficiency.
Designed for prekindergarten teachers and providers in Illinois, this workshop introduces the KIDS instrument, explains the statewide readiness indicators, and offers an example of how prekindergarten teachers can use the indicators to inform literacy instruction.
Using WWC Resources to Identify Interventions that Meet ESSA Tiers of Evidence
This webinar showcases the alignment between the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) tiers of evidence and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards.
‘Healthy Students = Strong Learners’ Documentary Screening: Nationwide Children’s Hospital
REL Midwest is hosting a 90-minute documentary screening and panel discussion about the research on school-based health care, specifically in Ohio, and the actions that education and health care leaders are taking to improve student health and learning.
This session at the Wisconsin State Education Convention focuses on connecting research to practice on supporting Black students’ excellence.
This workshop at the Mastering KIDS Summit shares research-driven best practices for conducting Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) observations. Designed for kindergarten teachers and administrators, it focuses on practical strategies to incorporate KIDS observations into daily instruction.
Heartbeat of the Community: Recruiting and Retaining Teachers in Rural Schools
REL Midwest is hosting a 90-minute documentary screening and panel discussion about the research on teacher recruitment and retention, specifically in rural Michigan, and the actions that state and local education leaders are taking to recruit and retain teachers.
Cross-REL Working Group on School Readiness: Actionable Research—We’ve Got That!
During this session at the 2019 National Association for the Education of Young Children Annual Conference, REL Midwest shares results from the first Illinois statewide administration of the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey.
‘Making It: Latino Students’ Pathway to College’ Documentary Screening: Chicago
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary that explores the challenges Latino students face when preparing for and entering college and supports to encourage their success.
REL Midwest and the University of Wisconsin’s Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement are hosting a screening of a documentary about evidence-based interventions taking place in high schools and colleges in Wisconsin that are associated with increased college access for black students.
This session at the 2019 Illinois Education and Technology Conference examines the findings from a recent REL Midwest study on using technology to promote 21st century skills.
High Hopes and Higher Education: Honoring Black Students’ Aspirations
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary about evidence-based interventions taking place in high schools and colleges in Wisconsin that are associated with increased college access for black students.
Strategies for Success: Supporting English Learner Student Achievement
This webinar showcases how schools and districts can support the academic success of English learner students.
This session at the 2019 Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management Fall Research Conference shares results from the first Illinois statewide administration of the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey.
This session at the 2019 Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance Conference examines the findings from a recent REL Midwest study on using technology to promote 21st century skills.
Supporting Students with Disabilities to Become College- and Career-Ready
Join REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education for an in-person event on effective strategies to prepare students with disabilities to become college- and career-ready.
A Closer Look: Teacher Perceptions and Use of Technology in Teaching
This webinar addresses the importance of professional development for teachers using education technology to help prepare students for the 21st century.
‘Making It: Latino Students’ Pathway to College’ Documentary Screening: U.S. Department of Education
The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a screening of a documentary that explores the challenges Latino students face when preparing for and entering college and supports to encourage their success.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey: Ins and Outs of Observation Training (Chicago)
This workshop shares research-driven best practices for conducting Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) observations. Designed for kindergarten teachers and administrators, it focuses on practical strategies to incorporate KIDS observations into daily instruction.
Examining Trends in Teacher Supply and Demand in Michigan
This session at the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators Fall 2019 Conference examines the findings from a recent REL Midwest study on teacher shortages and surpluses.
Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten: Ready…Set…Teach! Summer Institute
This workshop at the Ready…Set…Teach! Summer Institute explores the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey Data Use Workshop: Ready…Set…Teach! Summer Institute
This workshop at the Ready…Set…Teach! Summer Institute builds Illinois educators’ confidence and skills in using Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) data to improve their practice.
School Boards and Educational Equity: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice (Virtual)
This training raises awareness about opportunity and achievement gaps experienced by Wisconsin’s Black students and helps identify resources and potential strategies to increase educational opportunities for students.
Student and School Characteristics Associated with Academic Outcomes for English Learner Students
This session at the National Center for Education Statistics STATS-DC Data Conference discusses the findings of a study on English learner student achievement in Cleveland, Ohio.
Using Data to Drive Native American Student Success
This session at the National Center for Education Statistics STATS-DC Data Conference discusses how states are using data to drive education success for Native students.
This REL Midwest session at the 2019 College Changes Everything Conference explores the challenges Latino students face when preparing for and entering college and supports to encourage their success.
What Predicts Early College Success?
This REL Midwest session at the 2019 College Changes Everything Conference presents the findings of a study on early college success for Indiana’s high school class of 2014.
Unpacking the Arrows in Logic Models: Converting Assumptions to Realities
Join researchers from five RELs at the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships Annual Forum to learn about the benefits and shortcomings of logic models, how to unpack the arrows within logic models, and recommendations for measuring short-term or intermediate outcomes.
School Boards and Educational Equity: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice (Madison)
This training raises awareness about opportunity and achievement gaps experienced by Wisconsin’s Black students and helps identify resources and potential strategies to increase educational opportunities for students.
School Boards and Educational Equity: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice (Pewaukee)
This training raises awareness about opportunity and achievement gaps experienced by Wisconsin’s Black students and helps identify resources and potential strategies to increase educational opportunities for students.
World’s Best Workforce 2018 Summary Scan Training for District Staff
This training session provides an overview of a scan of 200 World’s Best Workforce district submissions for district staff in Minnesota.
Evidence-Based Practices Training for Michigan Data Hub
REL Midwest is facilitating a training session to help Michigan Data Hub staff learn about the Every Student Succeeds Act tiers of evidence and how clearinghouses’ evidence ratings align with ESSA.
REL Midwest is providing two training sessions for institutional researchers from the 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System. This session covers strategies for communicating research findings.
World’s Best Workforce 2018 Summary Scan Training for State Staff
This training session provides an overview of a scan of 200 World’s Best Workforce district submissions for Minnesota Department of Education staff.
Supporting Equity and Social and Emotional Learning Webinar
This webinar showcases how practitioners can implement equitable practices to support students’ social and emotional development.
‘Kindergarten: Where Play and Learning Can Meet’ Documentary Screening: Tefft Middle School
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary about the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten.
ISBE Research Methods Training Session 5: Research Designs
REL Midwest is facilitating a five-part training series to build staff capacity at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to understand and apply research. This session covers quantitative and qualitative research designs.
A Research-Practice Partnership for Improved Understanding of Teacher Supply and Demand in Minnesota
At this American Educational Research Association conference presentation, REL Midwest discusses its partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education to redesign the state’s teacher supply and demand study to increase its utility for stakeholders.
Advancing Social and Emotional Learning in Educational Settings with Research-Practice Partnerships
This symposium at the Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness 2019 Conference explores the use of research-practice partnerships, including the Midwest Early Childhood Education Research Alliance, to advance students’ social and emotional learning.
ISBE Research Methods Training Session 4: Research Reports and Data Visualization
REL Midwest is facilitating a five-part training series to build staff capacity at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to understand and apply research. This session covers best practices in developing effective research reports and using data visualization tools.
A REL Midwest Research-Practice Partnership in Illinois
This virtual brown bag with the National Network of Education Research-Practice Partnerships examines how REL Midwest researchers worked with alliance members to analyze data from Illinois’ kindergarten entry assessment.
Supporting Black Students’ Excellence: Connecting Research to Practice
This workshop at the Black History Education Conference explores promising practices for supporting black students, including mentoring, student-teacher relationships, and high expectations.
Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten: Illinois ESSA Conference
This workshop at the Illinois Annual Statewide Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Conference explores the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten.
Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten: Ready…Set…Teach! Winter Institute
This workshop at the Ready…Set…Teach! Winter Institute explores the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey Data Use Workshop: Ready…Set…Teach! Winter Institute
This workshop at the Ready…Set…Teach! Winter Institute builds Illinois educators’ confidence and skills in using Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) data to improve their practice.
ISBE Research Methods Training Session 3: Interviews and Observations
REL Midwest is facilitating a five-part training series to build staff capacity at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to understand and apply research. This session covers interview protocols, coding structures, and rubrics.
‘Ready for the Future’ Documentary Screening: Minnesota Career and College Readiness Workshop
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of “Ready for the Future: Career Preparation in Rural Communities,” a documentary about the unique challenges facing rural communities in Minnesota, as students explore and prepare for careers.
Power of Translating Data to Improve Classroom Outcomes: 2018 Mastering KIDS Summit
This workshop at the Mastering KIDS Summit guides Illinois kindergarten teachers in using data from the Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) to inform instruction.
Kindergarten: Where Play and Learning Can Meet
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary about the advantages associated with a play-based approach in kindergarten.
ISBE Research Methods Training Session 2: Surveys and Focus Groups
REL Midwest is facilitating a five-part training series to build staff capacity at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to understand and apply research. This session covers surveys and focus groups.
Making It: Latino Students’ Pathways to College
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary about challenges Latino students face when preparing for and entering college and supports to encourage their success.
Lakes Country Service Cooperative Research Methods Training
This session aimed to improve Lakes Country Service Cooperative staff members’ understanding of research methods as they make programmatic decisions and provide training to educators on developing curriculum and using evidence-based practices and programs.
A Well-Prepared Teacher: Aligning K–12 and Higher Education Expectations
This in-person event, co-hosted by REL Midwest and the Michigan Department of Education, discusses aligning expectations for new teachers between K–12 and higher education.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Train-the-Trainer Workshops
These train-the-trainer workshops on October 22, October 24, and November 5, 2018, build the content knowledge, facilitation skills, and confidence of a cadre of trainers who present KIDS data use workshop materials to kindergarten teachers.
Wisconsin Technical College System Research Methods Training Session 1: Data, Research, and Evidence
REL Midwest is providing two training sessions for institutional researchers from the 16 colleges in the Wisconsin Technical College System. This session gives an overview of research methodology.
Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community
As part of a cross-REL panel at the National Forum to Advance Rural Education, REL Midwest describes the use of a networked improvement community to support education technology use in Iowa’s rural high schools.
Ready for the Future: Career Preparation in Rural Communities
REL Midwest is hosting a screening of a documentary about the unique challenges facing rural communities in Minnesota as students explore and prepare for careers.
Conducting Relevant Research through Networked Improvement Communities
This webinar addresses how researchers and practitioners can form networked improvement communities (NICs) to study high-priority questions about education practice.
Transforming Professional Learning: Meeting the Needs of Online and Blended Educators
This webinar, sponsored by the Wisconsin Digital Learning Collaborative, describes a survey tool to help align and improve professional development for online teachers.
ISBE Research Methods Training Session 1: Data and Evidence
REL Midwest is facilitating a five-part training series to build staff capacity at the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to understand and apply research. This session provides an overview of data, research, and evidence.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Workshop: Session 5
In this workshop, teachers have the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Cleveland Research Agenda-Setting Train-the-Trainer Workshop
This workshop trains researcher-practitioner partnership leaders to conduct their own research agenda-setting workshops for schools throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Predicting Early College Success for Indiana’s High School Class of 2014
This REL Midwest session at the NCES STATS-DC Data Conference presents the findings of a study on early college success for Indiana’s high school class of 2014.
Learning from the RELs: What Can We Learn from Their Theories of Action?
REL Midwest staff participate in a cross-REL panel discussion on the RELs’ theories of action for promoting the use of research evidence in education policy and practice.
Rural Postsecondary Readiness and Success in REL Midwest States
This breakout session at the Appalachian Higher Education Network Conference highlights REL Midwest studies focused on postsecondary transitions and pathways and college readiness and success in rural Minnesota and Indiana.
The RELs: Bridging Research, Policy, and Practice
This panel at the Appalachian Higher Education Network Conference highlights the work of the regional educational laboratories (RELs), including REL Midwest studies focused on college and career readiness and success.
Strategies to Support Evidence Use in Education
This webinar discusses barriers that may prevent education practitioners from using evidence-based practices and shares actionable strategies that researchers and other stakeholders can employ to increase evidence use.
Dialogue on Difficult Conversations in Prevention Science
This roundtable discussion will explore ways researchers can engage in and facilitate respectful dialogue to improve the translation of science.
World’s Best Workforce 2016 Summary Scan Regional Training (Sartell)
In this training, REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education provide hands-on, tailored technical support and a chance for district and charter leaders to reflect on the work to address World’s Best Workforce goals in their local context.
Research Methods Session 6: Reporting and Using Quantitative Data
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session covers reporting and using quantitative data.
World’s Best Workforce 2016 Summary Scan Regional Training (Thief River Falls)
In this training, REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education provide hands-on, tailored technical support and a chance for district and charter leaders to reflect on the work to address World’s Best Workforce goals in their local context.
World’s Best Workforce 2016 Summary Scan Regional Training (Marshall)
In this training, REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education provide hands-on, tailored technical support and a chance for district and charter leaders to reflect on the work to address World’s Best Workforce goals in their local context.
World’s Best Workforce 2016 Summary Scan Regional Training (Roseville)
In this training, REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education provide hands-on, tailored technical support and a chance for district and charter leaders to reflect on the work to address World’s Best Workforce goals in their local context.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Workshop: Session 4
In this workshop, teachers have the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Research Methods Session 5: Data Analysis
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session covers data analysis.
Comprehensive Supports for College-Bound Students
This webinar highlights the effects of various college readiness supports on student success, featuring research findings on supports that only provide financial aid compared to supports that combine financial aid with academic preparation.
This poster session provided an overview of the Iowa Learning and Technology Networked Improvement Community (NIC), as well as strategies and lessons learned for establishing regional NICs.
World’s Best Workforce 2016 Summary Scan Webinar
In this virtual training, REL Midwest and the Minnesota Department of Education share information with school district staff to ensure a common understanding of the Minnesota World’s Best Workforce legislation and requirements for districts.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Webinar: Session 2
In this webinar, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Establishing a Networked Improvement Community Focused on Personalized Learning Plans
This workshop increased participants’ knowledge of networked improvement communities (NICs) and their skills to establish a successful NIC related to personalized learning plans.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey Data Use Workshop: Illinois ASCD Conference
In this workshop, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) data to set education goals and action steps.
Building Survey Methodology Rigor in Education Agencies
This Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness conference presentation shared lessons learned from a project that provided state education agency staff with capacity-building trainings to improve survey data quality.
This Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness conference panel explored ways to engage effectively with practitioners to facilitate evidence-based decisionmaking.
Researcher-Practitioner Partnerships and Kindergarten Entry Assessments
This Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness conference panel included presentations on three different researcher-practitioner partnerships that worked with state and local education agencies to build their capacity around using data from kindergarten entry assessments.
Strategies for Increasing the Utility of Research
This Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness conference presentation introduced the REL program and demonstrated how to apply strategies in four key stages of the research process to affect its utility.
This presentation described the current work of the Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance, offered perspectives from alliance members, and outlined the research and technical assistance support available to school boards through REL Midwest.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Workshop: Session 3
In this workshop, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Navigating Beyond High School: College and Career Readiness Among English Learner Students
This Cleveland Metropolitan School District Multilingual Multicultural Education Conference presentation discussed college and career readiness with a specific focus on English learner students.
This presentation described the current work of the Midwest Achievement Gap Research Alliance, offered perspectives from alliance members, and outlined the research and technical assistance support available to school boards through REL Midwest.
Navigating Evidence-Based Clearinghouses
This Ohio Department of Education Literacy Academy session provided an overview of the Every Student Succeeds Act tiers of evidence and how they align with three existing evidence-based clearinghouses.
Selecting Evidence-Based Practices
This Ohio Department of Education Literacy Academy session highlighted the Every Student Succeeds Act tiers of evidence, the criteria that make up each tier, and how they align with the standards of evidence from two evidence-based clearinghouses.
Research Methods Session 4: Observations and Rubric Development
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session covers observations and rubric development.
The goal of this training was to help participants gain an understanding of the most up-to-date methods used to determine how much it costs to provide an adequate education to students.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey Data Use Workshop: Mastering KIDS Summit
In this workshop, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) data to set education goals and action steps.
Power of Translating Data to Improve Classroom Outcomes
This panel at the Mastering KIDS Summit discussed how research can advance outcomes for kids from the perspectives of a state agency, applied research, and an advocacy/policy organization.
Supporting STEM in Rural Contexts
This webinar covers strategies to support science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities in rural contexts.
Learning Upgrade: Technology in Iowa Schools
REL Midwest produced an informational video with Iowa Public Television that covers research-based strategies for the successful use of education technology.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Webinar: Session 1
In this webinar, teachers have the opportunity to analyze their classrooms’ KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Research Methods Session 3: Interviews and Focus Groups
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session covered interviews and focus groups.
State of Teacher Preparation: Research and Stories from Early Years in the Classroom
In partnership with Detroit Public Television, REL Midwest created a 30-minute, documentary-style public television program that covers evidence-based best practices for new teacher preparation and support.
Acceleration Programs in Minnesota: Characteristics and College Pathways of Students Who Participate
This Illinois Education Research Council Annual Symposium presentation shared results and implications of a REL Midwest study on acceleration programs in Minnesota.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Workshop: Session 2
In this workshop, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Kindergarten Individual Development Survey (KIDS) Data Use Workshop: Session 1
In this workshop, teachers had the opportunity to analyze their KIDS data to set education goals and action steps.
Training for Minnesota Department of Education Staff on World’s Best Workforce
REL Midwest is working with the Minnesota Department of Education to better understand how state-level staff can support districts in implementing their World’s Best Workforce plans.
Research Methods Session 2: Surveys
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session covered surveys.
Exploring the Potential of Clinically Oriented Teacher Preparation Programs for Michigan: Session 2
The Michigan Department of Education and REL Midwest conducted a two-part training to explore the potential of clinically oriented teacher preparation programs, or teacher residencies, in Michigan.
Culturally Responsive Practices to Close the Achievement Gap
This in-person event focused on culturally responsive practices that show promise in closing achievement gaps and the research that supports these practices.
Exploring Educator Movement Between Districts
This webinar focuses on research addressing the teacher pipeline and the mobility of teachers between schools and districts.
Research Methods Session 1: Overview
REL Midwest is providing a six-part training series for staff at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. This session overviewed the fundamentals of research and evidence.
Learning English: Diverse Students in American Classrooms
In partnership with WVIZ/PBS ideastream, REL Midwest created a 30-minute, documentary-style public television program that presents the research on academic supports for English learner students.
Preparing American Indian Students for College and Careers
This webinar shares information and resources on culturally responsive strategies to promote college and career readiness for American Indian students.
Exploring the Potential of Clinically Oriented Teacher Preparation Programs for Michigan: Session 1
The Michigan Department of Education and REL Midwest conducted a two-part training to explore the potential of clinically oriented teacher preparation programs, or teacher residencies, in Michigan.
Real-Life Research: The Value of Partnerships to Inform Quality Improvement in QRIS
This session at the Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) National Meeting described two research partnerships in Iowa and Minnesota and shared real-life tips and tools for developing partnerships and conducting research with a focus on quality improvement.
Impacts of the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System after One Year
This Society for Prevention Research Annual Meeting session covered REL Midwest’s examination of the impact and implementation of one early warning system—the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System.
Equipping Parents to Support Kindergarten Readiness
This webinar explores the non-academic components of school readiness and addresses how childcare providers can help parents prepare children for the non-academic components of kindergarten.
