The CREATEd Fellowship is a year-long program that prepares individuals for knowledge brokering – work that promotes strong, equitable relationships among the research and practice communities.
Who are knowledge brokers?
A knowledge broker is an individual who…
- cultivates and sustains relationships between research and practice,
- makes knowledge accessible and usable,
- supports just research-informed change,
- centers equity in educational processes, goals and outcomes, and
- democratizes evidence use to improve the lives of children.
Few people actually use the term “knowledge broker” to describe themselves, but many people engage in this work. In fact, knowledge brokers can serve in a wide range of job positions and work at different levels of influence.
Knowledge brokers work in many kinds of organizations – in intermediary organizations like curriculum developers, technical assistance providers, as well as in state education agencies, schools, districts, and research organizations.
Who is this fellowship for?
Many people and organizations serve as knowledge brokers, and they play a critical role in supporting an evidence-informed, equity centered education system. Unfortunately, there are few opportunities for professional learning that focus on the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective broker. The CREATEd fellowship is a resource for those seeking to develop or enhance their capacity for knowledge brokering.
If you are interested in developing knowledge and skills related to:
- building capacity for research use and production of relevant and useful research
- working with diverse education stakeholders to address issues of equity and social justice
- transforming research to support education policy and practice
…this fellowship is for you!
Program Highlights
- Year-long program divided into two parts:
- January-June:
- Asynchronous monthly learning modules and bi-monthly synchronous workshops
- September- December:
- Opportunity for applied practice of the CREATEd Co-Design process to develop a research-informed, equity-centered resource
- January-June:
- Cohort structure designed to offer Fellows opportunities for networking and to engage in a learning community with other professionals
- $2,500 stipend provided to participants upon successful completion of the program
Fellowship Curriculum
The Fellowship curriculum is designed around 6 modules of study: Knowledge Brokering, Equity, Policy & Practice, Research Literacy, Design & Communications, and Facilitation Techniques.
Program modules and bi-monthly workshops offer learning activities designed to support Fellows’ development of program-designed Knowledge Broker Competencies.
Module 1: Knowledge Brokering
Fellows will explore the relationship between research, policy, and practice, and consider the relationship of knowledge brokering to these communities.
Module 2: Equity
Fellows will deepen their understanding of a broad range of issues related to equity and social justice, and prepare to be an advocate for work that advances educational equity.
Module 3: Policy and Practice
Fellows will gain a deeper understanding of the work of policymakers and/or practitioners. They will understand how school systems work, be able to identify pressing concerns, recognize opportunities and barriers related to implementation of new policies and practices, and be comfortable engaging practitioners/policymakers in dialogue around their work.
Module 4: Research Literacy
Fellows will deepen their knowledge of educational research theories, methods, and practices. They will be able to access, understand, and critically evaluate literature and feel comfortable engaging researchers in discussion of their work.
Module 5: Design and Communications
Fellows will understand the communication and design roles of knowledge brokers, employ equity-centered processes in the creation and distribution of communications, and apply knowledge of audience, message, products and channels for communication and design.
Module 6: Facilitation Techniques
Fellows will develop facilitation skills related to leading and evaluating teams and partnerships, as well as leading change processes.
Co-design is an innovative approach to creating more usable research products but also for democratizing research use through more equitable and inclusive processes. The CREATEd co-design process leverages the knowledge and experiences of researchers, educators, communication and design experts, and other stakeholders in envisioning and producing resources that both draw on high quality research and are useful and relevant for achieving greater equity in educational policy and practice.
In the second part of the program, Fellows have the opportunity to apply their learning by facilitating diverse teams in the creation of research-informed, equity-centered resources using CREATEd’s Co-Design Process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
Our Fellows are individuals with diverse backgrounds who (1) demonstrate strong commitments to educational improvement and equity, (2) are committed to linking research and practice, and (3) have experience with education, research, and/or communications. Note that preference given to applicants who are in positions to make a positive impact on the U.S. educational ecosystem.
Check out our current Fellows here!
What are the program expectations?
The primary program expectations include:
- Completing asynchronous activities prior to each bi-monthly meeting of the cohort (January – June)
- Attending bi-monthly synchronous virtual workshops (January- June)
- Facilitating a Co-Design process (September – December)
- Complete the follow-up surveys and questionnaires associated with the Fellowship (as requested)
What is the time commitment for Fellows?
From January – June, Fellows can expect to spend between 10-12 hours each month engaged in completing asynchronous activities (6-8 hours of reading, watching videos, exploring resources, etc.) and attending the bi-monthly workshops (2 hours each).
From September – December, Fellows will engage in a Co-Design process that will take between 30-40 hours. This includes time for planning, communication, and meetings.
When are the bi-monthly workshops held?
The tentative schedule for the 2023-2024 Fellowship workshops are listed below. All workshops are held from 2:00-4:00 pm EST.
| Workshop Focus | Tentative Times/Date |
| Program Kick-off | December 14, 2023 |
| Knowledge Brokering | January 18, 2024 January 25, 2024 |
| Equity | February 15, 2024 February 22, 2024 |
| Policy & Practice | March 21, 2024 March 28, 2024 |
| Research Literacy | April 18, 2024 April 25, 2024 |
| Design & Communication | May 16, 2024 May 23, 2024 |
| Facilitation | June 20, 2024 June 27, 2024 |
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