Learning Lab (LL) is a

research Research is "creative and systematic work undertaken to increase the stock of knowledge". It involves the collection, organization and analysis of evidence to increase understanding of a topic, characterized by a particular attentiveness t ...

methodology In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bri ...

developed in 2011 by Aydin Bal that provides

-based guidelines for local stakeholders to develop productive

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

school A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is sometimes compu ...

-community partnerships and design

behavioral support Behavior (American English) or behaviour ( British English) is the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in some environment. These systems can include other systems or organisms as w ...

systems that are culturally responsive to diverse needs, strengths, practices, and goals of all stakeholders within a local school community. The Learning Lab builds organizational capacity in schools and

school district A school district is a special-purpose district that operates local public primary and secondary schools in various nations. North America United States In the U.S, most K–12 public schools function as units of local school districts, whi ...

s by forming an inclusive problem solving team of multiple local stakeholders (

teacher A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. w ...

s, education leaders, families,

student A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution. In the United Kingdom and most commonwealth countries, a "student" attends a secondary school or higher (e.g., college or university); those in primary or elementa ...

s, and local community representatives). In Learning Labs, local stakeholders, specifically those who are historically marginalized from schools’ decision-making activities, collectively examine disparities in behavioral outcomes in their local schools and develop solutions through systemic transformation. The Learning Lab methodology was adapted from the change laboratory methodology and is grounded in Cultural Historical Activity Theory. The moral purpose of the Learning Lab is participatory

social justice Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, Equal opportunity, opportunities, and Social privilege, privileges within a society. In Western Civilization, Western and Culture of Asia, Asian cultures, the concept of social ...

. Participatory

is about non-dominant communities’ equal participation and influence on decision-making activities. The goal of the Learning Lab methodology is to facilitate collective agency among local stakeholders who develop locally meaningful, socially just, and sustainable systemic solutions to

educational equity Educational equity, also known as equity in education, is a measure of achievement, fairness, and opportunity in education. The study of education equity is often linked with the study of excellence and equity. Educational equity depends on two ...

issues such as racial disproportionality in exclusionary and punitive school disciplinary actions (e.g., detention,

suspension Suspension or suspended may refer to: Science and engineering * Suspension (topology), in mathematics * Suspension (dynamical systems), in mathematics * Suspension of a ring, in mathematics * Suspension (chemistry), small solid particles suspen ...

, and expulsion). In the Culturally Responsive Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports Project, the Learning Lab has been implemented at urban pre K- 12 schools in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. The Learning Lab was found to successfully facilitate and sustain authentic partnerships among local stakeholders that renovated their schoolwide behavioral support systems to be positive, inclusive and culturally responsive.Bal, A., Kozleski, E. B., Schrader, E. M., Rodriguez, E. M., & Pelton, S. (2014). Systemic transformation in school: Using Learning Lab to design culturally responsive schoolwide positive behavioral supports. Remedial and Special Education, 35(6), 327–339.

References

{{Reflist Methodology