Pilot evaluation — Assistive Technology in classrooms
A concise evaluation of device loan pilots and staff coaching in partner schools, including practical procurement and sustainment guidance.
Research & Knowledge
EduLinked’s research and knowledge program captures practical learning from pilots, partnerships and practice-based projects so organisations can adopt evidence-informed approaches to digital inclusion and accessible communication.
Below you’ll find our focus areas, example projects and links to pilot reports and publications. If you’d like the underlying data, evidence pack or a tailored research briefing, contact us and we will share the relevant materials.
~3 postgraduate interns / quarter (~12 pa)
Estimated in-kind value ≈ AUD 24k / year
• Student reports
• Pilot evaluations
• Prototype usability testing
• Easy Read materials
• Evaluation toolkits
• Participatory co-design
• Mixed-methods evaluation
• Formative prototype testing
• Partner dashboards for anonymised impact metrics
EduLinked’s research is pragmatic and action-oriented. We embed lived experience at every stage, partner with higher-education teams for applied evaluation and use short, iterative pilots to test prototypes in real community settings. Research activities are designed to feed directly into product development (EMLS modules, Spatial Learning Node, Inclusion Greeter) and procurement-ready service models (Certified EduLinked Facilitator).
People with disability guide research design, evaluation and interpretation at every stage.
Applied evaluation through university collaborations and postgraduate student placements.
Short, focused pilots test prototypes in real community settings before scaling.
Research directly informs EMLS modules, Spatial Learning Node and Inclusion Greeter development.
Certified EduLinked Facilitator framework creates service-ready implementation models.
Our applied research program focuses on practical evidence that helps organisations design accessible, usable and sustainable services.
Practice-led guidance for plain language, Auslan-ready media, visual supports, and AAC-friendly resources.
Pilots and evaluations on device loans, software trials and coaching models that support classroom and community participation.
Practical evaluation designs and simple measurement frameworks for use in small-scale pilots and partnership programs.
Research into governance structures, open governance and pathways for taking local pilots to system-level practice.
Examples of our applied research and pilot projects that demonstrate our focus areas in action.
A community STEM engagement project combining fieldwork, mentor networks and inclusive curriculum. Evaluation used participation tracking, surveys and case studies. Practera interns supported fieldwork and evaluation activities.
Key outputs: Partnership Brief Guide, fieldwork evaluation reports
Modular AAC prototype research: roadmap, MVP testing and pilot planning. Research insights emphasise modularity, interoperability and curriculum alignment. Outputs include roadmap milestones (research → MVP → pilot).
Key outputs: Rainbow Handout, prototype roadmap, MVP testing framework
Multi-stakeholder applied research coordinating industry, higher education and local government. EduLinked leads curriculum and delivery while academic/Practera cohorts support implementation and evaluation.
Key outputs: Partner Roles Summary, implementation framework
Research themes include operationalising responsible AI governance, addressing bias in AI systems and defining human-value requirements for AI in disability-support tools. These themes are mapped to EduLinked projects (SSA™, Techquity) and inform partnerships with CSIRO, Microsoft and academic evaluators.
Key outputs: Research Proposal, AI governance framework, partnership mappings
Each project demonstrates our commitment to evidence-based practice and partnership-driven research.
EduLinked works with Practera to include postgraduate student consulting placements and applied industry projects. These collaborations provide practical research capacity and support prototype development, evaluation and curriculum-linked work.
What Practera contributes
Practera provides structured student consulting placements that have supported applied research, AI prototype development and industry-aligned evaluation work within EduLinked projects. These collaborations are documented in our partnership and grant materials (example evidence and in-kind contributions are available in project documents).
Example references: Practera projects are listed in our Support Ecosystem Roadmap and in grant evidence packs that record student consulting support and associated in-kind valuations. See the cited documentation for detail. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
The Practera support is also enumerated in our pilot and RADF submissions, where student consulting support (postgraduate internships) is documented as part of broader in-kind partnership contributions. For example, pilot evidence and the RADF submission reference Practera’s regular internship support and associated valuation in our evidence pack. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
We publish short practice summaries and pilot reports so partners can access evaluation methods, evidence and practical recommendations.
A concise evaluation of device loan pilots and staff coaching in partner schools, including practical procurement and sustainment guidance.
Project submission and pilot evidence (RADF Professional Development submission) that outlines pilot design, in-kind contributions and research evidence supporting inclusive creative practice and AAC innovation.
Read the submission and evidence pack
This RADF submission includes supporting evidence of partner in-kind contributions and pilot evaluation notes (see Practera student consulting support and associated evidence). :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
If you would like the evidence pack or raw evaluation data for any pilot, please email us (we can provide data-sharing agreements where required).
Our research themes address critical intersections of AI, accessibility, and inclusive practice. These themes guide our applied research and partnership development.
Research into embedding diversity and inclusion throughout AI system development, from design through deployment. Our SSA™ framework ensures AI systems serve diverse user needs and perspectives.
Key areas: inclusive design principles, diverse dataset representation, equity impact assessment
Techquity research focuses on identifying and mitigating algorithmic bias in AI recommendation systems, ensuring equitable outcomes for all users across different contexts and needs.
Key areas: bias detection, fairness metrics, equity validation, transparent recommendation systems
Developing governance frameworks for responsible AI implementation, including robust auditing processes and transparent decision-making explanations that build trust and accountability.
Key areas: AI stewardship models, audit frameworks, explainable AI, ethical oversight
Research into adapting AI systems and digital inclusion approaches for different disability service contexts, policy frameworks, and local requirements across various jurisdictions.
Key areas: policy alignment, local system integration, jurisdictional adaptation, compliance mapping
Advancing participatory co-design methodologies that engage diverse users in creating multi-sensory learning experiences, ensuring accessibility across visual, auditory, tactile and cognitive dimensions.
Key areas: co-design facilitation, multi-sensory learning, universal design, inclusive pedagogy
These research themes interconnect through our applied projects, creating a comprehensive approach to responsible AI and digital inclusion that addresses both technical innovation and social impact.
Our research prioritises low-burden, practice-focused methods that generate usable evidence for partners. Common approaches include action research, small-scale pilot evaluation, mixed methods case studies and pragmatic measurement approaches that partners can sustain.
Embedding Diversity & Inclusion in AI lifecycles (SSA™)
Addressing bias and equity in AI recommendations (Techquity)
Responsible AI governance: stewardship, auditing and decision-explanation
Localisation and policy mapping for different disability systems
Participatory co-design and multi-sensory accessibility for learning
Co-designed cycles of improvement that test small changes and capture learning.
Practical evaluation, mixing qualitative feedback, usage evidence and simple outcome measures.
Applied projects with university partners, industry placements and community collaborators.
We collaborate on applied research, evaluation and practice-based projects. If your organisation would like to pilot an approach, host student placements or co-design an evaluation, please get in touch.
We welcome research partners, independent evaluators and organisations interested in piloting or evaluating Spatial Learning Node, Inclusion Greeter or EMLS modules.
Collaborate on applied research projects, co-design studies, and contribute to advancing digital inclusion and AI accessibility.
Academic collaboration • Joint publications • Grant partnerships • Methodology development
Contribute objective assessment and evaluation expertise to measure impact, effectiveness, and outcomes of our digital inclusion initiatives.
Impact assessment • Evaluation frameworks • Data analysis • Reporting and recommendations
Host pilot implementations of Spatial Learning Node, Inclusion Greeter, or EMLS modules and help shape the future of inclusive technology.
Real-world testing • User feedback • Implementation support • Feature co-design
Our core digital inclusion modules are available for organisations interested in piloting or evaluating their impact:
Spatial Learning Node
Interactive spatial learning tools for digital skill development and navigation training.
Inclusion Greeter
AI-powered welcome system that adapts to diverse accessibility needs and preferences.
EMLS Modules
Essential Micro-Learning Skills modules for foundational digital literacy and confidence building.
Whether you're interested in research collaboration, independent evaluation, or piloting our modules, we'd love to hear from you.
EduLinked research is delivered with support from Practera (postgraduate internships), Microsoft (cloud and mentorship), CSIRO/academic collaborators and regional partners that supply connectivity and pilot venues. We acknowledge the value of all partners in providing mentorship, technical support and in-kind research capacity.
Postgraduate internships providing applied research capacity, student consulting support, and industry-aligned evaluation expertise.
~12 postgraduate interns annually • In-kind research support • Applied consulting placements
Cloud infrastructure and mentorship supporting AI research, technical guidance, and scalable platform development.
Azure cloud services • Technical mentorship • AI research collaboration • Platform scaling
Research excellence and evaluation through academic partnerships, peer review, and scientific methodology integration.
Research methodology • Peer review • Academic evaluation • Scientific collaboration
Connectivity and pilot venues providing real-world testing environments, community access, and local implementation support.
Community venues • Connectivity infrastructure • Local implementation • Community engagement
Our partners provide essential mentorship, technical support and in-kind research capacity that enables us to deliver high-quality applied research while maintaining low overheads and practical impact. This collaborative ecosystem ensures our research remains grounded in real-world needs and scales effectively across different contexts.
12+
Annual Internships
6+
Partner Organizations
$24k+
Annual In-kind Value
3+
Regional Pilots