DEFI Innovation Lab
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Cutting edge and bespoke research
The DEFI Innovation Lab, directed by Prof Rupert Wegerif and led by Dr Imogen Casebourne, aims to explore and foster innovative ways of teaching and learning via new technology. We help our clients and partners in industry, government, and academia to investigate approaches that were not possible before and could potentially result in new ways for people to learn and flourish in a time of global change.
Fostering Innovation
DEFI supports digital education innovators in achieving their vision, through access to thought leaders and cutting-edge research
Leadership team
Prof Rupert Wegerif
Director
Dr Imogen Casebourne
Research Lead
Explore our experiments with AI
At DEFI we work with student volunteers to research developments in educational technology as they happen. Find examples of some of our experiments below.
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Generative AI and Statistics
We conducted a number of early experiments into generative and aspects of maths. You can read more below.
Presented at the 24th Annual Meeting of the Association for Educational Assessment – Europe, Not Like That! – Attempting to use GPT to generate test items in statistics.
Generative AI and Conference Images
In 2023 DEFI commissioned three artists – Dr Michelle Darlington, Rachel West and Caroline Walker – to create a graphic recording of its annual event, ED2123 Exploring Creativity and AI. In keeping with the theme, the artists used AI in their responses to the speakers.
Read more about the artists’ approach to the graphic recording here, and Caroline Walker’s debrief of the event here.
A Dialogue with a Book?
Find out more about our experience building a book GPT in our blog: 18 months of living with LLMs – what are we learning?
Generative AI and Collective Intelligence
This book chapter covers the above and other DEFI experiments: The Role of AI Language Assistants in Dialogic Education for Collective Intelligence, by Imogen Casebourne and Rupert Wegerif.
Research services
Based at the University of Cambridge, the DEFI Innovation Lab offers a scalable approach to achieving your research goals. Mix-and-match the modules below to give your project a boost. Or, allow our network of experts to manage the complete project from design to publication.
Accelerate your digital education research with some or all of these services:
Insights
Choose our bespoke trends analysis service.
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Early warning of upcoming trends and developments that could have an impact on policy or strategy.
By delivering
A horizon scanning service or a delphi consultation process.
Resulting in
Early insight into factors you may want to consider as you shape your strategy.
Research planning
Guidance on your research focus and aims.
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Refining your research question, focus, and aims
By delivering
An initial workshop or webinar with your organisation
Resulting in
Refined research questions and a high level research strategy that you can take forward.
Literature reviews
Scalable from rapid evidence scans to systematic reviews.
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Gaining a view of the existing evidence and any gaps that might exist.
By delivering
A map of the research landscape and a report.
Resulting in
An overview of the research on a topic of interest, which you can use to plan future research, or to guide design.
Data review and analysis
We can advise on your methodology or directly provide analysis via our network of PhD researchers.
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To help you with
Analysing your data.
By delivering
One or more PhD analysts, with a background in the appropriate methodology, who can help you move forward.
Resulting in
An interim report of findings from data analysis.
Report review and analysis
Written peer review of your finished research report, prior to publication
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Reviewing your finished report.
By delivering
A day of an expert in the field to review and comment on your report.
Resulting in
One or two paragraphs of commentary, which you may append to your report.
Delivered by a diverse, expert team
The DEFI Innovation Lab delivers its services through the expertise of DEFI team members, researching the application of digital technology to a variety of educational topics, including:
- Dialogic
- Professional development
- Pedagogical innovation (including AI and machine learning)
- Medical education
- Design Based Research
Clients include:
Our work
Featured in:
A Scoping Review of Future Skills Frameworks
DEFI Innovation Lab members conducted a scoping review of 99 frameworks, which included 341 separate skills concepts. Using thematic analysis and Social Network Analysis (SNA), the research team synthesised these concepts into 9 categories of Future Skills, which educators, policy makers, and industry professionals can use to ensure that learners are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of an uncertain future.
See the 9 Future Skills categories
on the DEFI website
Read the journal article
in Irish Educational Studies
Innovation lab members
Accelerate your digital education research
For further info, or if you are interested in commissioning research, please contact us
