Our Mission
Student participation and success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) varies significantly, both in enrollment and degree completion. Women and underrepresented minority (URM) students complete STEM degrees at lower rates, despite interest in these fields. Closing these gaps and improving outcomes for all students are essential to ensuring equitable access to STEM careers and helping California meet future workforce needs. To respond to this challenge, Assembly Bill 1809 established the California Education Learning Lab (“Learning Lab”), a state-funded grantmaking organization charged with improving learning outcomes and closing equity gaps across California’s public higher education segments.
Learning Lab supports innovation in higher education pedagogy through intersegmental grants to California’s public colleges and universities. Our funded projects leverage technology tools and the science of human learning to create better online and hybrid learning environments, and empower faculty in their teaching mission to find solutions that work best for California’s diverse student population.
Learning Lab is an initiative of the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and is administered in partnership with the Foundation for California Community Colleges as part of the State’s vision to grow and sustain a highly educated workforce that can meet the challenges of our changing world.
Our Work
We operate on the premise that all students are capable learners with potential for success given the right conditions, supports, and motivations. We believe that faculty are our greatest resource in helping students meet their goals, and that innovation begins with them.
To pursue our mission of closing equity gaps and fostering student success, the Learning Lab spreads innovative, scalable, effective practices in higher education, builds on local communities of learning, and supports both faculty and students in achieving their goals for higher education by leveraging the unique expertise and talent within California’s public colleges and universities.
Award Competitive, Intersegmental Grants to Support Innovation in Higher Education
Our grant awards are intended to support faculty in discovering, designing, and implementing learning environments and pedagogical approaches that work best for today's students and empower faculty in their teaching mission.
Supporting Professional Development
We support faculty professional development to adopt both new and proven strategies or technologies that support effective teaching and learning through convenings, webinars, and faculty learning communities.
Highlighting Resources
We aim to highlight new insights, data, and best practices for reducing educational equity and achievement gaps, and improving learning outcomes at scale.
Gathering Input and Fostering Collaboration
We gather input by talking with faculty, students and other stakeholders about ways the Learning Lab can support teaching, learning, and effective and innovative technology use. We also facilitate faculty collaboration and cross-segmental implementation of learning strategies that will help all students in California’s public higher education system succeed.
Candace Marie Thille
Director of Learning Science, Amazon.com, Inc.
Member,
ETS Board of Trustees
Christopher Cabaldon
Commissioner, Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education
Partner, Capitol Impact
Lande Ajose
Vice President and Senior Fellow, Public Policy Institute of California
Jonathan Brack
Consultant, Fund for Shared Insight
Michael Dennin
Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning,
Dean of Undergraduate Education &
Professor of Physics and Astronomy,
UC Irvine
Sandra Fried
Vice President of the Success Center for California Community Colleges, Foundation for California Community Colleges
Jeff Gold
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success, California State University Office of the Chancellor
Sonya Christian
Chancellor, Kern Community College District
