Episode 15: Closing the Research-to-Practice Gap: Finding and Using What Works

In this episode of The Research to Practice Gap, Dr. Helen Flores talks with Dr. Tal Slemrod about why evidence-based practices can take so long to reach classrooms—and what educators can do about it. They explore the research-to-practice gap, barriers to effective professional development, and practical ways teachers can find and use research to support their students. Dr. Slemrod also discusses the growing role of AI in education and special education, including its potential to increase accessibility and help educators connect research with practice. The conversation offers a practical reminder: start with the student, identify the barrier, and then find the tools and strategies that work. More from Dr. Tal Slemrod: Google Scholar Profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?... More and More Teachers and Students are Using AI – Even Though it Might Do More Harm Than Good: https://theconversation.com/more-and-... School of Education Launches Mobile Classroom Project: https://today.csuchico.edu/soe-mobile... Resources For Teachers: 30+ Must-Try AI Websites for Teachers to Save Time: https://www.edcafe.ai/blog/ai-website... Council for Exceptional Children Division for Technology (ISET): https://www.isetcec.org/ The Next Frontier: AI in Special Education: https://exceptionalchildren.org/blog/... The SETT Framework: https://www.joyzabala.com/links-resou... Specialed.io: https://www.frompapertopractice.com/ What Works Clearinghouse: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/ Research and Background Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning policy institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/s... s/product-files/Effective_Teacher_Professional_Development_REPORT.pdf Harkins-Brown, A. R., Carling, L. Z., & Peloff, D. C. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Special Education. Encyclopedia, 5(1), 11. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5... Lu H, Zhao J, Zhang Y and Cheng W (2026) Can AI-driven games enhance social skills for autistic children? — A three-level meta-analysis. Front. Psychol. 17:1847426. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1847426 Rubin R. (2023). It Takes an Average of 17 Years for Evidence to Change Practice-the Burgeoning Field of Implementation Science Seeks to Speed Things Up. JAMA, 329(16), 1333–1336. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.4387 Toste, J. R., & Lee, J. D. (2026). Implementation Science in Special Education: Foundations, Methods, and Directions for Research and Practice. Focus on Exceptional Children, 50(1). https://doi.org/10.17161/foec.v50i1.2... Artwork and logo by The Interior Gaze: https://www.etsy.com/shop/theinterior...