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EdTech Society Flagship Programme
PRISm
Practitioner Research Idea Summit

A mentorship-led research programme that brings practitioner educators into the world of educational technology research — guiding them from first idea to published paper.

Supported byCentre for Educational Technology, IIT Bombay
About PRISm

What is the Practitioner Research Idea Summit?

The Practitioner Research Idea Summit (PRISm) is a flagship initiative of the EdTech Society, supported by the Centre for Educational Technology at IIT Bombay.

PRISm brings together learners from diverse fields — Engineering, Liberal Arts, and School teaching — who do not have prior research experience in educational technology.

Learners are guided by experienced mentors called Research Buddies, blending interactive sessions, mentorship, and collaborative learning toward a peer-reviewed paper.

Programme History
2023
DETR · First Edition
2024
DETR · Second Year
2025
Renamed PRISm
2026
PRISm · Now Open
How It Works

A Structured Path to Research

The programme is divided into two sequential parts, taking learners from foundational research methods through to independent study and publication.

01
Learning Research Methods
Intensive sessions covering fundamental research methods in educational technology.
Research foundations — paradigms, ethics, and scholarly standards
Study design — quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods
Data collection & analysis — surveys, interviews, observation, coding
Literature review — finding, reading, and synthesising research
Research Buddy sessions — guided discussion with mentors
Each module includes readings, reflective exercises, and live doubt-solving sessions.
02
Conducting Studies & Paper Writing
Learners design and conduct a real study, culminating in a conference or journal submission.
Idea Planning Template — develop and refine your research question
Study Planning Template — design methodology and data plan
Writing workshops — structure arguments and write sections
Peer review practice — give and receive feedback on drafts
Submission support — formatting, portals, responding to reviewers
The goal is submission to a peer-reviewed venue — many participants submit to T4E.
Participants

Who Is PRISm For?

PRISm brings together two groups — those beginning their research journey, and experienced researchers who mentor.

Learner
Teachers & Practitioners New to Research
Educators from Engineering, Liberal Arts, and School teaching who want to document and publish their classroom experiences.
  • School, college, or university teachers seeking a first research experience
  • Practitioners from diverse fields
  • No prior EdTech research experience required
  • Willingness to conduct a small study in your own context
  • EdTech Society membership required to apply
A nominal application fee of ₹100 is charged upon shortlisting, to confirm participation commitment.
Research Buddy
Experienced Researchers Who Mentor
Practitioner-researchers with published EdTech work who volunteer to guide Learners through the full research process.
  • Demonstrated expertise through publication
  • Committed to guiding learners through study design and writing
  • Contribute to building the research community in India
  • Past PRISm learners especially encouraged to return
  • EdTech Society membership required
In 2024, four learners from the 2023 cohort returned as Research Buddies, mentoring new participants.
Comprehensive Support

How We Support You

A multi-layered support system so no one gets stuck — no matter their background or experience level.

Live Sessions
Regular live online sessions on key topics and research skills.
Clinic
Drop-in problem-solving sessions for specific challenges.
Mentorship
Personalised mentorship, feedback on drafts, and guidance.
Discussion Forum
A dedicated forum to share resources and build community.
Individualised Support
An asynchronous structure that lets people progress at their own pace.
Regular Feedback
Structured checkpoints with written feedback throughout.
Impact

Results That Speak for Themselves

Since 2023, PRISm has been building a new generation of practitioner-researchers in Indian education.

19
Papers Accepted
PRISm 2024 participants had 19 papers accepted at the T4E 2024 conference.
4
Cohort Editions
Running continuously since 2023 — from DETR to PRISm.
4
Learners → Buddies
Four learners from the 2023 cohort returned as Research Buddies.
I joined as a graduate student. Two PRISm talks later, I had collaborators in three institutions and a paper accepted at T4E. The Society opens doors I would not have known existed.
Dr. Anveshna Srivastava — Assistant Professor, IIT Kanpur · PRISm Alumna
All Editions

PRISm Through the Years

From its origins as the DETR workshop in 2023 to the renamed and expanded PRISm, each edition has deepened the community.

2026
2026
View 2026
PRISm 2026

Ready to Begin Your Research Journey?

Whether you are a practitioner looking to publish your first paper, or an experienced researcher ready to mentor — PRISm has a place for you.

Apply as a Learner
For teachers and practitioners without prior EdTech research experience.
Apply as a Research Buddy
For experienced researchers ready to mentor the next generation.
Membership required. EdTech Society membership is a prerequisite. A nominal application fee of ₹100 is charged upon shortlisting.

Structured learning approach

Fully online and asynchronous, over 3–4 months, in two parts.

  1. Part 1 — Foundations
    Online, asynchronous grounding in research methods and idea framing.
  2. Part 2 — Project
    Develop and refine your study with Research Buddy support.