Bridging Research + Practice

OCEAN is a network of research-practice partnerships between K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, and the UCI School of Education. We engage in actionable scholarship to positively impact the diverse communities that we partner with. We have a particular focus on contributing to our local Orange County area, but our faculty and students also develop partnerships throughout Southern California, the United States and other regions.

Mission

Our mission is to help develop community partnerships that foster: collaboration, mutual respect, community needs and priorities, and the use of research to improve learning and education in our region.

Our core capacity at OCEAN is to conduct research that can inform the decisions and improvement efforts of our partners.

Community-Centered Research-Practice Partnerships

From our Partners

“We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking partnership with UC Irvine that will undoubtedly enhance the educational experience at Monroe Elementary School. By combining the innovative research and academic excellence of UC Irvine with the deep community ties and dedication of our district, we are creating a collaborative model that will not only benefit our students and teachers but also inspire similar initiatives across the state.”

Jerry Almendarez, Superintendent, Santa Ana Unified School District

News & Events

@telemundo52 Proyecto crea entornos para que los niños aprendan jugando @uci.education @saeli_oc_ @santaanaparks @cityofsantaana @uci_ocean @andres_bustamante @pllactionnetwork As part of the University-Assisted Community School (UACS) partnership between Monroe Elementary and UC Irvine’s School of Education, a team of 13 administrators from UCI’s School of Education Orange County Educational Advancement Network (OCEAN), Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) and Monroe Elementary recently visited two innovative schools in San Diego. The group toured Design39Campus and The Preuss School UC San Diego to explore best practices in student-centered learning, curriculum design, and university-school collaboration. Link to the article is available on our profile. @uci.education @monroe.elementary.sausd @santaanausd @uci_ocean @preussucsd Assistant Professor Dr. Symone Gyles, UC Irvine School of Education and Dr. Norma Spencer, Director of the Black Student Achievement Initiative, Long Beach Unified School District, working together to brainstorm ideas and opportunities to advance community-based STEM curriculum and pedagogy @uci.education @longbeachusd #ResearchPracticePartnership In February 2025, the UC Irvine School of Education @uci.education , led by Associate Professor Andres Bustamante, in partnership with the City of Santa Ana @cityofsantaana , Santa Ana Parks & Recreation @santaanaparks , and the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative (SAELI) @saeli_oc_ , unveiled three new playful learning installations at Madison Park and Angels Park. These installations are part of an effort to bring learning beyond the classroom by embedding science, math, and literacy concepts into everyday public spaces. Designed to engage children and families in meaningful educational experiences, these interactive spaces transform parks into community learning hubs. These installations highlight the UCI School of Education’s commitment to community-centered learning, reinforcing the connection between parks, recreation, and education to create engaging educational opportunities for young learners in Santa Ana and beyond. @uci.education @uciteacheracademy @uci_ocean joined @monroe.elementary.sausd @santaanausd for the launch of its STEAM and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Programs. Thankful for everyone who supported the fundraiser for @monroe.elementary.sausd library! Today, the @uci.education delivered books for the students and families of Monroe Elementary School @santaanausd #UniversityAssistedSchoolPartnership Check out the episode of The UCI Podcast, where Andres Bustamante, associate professor of education and faculty director of UC Irvine’s Orange County Educational Advancement Network guides us on a tour of the playful learning landscapes he has helped install in schools and community locations throughout the city of Santa Ana and explains how and why they’re already making a difference. Link to the Podcast is on our Profile. The 2025 AI K12 Deeper Learning Summit offered educators a dynamic educational experience to share and discover how AI can unlock deeper learning for students, helping shape the future of AI in education and society, ensuring this powerful tool is utilized for positive impact. @uci.education @juneahn @chanzuckerberginitiative @anaheimunion @digitalpromise UCI School of Education @uci.education , in partnership with the Santa Ana Early Learning Initiative @saeli_oc_ , and the City of Santa Ana @santaanaparks @cityofsantaana are co-designing playful learning public spaces (parks, bus stops, grocery stores) to encourage engagement in informal STEM learning opportunities and leverage everyday routines to promote science and math learning and caregiver-child interactions. To learn more, connect with our STEM Learning Lab (link in profile).