Katalyst Methods unlocks the power of data and theory to help clients discover who’s learning, what they’re learning, why, and how to improve learning outcomes.
Katalyst Methods supports:
Strategy
We offer insights and set up systems that help organizations to benefit from powerful data.
Design
We provide support around game, curriculum, and assessment design.
User Research
We take a user-centered approach to collecting rich data, reporting insights, and giving design recommendations.
Evaluation
We conduct rigorous studies to understand a product or curriculum’s effectiveness.
If you are interested in further offerings in edtech, check out Edtech Recharge—an organization I cofounded with Dr. Kripa Sundar to focus specifically on the needs of early- to mid-stage edtech startups.
Katalyst Methods works with:
Edtech startups and media makers to:
Streamline the development of games and software that truly teach
Create A-to-Z research solutions
So they can launch effective learning products as quickly as possible.
Schools, school districts, and non profits to:
Collect and analyze data on student motivation and SEL
Explore instructional and assessment techniques that work for online education
So they can better understand students’ learning, set appropriate benchmarks, curate effective teaching methods, identify which skills empower meaningful outcomes, and create policies that will better meet students’ needs year over year.
Innovative companies to:
Understand its users’ motivation and engagement
Create theory-driven design solutions that motivate users to deeply engage
So users can benefit from companies’ offerings and companies can move the needle in terms of traffic, subscriptions, satisfaction, learnings, and overall growth.
Why Katalyst Methods?
Katalyst Methods 💙RESEARCH
Quantitative. Qualitative. Theory. Design. Data Collection. Analysis. Katalyst Methods loves research of all stripes and finds joy in every phase of the journey, from A to Z.
Our methodological expertise is vast, running the gamut from interviews to big data.
Our skills run deep, including highly technical methods like game-log data analysis, which allows us to understand players’ motivation, and structural equation modeling (SEM), which is one of the best statistical tools we have for determining causality, helping us to discover, “Does using this product lead to the kinds of outcomes we care about?”
That’s why we can choose the best methods to answer every research question. We recognize each approach’s strengths and weaknesses and make informed, realistic decisions.
WE CARE ABOUT QUALITY
We believe that everyone can learn.
We believe that our clients’ products can make an impact.
We believe in integrity - we do not “juke” numbers or sugarcoat results.
That’s why we’re so passionate about supporting our clients during the design phase. By leveraging theory and best practices, our clients can make sound design decisions that empower their products to produce the kinds of outcomes they care about.
WE ARE EXPERTS IN SEL AND MOTIVATION
We know what makes people tick. And we know how to build that into design.
Our expertise is grounded in serious study and real world experience. The founder of Katalyst Methods, Katerina Schenke, earned a Ph.D. in educational psychology and has published 20+ research articles and book chapters on motivation, social and emotional learning (SEL), digital media, evaluation, and more.
Over the 5+ years we’ve been in business, we’ve completed dozens of projects that shed light on learners’ thoughts, feelings, experiences, and outcomes.
That’s why we can help clients understand their users and design for them. We have the power of motivation science and SEL at our fingertips.