Learning sciences

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The learning sciences is a program of interdisciplinary study that works to further scientific understanding of learning and teaching as well as engage in the design and implementation of learning innovations. Research in the learning sciences traditionally focuses on cognitive-psychological and social-psychogical foundations of human learning, as well as on the design of learning environments (e.g., educational software such as intelligent tutors, programming languages, learning management systems, etc). Over the past decade, researchers have also expanded their focus to the design of curricula, informal learning environments, and policy innovations. Major contributing fields include cognitive science, psychology, computer science, education, neuroscience, and social science.

Currently, there exists an International Society of Learning Sciences researchers (ISLS, [1]), as well as two journals, The Journal of the Learning Sciences and "The International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning". Northwestern University's program in the Learning Sciences ([2]) is one of the pioneers in the field.