Learning Sciences: Past, Present, Future

1 Course Unit

This course is a survey of the kinds of theories, methods, and applications through which educational researchers understand learning and how to improve it. The course is designed to provide information about how the field of the learning sciences emerged, has evolved, and is growing to address current and future learning needs. The learning sciences is a relatively new field of research in education that began in the late 80s. It is an interdisciplinary field consisting of researchers who study among other things, cognition, science and math education, language literacy, anthropological and sociological perspectives, computer science, and educational psychology. Learning scientists study learning as it happens in real world contexts and design resources and environments to improve learning in those contexts. This can happen in school, in informal places, at work, and online. Although the learning sciences is continually evolving, what remains true of the tenets of this educational field is that learning happens through mediated processes that most often require collaboration with others whereby learning is inextricably linked to context and culture. Prerequisite: EDUC 6116 or learning theories course is preferred and will be reviewed at registration Fall or Spring 1 Course Unit