History

Learning Science, origianlly was a derivation of the cognitive science field. Cognitive science focused on what was happening in the head and was leaving out all the discussion of learning that takes place through interaction with other people and objects in the world. Many cognitive scientists that were studying issues in education and were frustrated by the narrow focus of current theories of learning in cognitive science that did not account for many of the other areas of learning. As a result theorists began talking about these others factors leading to the formation of the field of learning sciences. The field of learning sciences was also influenced by the researchers in artificial intelligence and educational psychology (Kolodner, 2004).

---

Definition

Learning Sciences explores the nature and conditions of learning as it occurs in educational environments, broadly construed. It deals with "understanding what learning for applicability looks like. It is a design science, an integration science, a socio-cognitive science, a descriptive science, and an experimental science" (Kolodner, 2004).

---

References:

Kolodner, J. L., (2004) The Learning Sciences: Past, Present,

          Future; Educational Technology (vol. XLIV, 3)

LearningScience Home Page

---

"Definition" unpacked...

It slices, it dices, it's focused, yet broadly emcompassing. It's new, it's improved, fortified with 9 essential...(TBA), comes in an attractive carrier now with 25% more of that elusive quality not held by other leading brands of educational research. So join us today, be considered a revolutionary, and not one of those evolutionaries.

But wait, there's more! If you join now, you too can become a REAL scientist--we'll even send you free business cards to prove it--the word "scientist" will appear right on your business card!

So don't delay, ask your advisor if becoming a learning scientist is right for you and then join the fastest-growing community of scientists on the face of the planet today. Who knew that becoming a scientist could have ever been so EASY*.

*individual results may vary. Do not join if your are nursing, under 65, over 75, already consider yourself a researcher, or are prone to jump onto the next bandwagon when it rolls into town.

(Educational Technology, June 2004)