What is the Science of Learning?
Traditionally, research devoted to understanding learning has taken place in many different disciplines. Basic research about the brain mechanisms underlying learning in humans and other species has traditionally taken place in the fields of Neuroscience and Biology; research about how the human mind “computes,” developing and using knowledge, has taken place in Cognitive Science and Psychology; research about how machines (e.g. computers and robots) learn has taken place in Computer Science and other areas of Engineering; and research about how learning occurs in the classroom has taken place in Education. More recently, scientists and practitioners have recognized that understanding learning in all of its manifestations will require multiple approaches that span these disciplines and more. The Science of Learning is an approach that recognizes the value and importance of cross-fertilization across traditional fields of study, drawing on many different methods and techniques to understand how learning occurs— with the ultimate goal of optimizing learning for all.
Below are several resources on the Science of Learning:
- Biennial Science of Learning Symposium: Minding the Gap Among Levels of Explantation (2018) Johns Hopkins Science of Learning Institute (John Krakauer, David Poeppel, Patricia Janak, Andrei Cimpian, Amy Shelton, Daniel Simons)
- Biennial Science of Learning Symposium (2016) Johns Hopkins Science of Learning Institute (Richard Huganir, Alan Yuille, Ed Connor, Elissa Newport, Katherine Kinzler, Jason Eisner, Bruce McCandliss, Brenda Rapp, and Jonathan Plucker)
- The Science of Learning (2013) Johns Hopkins Science of Learning Institute (Barbara Landau, Richard Huganir, Lisa Feigenson, and David Andrews)
- Future of the Science of Learning (2013) NSF Workshop Report (David Lightfoot, Ralph Etienne-Cummings, Morton Gernsbacher, Eric Hamilton, Barbara Landau, Elissa Newport and David Poeppel)
- History of the Science of Learning (2012) NSF Workshop Report (David Lightfoot, Ralph Etienne-Cummings, Morton Gernsbacher, Eric Hamilton, Barbara Landau, Elissa Newport and David Poeppel)
- Foundations for a New Science of Learning (2009) Science (Andrew Meltzoff, Patricia Kuhl, Javier Movellan and Terrence Sejnowski)
- Future Challenges for the Science and Engineering of Learning (2007) NSF Workshop Report (Rodney Douglas and Terrence Sejnowski)
- Opportunities and Challenges for Language Learning and Education (2007) NSF Workshop Report (Patricia Kuhl and Lila Gleitman)
* This page will be updated periodically with new resources.
