International Society of the Learning Sciences
Encyclopedia
The International Society of the Learning Sciences http://www.isls.org is a professional society dedicated to the interdisciplinary empirical investigation
of learning as it exists in real-world settings and how learning may be facilitated both with and without technology. Learning sciences
research explores the nature and conditions of learning as it occurs in educational environments, broadly construed. The field draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms in order to understand the complexities associated with human learning, cognition
, and development. Researchers in the interdisciplinary field of learning sciences, born during the 1990’s, study learning as it happens in real-world situations and how to better facilitate learning in designed environments – in school, online, in the workplace, at home, and in informal environments. Learning sciences research is guided by constructivist
, social-constructivist, socio-cognitive, and socio-cultural theories of learning (Hoadley, 2004; Sawyer, 2006).
The society is widely interdisciplinary and includes members from cognitive science
, educational psychology
, computer science
, anthropology
, sociology
, information sciences
, neuroscience
s, education
, design studies, instructional design
, and other fields. Currently the society includes members from six continents and provides unprecedented opportunities for collegial interaction across national boundaries in this field.
The International Society of the Learning Sciences, incorporated as a non-profit professional society in September, 2002, unites the traditions started by the Journal of the Learning Sciences
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/lst/jls/, the International Conferences of the Learning Sciences (ICLS)http://www.isls.org/icls.html, and the Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference (CSCL; Stahl et al., 2006) http://www.isls.org/cscl.html and offers publications (e.g., Kolodner, 2005) conferences, and educational programs to the community of researchers and practitioners who use cognitive, socio-cognitive, and socio-cultural approaches to studying learning in real-world situations and designing environments, software, materials, and other innovations that promote deep and lasting learning.
The society is governed by a Board of Directors
http://www.isls.org/about_board.html elected by the paid-up membership. Officers http://www.isls.org/about_officers.html of the society include the President (chosen by the Board of Directors), Past-President, President-Elect, an Executive Officer
, and a Financial Officer. Much of the work of the society is done by committees whose members are drawn from both the Board and the membership at large.
Empirical research
Empirical research is a way of gaining knowledge by means of direct and indirect observation or experience. Empirical evidence can be analyzed quantitatively or qualitatively...
of learning as it exists in real-world settings and how learning may be facilitated both with and without technology. Learning sciences
Learning sciences
The term Learning Sciences refers to an interdisciplinary field that works to further scientific understanding of learning as well as to engage in the design and implementation of learning innovations, and improvement of instructional methodologies...
research explores the nature and conditions of learning as it occurs in educational environments, broadly construed. The field draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms in order to understand the complexities associated with human learning, cognition
Cognition
In science, cognition refers to mental processes. These processes include attention, remembering, producing and understanding language, solving problems, and making decisions. Cognition is studied in various disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and computer science...
, and development. Researchers in the interdisciplinary field of learning sciences, born during the 1990’s, study learning as it happens in real-world situations and how to better facilitate learning in designed environments – in school, online, in the workplace, at home, and in informal environments. Learning sciences research is guided by constructivist
Constructivism (learning theory)
Constructivism is a theory of knowledge that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas. During infancy, it was an interaction between human experiences and their reflexes or behavior-patterns. Piaget called these systems of...
, social-constructivist, socio-cognitive, and socio-cultural theories of learning (Hoadley, 2004; Sawyer, 2006).
The society is widely interdisciplinary and includes members from cognitive science
Cognitive science
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of mind and its processes. It examines what cognition is, what it does and how it works. It includes research on how information is processed , represented, and transformed in behaviour, nervous system or machine...
, educational psychology
Educational psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn in educational settings, the effectiveness of educational interventions, the psychology of teaching, and the social psychology of schools as organizations. Educational psychology is concerned with how students learn and develop, often focusing...
, computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
, sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, information sciences
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
, neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
s, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, design studies, instructional design
Instructional design
Instructional Design is the practice of creating "instructional experiences which make the acquisition of knowledge and skill more efficient, effective, and appealing." The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and...
, and other fields. Currently the society includes members from six continents and provides unprecedented opportunities for collegial interaction across national boundaries in this field.
The International Society of the Learning Sciences, incorporated as a non-profit professional society in September, 2002, unites the traditions started by the Journal of the Learning Sciences
Journal of the Learning Sciences
The Journal of the Learning Sciences is a peer-reviewed academic journal and an official publication of the International Society of the Learning Sciences. It covers research on learning and education and is published by Taylor & Francis publishers. It was started in 1991 as by founding editor...
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/lst/jls/, the International Conferences of the Learning Sciences (ICLS)http://www.isls.org/icls.html, and the Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Conference (CSCL; Stahl et al., 2006) http://www.isls.org/cscl.html and offers publications (e.g., Kolodner, 2005) conferences, and educational programs to the community of researchers and practitioners who use cognitive, socio-cognitive, and socio-cultural approaches to studying learning in real-world situations and designing environments, software, materials, and other innovations that promote deep and lasting learning.
The society is governed by a Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
http://www.isls.org/about_board.html elected by the paid-up membership. Officers http://www.isls.org/about_officers.html of the society include the President (chosen by the Board of Directors), Past-President, President-Elect, an Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
, and a Financial Officer. Much of the work of the society is done by committees whose members are drawn from both the Board and the membership at large.