Science of Learning Centers

Science of Learning Centers

Soo-Siang Lim Ph.D

Lead Program Director and Chair of Coordinating Committee

Science of Learning Centers Program

Program Overview

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Grantees Conference

December 7-9, 2009

How humans, other animals and machines learn

ComplexityScope and scale

Cross-disciplinaryLongitudinal studies

Centers provide enduring intellectual, organizational and physical infrastructure

Science of Learning Centers

Transformative advances through integrated research on learning Connections to scientific, educational, technological and workforce challenges

Connecting basic science to education research and practice

Stable, long term partnerships of researchers and teachers that: Better alignment of research agendas to education issues Bring teacher input to research - career development Enable longitudinal studies of learning trajectories Build capacities of a new generation of scientist educators

Evaluation over long term and development of standards for quality control.

Connecting Research and Educational Practice:

An Implementation Loop

Research Development

Strategic Partnerships

Researchon Learning

Use-inspired Research on

Learning

Small ScaleImplementation

Dissemination,Awareness

Large ScaleImplementation

InfrastructureWorkforce Preparation

Current SLC Portfolio

2004 Cohort

CELEST: Center of Excellence for Learning in Engineering, Science and Technology (Boston U)

LIFE: Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (U of Washington)

PSLC: Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center (Carnegie-Mellon U)

2006 Cohort

SILC: Spatial Intelligence and Learning Center (Temple U)

TDLC: Temporal Dynamics of Learning Center (UC-San Diego)

VL2: Visual Language and Learning Center (Gallaudet U)

More than Science at SLCs

• Knowledge Transfer and Dissemination

• Educational practice

• Industry

• Integration of Research and Education

• Broadening Participation and Outreach

• Infrastructure

Integration of Research and Education Enhanced research and education opportunities

Center-inspired new coursework CELEST Cross-discipline mentoring of students Annual SLC Student workshop, visits to other centers, student Wiki

Enhanced understanding of research connections to societal impacts Active engagement of students and faculty in partnerships withK-12

schools and practitioners Development of curriculum materials Workshops involving K-12 teachers Industry Internships (CELEST, LIFE, PSLC)

Enhancement of career skills Proposal for SLC student workshop is student-driven (PSLC, LIFE) Leadership and organizational skills in active student organizations Working in cross-disciplinary teams, cyber-enabled research Entrepreneurship (CELEST)

A new generation of researchers in multidisciplinary science of learning

Broadening Participation Science that explores issues that affect participation rates

VL2 : sign language and literacy, new generation of deaf scholars

SILC: low spatial skills and relatedness to gender and low SES

LIFE: Bilingual research and education – Spanish/English TDLC, CELEST: Improving life chances of disabled

Female-led Centers Women leaders – SILC, LIFE, CELEST

Outreach to Underrepresented populations Partnerships with minority serving public schools, colleges CELEST: SACNAS

Infrastructure Cyber-enabled learning in classrooms (PSLC,

LIFE) Cyber-enabled research on learning (PSLC,

TDLC) New tools for research (TDLC, PSLC, LIFE, VL2) New resources for standardization and

assessment (VL2, SILC) New Tools for education (TDLC, PSLC) New Tools for outreach (TDLC) New models for collaborative, scientific

integration (TDLC)

Locations of SLC Centers & Partner Institutions

LIFESILCTDLCVL2CELESTPSLC

SLC Network of Six Centers Another Level of

Collaboration, Synergy & Synthesis

Across centers in research, training, knowledge transfer and dissemination

Timely exchanges coordinated via a web of: 30+ academic institutions 60+ non-academic institutions More than 300 participants

PI meetings Workshops

Language Learning and Education Science and Engineering of Learning Educational Neuroscience Art, Creativity and Learning