Journal of Online Learning Research and Practice
Sommerhoff et al . ( 2018 ) of 75 Learning Sciences programs across the U . S . revealed core concepts of the Learning Sciences , which included : “ designing learning environments and scaffolding , using technology to support learning , cognition and metacognition ” ( p . 342 ). The aforementioned concepts also constitute an integral part of online learning ( Mayer , 2019 ), and therefore should be leveraged to maximize the online learning and teaching process .
The Learning Sciences and instructional design are both critical components of online education . Foshay and Roschelle ( 2017 ) describe the Learning Sciences and instructional design as “ cousins , not twins ” ( p . 65 ). According to Foshay and Roschelle ( 2017 ), these two applied fields share several defining characteristics :
• Both draw on cognitive learning theory .
• Both are evidence-based and design-oriented .
• To varying degrees , both fields draw from computer science and information science , design theory , systems theory , measurement theory , economics , project management , and engineering . ( p . 65 )
Key practices and approaches within the Learning Sciences , including Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning ( CSCL ), Problem-Based Learning ( PBL ), Project-Based Learning , Situated Learning , Design-Based Research ( DBR ), among others , have been applied to instructional design and instruction to better understand learning environments and their effect on individual and group learning . For instance , CSCL examines collaborative learning mediated by computers and network devices ( Stahl et al ., 2014 ). CSCL can take both synchronous and asynchronous forms and facilitate communication among learners from different physical locations around the world .
Learning Sciences has the potential of transforming online education to make teaching and learning experiences more meaningful and relevant as the higher education landscape continues to evolve . The use of the approaches and theories within the Learning Sciences as broader conceptual frameworks , combined with a variety of learning technologies , allows for customizable and personalized experiences for online instruction and instructional design .
Mind , Brain , and Education Science
MBE Science is a field within the Learning Sciences ( see Figure 2 ) focused on the teaching-learning dynamic that intersects neuroscience , psychology , and education ( Tokuhama-Espinosa , 2010 ; 2019 ). MBE Science emerged from research conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ). Since 1999 , the OECD ’ s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation ( CERI ) has been conducting research on the brain and learning ( OECD , 1999 ). CERI ’ s first publication in 2002 , Understanding the Brain : Toward a New Learning Science , was followed by a second publication in 2007 , Understanding the Brain : The
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