CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Learning sciences research explores the nature and conditions of learning as it occurs in educational environments, broadly construed. The learning sciences field draws upon multiple theoretical perspectives and research paradigms in order to understand the complexities associated with human learning, cognition, and development. The next international conference of the learning sciences will be held October 23-26, 2002 in Seattle, Washington (USA). A representative, although not exhaustive, list of the kinds of research studies appropriate for the upcoming ICLS 2002 conference includes:

• orchestration and study of complex learning environments
• design and study of new learning technologies or the appropriation and use of technology by a learning community
• theory-building and/or empirical study of fundamental aspects of learning, cognition, and development
• examining the nature of disciplinary practices and knowledge
• documentation of learning as it occurs in various natural contexts including schools, homes & communities, museums, after-school clubs, and professional work settings
• studies of social interaction and collaboration as they relate to learning
• critical examination of research methods and related issues associated with the study of human learning
• research on the processes of organizational change within educational institutions or policy studies as they intersect specifically with issues of learning

CONFERENCE THEME

"Keeping Learning Complex: Fostering Multidisciplinary Research Efforts"

Human learning is too complex a phenomena to be the sole province of any one discipline. At ICLS 2002 we will seek to further explore the generative possibilities of the learning sciences by bringing together different disciplinary perspectives on learning. We will focus on the promises and challenges of conducting inter/multi-disciplinary research on learning. Submissions are invited from studies of learning in schools, workplaces, networked environments like the Web, museums, after-school clubs, and homes. We are especially interested in research with a dual focus on the nature, processes, or practices of learning, cognition, or development on the one hand and on insights for design and education that can be gained from this research on the other.