Learning, Technology and Learning Sciences

I think learning covers a wide range of activities and behavior. It can be as simple as memorizing or acquiring knowledge or as complex as gaining a greater understanding and empathy for another person or situation. An example of this is when I was a teenager, my sister and I liked to cook for fun. We usually made cakes and desserts or whatever we felt like making. We thought we know how to cook. When you get married and have a household to be responsible for, you learn what cooking really is. It's not just about making desserts and the fun stuff, it's about having good meals every day. In addition, it's a good thing if they are nutritious!

Technology is any tool that is used by someone to accomplish something. When information was read on scrolls, and the book was introduced, it was new technology. (There's a funny video about that on You Tube called "Ansgarr") Even tools that have been around for a long time that are used in a new way can be technology. Physical tools are not the only type of tools. Knowledge is a tool. Using information that we learn in order to solve a problem or improve a situation can be termed technology.

Learning Sciences refers to the field of study devoted to the understanding and improvement of learning as well as using scientific information to design learning technology, curriculum and environments. Because learning is multi-faceted, several other sciences contribute to this field. I view learning sciences as having a broad range of subjects. It includes the study of people and the different ways they learn and are motivated on one end of the spectrum to the use of technology and various methods of delivery on the other.