Design of Learning Environments

Catalog description

This course is a survey of the kinds of theories, methods, design considerations, and applications through which educational researchers understand and design environments to improve learning. The course features the most recent trends in learning primarily through educational technologies. It includes perspectives that consider, who is learning, how it is being learned, what design characteristics are needed to ensure learning takes place in different learning environments, and societal and technological influences on learning. Four main learning goals underpin the course content: 1) Understanding learning needs of youth and adults as they interact in school and in society; 2) Investigating the main learning theories and methods influencing the field and how they are instantiated in practice; 3) Examining and reflecting on how technologically designed learning environments address important learning challenges; and 4) Evaluating how these learning environments and applications have helped learning, how they have not, and how they can be improved. Prerequisite: EDUC 616 or learning theories is preferred and will be reviewed at registration.