Powerful learning environments

The design of learning environments has been changing radically in recent years. A learning environment is a virtual or physical room where learning activities take place and which fulfils didactic functions to promote the learning. Learning environments comprise various didactic functions, such as providing information on the objectives and organization of education, presenting learning content, setting assignments and providing theoretical feedback, and providing evaluation instruments. In practice, this usually involves new learning arrangements in primary and secondary education and computer-assisted learning. Central questions include how these are implemented and how they affect the pupils’ learning.

The development of new concepts for learning environments and the way teachers use these are investigated. Pupils’ learning strategies and learning outcomes are suitable points of departure for researching the effectiveness of learning environments. Modern instruction models pay explicit attention to authentic tasks, schematizing complex concepts and supporting pupils’ strategies. In effective learning environments the main elements can be inferred from these models. The instruction models are based on a combination of cognitive learning theories and socio-constructivist learning theories.

 

For more information :
prof.dr. Egbert Harskamp

tel. 050 363 6691