The Interdisciplinarity of the Learning Sciences

The LS can often be seen to be an insular community that recognizes only one small set of perspectives (cognitive or sociocultural) and interested in only one set of ideas (Mathematics, Science, and Technology). Yet those with long histories in the field would fundamentally deny the accuracy of that claim. Indeed, some of the most foundational pieces in the field focus well beyond those theoretical perspectives and that disciplinary landscape. Thus, in this conference our goal is to integrate and include work that takes questions of learning, culture, and context as a central enterprise, with the goal of intentionally reaching out to communities and fields that aren’t always represented at our conference. In particular, in designing the conference program, we have sought to reach out to scholars who have not previously held leadership positions in the ISLS, whose research draws on diverse theoretical frameworks; and whose disciplinary focus broadens beyond Mathematics and Science.