ABSTRACT
The interdisciplinary field of learning sciences aims to advance theory, research, and practice related to human learning, learning environments, and learning support systems (e.g. curricula, instructional methods, educational policy, etc.) in ways that are directly relevant to improving real-world learning in a variety of educational contexts, including classrooms. Researchers in this new field experience a balance of challenges and rewards from their interdisciplinary collaborations, but they do not often experience the same level of reciprocity in their researcher–practitioner partnerships, which means that the challenges of collaboration with educators often outweigh the benefits. Practitioners may be similarly wary of research involvement, particularly when the school is simply viewed as the research site and not as a full partner in the investigation.
