1. 1 Agenda Wednesday, July 2, 2003 NSF Science of Learning Center (SLC) Opportunity 8:00AMGathering (Coffee and bagels) 8:10Updates, D&C and more…(Dov Almog) 8:30Focused Group Activity(Tim Wells) 8:40RASLC(Mark Bocko) 8:50White Paper(Mark/Frank/Tim) 9:30Next Steps(Frank Wolfs) 9:55Next Meeting Time & Place 10:00Adjourn

2. 2 Rochester Area Science of Learning Center NSF Science of Learning Centers (SLC) July 2, 2003

3. 3 Testing Standards put to a test Heather Hare staff Writer Jay Capers staff Photographer Sophomores at Fairport High School, design signs for last week’s protest against state-mandated exam for Math A and Physics. The math test was later voided by the state. D&C, June 29, 2003

4. 4 And the theme is…..

5. 5 SLC focus group activity Attempt to identify a center theme that is sufficiently focused (to interest the NSF) yet encompasses the strengths of all the constituents. Propose a structure that may then be filled out by the center constituents. We are not excluding anyone - but it’s your job to tell us where/how you fit, or how the structure may be modified to better represent our strengths.

6. 6 RASLC What is the problem? The RASLC constituency is a large body of scientists, technologists, professionals and educators serving learners at all life-stages and from a broad range of social/economic backgrounds. Some members of the group conduct research on the scientific bases of learning, others are developing a broad array of learning strategies based on experience and intuition. We need to bring these two groups together to understand why some learning strategies work and others do not. What are the factors responsible for success? Then we may conceive and develop new, more effective educational strategies, based on well-understood science.

7. 7 RASLC What outcome do we hope to achieve? Influence the paths of scientific inquiry into learning, learning assistance strategies, and technology to create new approaches for learning that effectively meet the needs of the 21st century learner. Education RASLC Technology Science Distance Re-education Intermodal Creativity Move in new directions that would not have been possible (or even conceivable) without people working together.

8. 8 RASLC Themes Understanding what constitutes effective learning. Utilize vast RASLC “laboratory”. All projects are highly interdisciplinary. Learning relationships to business and economic development. Serves business Is business Project serves community....

9. 9 RASLC Focus Areas Effective use of technology in learning. Re-educating the sophisticated learner for a changing work place. Group/social interactions in learning. Local and distance Intermodal learning. Experiential learning. Emotional aspects of learning. Learning Assessment Can inventiveness be learned? Neural bases of learning Health/Well-being aspects of learning Can inventiveness be learned?...

10. 10 RASLC Scientific & Technical Core Social Sciences Motivation and emotion Socio-cultural influences Organizational understanding... Natural Sciences Neurophysiological bases Cognition... Information Sciences Computer based tutoring systems Internet/distance learning Human computer interaction...

11. 11 What are the RASLC trademarks? Every project will be interdisciplinary Not just an umbrella grant Every project will be experimental Treat constituency as a laboratory Implementation and outreach are the same

12. 12 The Rochester Area Science of Learning Center (RASLC) White Paper The Rochester Area Science of Learning Center (RASLC) will bring together scientists, educators, professionals and technologists to explore motivational, social, cultural, technical and psychological aspects of learning across the human lifespan. The center will span several institutions in the Rochester, NY area representing learning environments that serve a broad range of learner life-stages, socio-economic circumstances, and levels of technology implementation. The basic questions that will be addressed by the center are: “What constitutes effective learning?, What are the factors that contribute to effective learning?, and How may these factors best be captured in educational systems evolving to meet the needs of the rapidly changing 21st century workplace and increasingly formed by technology? The work of the center will be conducted throughout a broad spectrum of educational settings represented by the center constituents. Interdisciplinary teams of scientists, educators and technologists will experimentally explore the project’s fundamental questions and put the Center’s research results to the test - and to work - throughout the extensive RASLC “laboratory”.

13. 13 RASLC White Paper (Cont’) Several rapidly flowing streams of change including the socio-cultural context of education, the demands of a rapidly changing work place, insights into the neural and psychological bases of learning, and technological innovation converge in the learning environment. The Center will bring together scientists and other professionals and enable them to collaborate in ways that will steer the paths of progress in their respective fields in new directions that would have been unimaginable were they to continue to work in isolation. The Center founders firmly believe that answers to many of the most important questions, such as those of the science of learning, will be found through interdisciplinary approaches and the Center will be structured to enable and encourage truly interdisciplinary research.

14. 14 RASLC White Paper (Cont’) To achieve this goal the RASLC will be modeled after two very successful Centers already in Rochester, the New York State Center for Electronic Imaging Systems (CEIS) and the New York State Microelectronics Design Center. These centers serve to bring together more than XX researchers from YY NYS Universities and businesses to enable progress on technology in their thematic areas. So far, more than $170 million in economic impact has been realized from the work supported by these centers. In the RASLC we will adopt a similar approach in which interdisciplinary research teams will be brought together through Center activities and funded through Center requests for proposals. However, in the RASLC, the “business” will be education. The key requirements of Center funded activities will be first, that the activity have a sound scientific/intellectual basis, and second, that the activity must have central to it a practical component of implementation and testing of the project results in some part of the vast RASLC laboratory.

15. 15 RASLC White Paper (Cont’) The Rochester region is well suited as a location for such a center due to its high concentration of diverse academic institutions and outreach programs. Combined, the educational institutions of the Rochester area are the N’th largest employer serving a learning community of more than XX individuals. The founders of this center are SUNY Brockport, Monroe Community College, Nazareth College, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the University of Rochester. This group of academic institutions is joined by representatives from WXXI (the local public broadcasting company) and the Strong Museum to explore other aspects of learning not covered by programs and activities at the academic institutions. Collectively, the center founders represent a broad base of scientists already engaged in many aspects of the Science of Learning, and collectively our existing programs reach a broad range of learner life-stages, social/cultural/economic/health/technical circumstances in various learning contexts.

16. 16 RASLC White Paper (Cont’) Although we are confident that all of the components for a successful and productive center now exist, ranging from basic science to outreach, at this time we are pursuing a National Science Foundation Science of Learning Center catalyst project. In the catalyst phase of our project we will establish the structure of the Center, fund a number of pilot projects and conduct seminar series and symposia to build the center constituency and further refine the research focal points for the center. We anticipate that we will be poised to submit a highly competitive proposal for a full center within a 12-18 month time frame.

17. 17 Next Steps 1.From which institution will the proposal originate? 2.Need input from constituents (2 pages) 1.Where do you fit? 2.What are you doing now? 3.What would you like to do in a pilot project? 4.What long term goals do you have? (your vision) 5.With whom would you like to work? (start building teams) 3.Write and submit the proposal

18. 18 Next Meeting Time and Place Where: Farash Auditorium UR Eastman Dental Center When:Wednesday, July 9 th Time:8-10 AM