Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (LIFE) Center an NSF Science of Learning Center

Meltzoff, A. N. (2007, October). The roots of social cognition. Invited address at the 35^th Minnesota Symposium on Child Development, Minneapolis, MN.

Researcher: Patricia Kuhl

The “New Horizons in Science” meeting, held annually since 1963, brings distinguished scientists from many disciplines together with journalists and science writers for an intensive four-day exploration of seminal developments in science, medicine and technology that are likely to make news in the coming months. The aim is both to educate reporters and to give them background for stories they might be covering in the future.

Dr. Patricia Kuhl was invited to share new developments in the field of developmental cognitive neuroscience. Dr. Kuhl presented studies on language learning, bilingualism, and brain measures of the future that will have implications for policy and our nation’s schools and workplaces.

Heather Toomey Zimmerman and Suzanne Reeve, students working with LIFE Informal Lead Philip Bell, participated in a poster session at the annual meeting of the Association of Science-Technology Centers, held from Oct. 13-16 in Los Angeles, CA. The poster session was organized by Molly Reisman of the Center for Informal Learning and Schools (CILS), and was titled “What Research Can Teach Us About Science Learning.” The poster by Zimmerman, Reeve, and Bell shared findings from their research on family discourse and learning during science center visits, and how families construct extended explanations around biological phenomena.

Researchers: Patricia Kuhl, Andrew N. Meltzoff

Kuhl and Meltzoff gave a workshop on the science of learning for ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) members. The Seattle ARCS is one of twelve chapters of the ARCS Foundation, a women’s organization formed in 1958 to advance science in the U.S. ARCS members wanted to learn more about research in early learning in order to improve their policies and practices in supporting student learning in higher education institutions.

Philip Bell gave the keynote address for the SOAR with Science Back to School Mini Conference, sponsored by School’s Out Washington, on October 4, 2007. SOAR with Science sees after-school science programs as a way to equalize access to science among underrepresented groups of students. Bell discussed the consensus report “Learning in and out of School in Diverse Environments: Life-Long, Life-Wide, Life-Deep” that was a product of the diversity panel convened by LIFE and the Center for Multicultural Education at the University of Washington. He also discussed findings from his group’s ethnographic study documenting children’s in and out of school learning about science and technology.

Researcher: Andrew N. Meltzoff

Andrew Meltzoff gave a workshop on the science of learning for Montessori School Teachers of Connecticut hosted by the Cobb School. The Cobb School is an innovative elementary school that is an Association Montessori International (AMI) approved school. Over 180 educational leaders from Cobb as well as other elementary, middle, and high schools in the region also attended.