How People Learn: Brain, Mind ... - DePauw University

1 Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council: Download hundreds of free books in PDF Read thousands of books online for free Explore our innovative research tools try the Research Dashboard now! Sign up to be notified when new books are published Purchase printed books and selected PDF files Thank you for downloading this PDF. If you have comments, questions or just want more information about the books published by the National Academies Press, you may contact our customer service department toll-free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or send an email to This book plus thousands more are available at Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF File are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences.

2 Distribution, posting, or copying is strictly prohibited without written permission of the National Academies Press. Request reprint permission for this book. ISBN: 0-309-50145-8, 385 pages, 7 x 10, (2000)This PDF is available from the National Academies Press at: ship printed books within 1 business day; personal PDFs are available People Learn: Brain, Mind, Experience, and School: Expanded Edition Committee on Developments in the Science of Learning with additional material from the Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice, National Research Council Copyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights on Developments in the Science of LearningJohn D. Bransford, Ann L. Brown, and Rodney R. Cocking, editorswith additional material from theCommittee on Learning Research and Educational PracticeM. Suzanne Donovan, John D. Bransford, and James W. Pellegrino, editorsCommission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and EducationNational Research CouncilNATIONAL ACADEMY PRESSW ashington, People LearnBrain, Mind, Experience, and SchoolExpanded EditionCopyright National Academy of Sciences.

3 All rights ACADEMY PRESS 2101 Constitution Avenue Washington, 20418 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Govern-ing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from thecouncils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering,and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for thereport were chosen for their special competences and with regard for study was supported by Grant No. R117U40001-94A between the National Acad-emy of Sciences and the department of Education. Any opinions, findings,conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of theauthor(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agenciesthat provided support for this of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataHow People learn : brain, mind, experience, and school / John.

4 [et al.], editors ; Committee on Developments in theScience of Learning and Committee on Learning Research and EducationalPractice, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education,National Research Council. Expanded bibliographical references and 0-309-07036-8 (pbk.)1. Learning, psychology of. 2. Learning Social aspects. , John. II. National Research Council ( ). Committee onDevelopments in the Science of Learning. III. National Research Council( ). Committee on Learning Research and Educational Practice..H672 23 dc21 00-010144 Additional copies of this report are available from:National Academy Press2101 Constitution Avenue, , 20418 Call 800-624-6242 or 202-334-3313 (in the Washington Metropolitan Area).This volume is also available on line at in the United States of AmericaCopyright 2000 by the National Academy of Sciences.

5 All rights National Academy of Sciences. All rights National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating societyof distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicatedto the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academyhas a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific andtechnical matters. Dr. Bruce M. Alberts is president of the National Academy National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charterof the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engi-neers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members,sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising thefederal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineer-ing programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research,and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers.

6 Dr. William A. Wulf is presi-dent of the National Academy of Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy ofSciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in theexamination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Instituteacts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its con-gressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its owninitiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Kenneth is president of the Institute of National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sci-ences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with theAcademy s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, theCouncil has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy ofSciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the gov-ernment, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities.

7 The Council isadministered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Bruce and Dr. William A. Wulf are chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of theNational Research Academy of SciencesNational Academy of EngineeringInstitute of MedicineNational Research CouncilCopyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights Memory ofAnn L. Brown(1943-1999)Scholar and ScientistChampion of Children and Those Who Teach ThemWhose Vision It Was toBring Learning Researchinto the ClassroomCopyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights ON DEVELOPMENTS IN THESCIENCE OF LEARNINGJOHN D. BRANSFORD (Cochair), Learning Technology Center, VanderbiltUniversityANN L. BROWN (Cochair), Graduate School of Education, University ofCalifornia, BerkeleyJOHN R. ANDERSON, department of psychology , Carnegie Mellon UniversityROCHEL GELMAN, department of psychology , University of California, LosAngelesROBERT GLASER, Learning Research and Development Center, University ofPittsburghWILLIAM T.

8 GREENOUGH, department of psychology and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, UrbanaGLORIA LADSON-BILLINGS, department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Wisconsin, MadisonBARBARA M. MEANS, Education and Health Division, SRI International, MenloPark, CaliforniaJOS P. MESTRE, department of Physics and Astronomy, University ofMassachusetts, AmherstLINDA NATHAN, Boston Arts Academy, Boston, MassachusettsROY D. PEA, Center for Technology in Learning, SRI International, Menlo Park,CaliforniaPENELOPE L. PETERSON, School of Education and Social Policy, NorthwesternUniversityBARBARA ROGOFF, department of psychology , University of California, SantaCruzTHOMAS A. ROMBERG, National Center for Research in Mathematical SciencesEducation, University of Wisconsin, MadisonSAMUEL S. WINEBURG, College of Education, University of Washington,SeattleRODNEY R. COCKING, Study DirectorM. JANE PHILLIPS, Senior Project AssistantCopyright National Academy of Sciences.

9 All rights ON LEARNING RESEARCH ANDEDUCATIONAL PRACTICEJOHN D. BRANSFORD (Cochair), Peabody College of Education and HumanDevelopment, Vanderbilt UniversityJAMES W. PELLEGRINO (Cochair), Peabody College of Education and HumanDevelopment, Vanderbilt UniversityDAVID BERLINER, department of Education, Arizona State University , TempeMYRNA S. COONEY, Taft Middle School, Cedar Rapids, IAARTHUR EISENKRAFT, Bedford Public Schools, Bedford, NYHERBERT P. GINSBURG, department of Human Development, TeachersCollege, Columbia UniversityPAUL D. GOREN, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, ChicagoJOS P. MESTRE, department of Physics and Astronomy, University ofMassachusetts, AmherstANNEMARIE S. PALINCSAR, School of Education, University of Michigan,Ann ArborROY PEA, SRI International, Menlo Park, CAM. SUZANNE DONOVAN, Study DirectorWENDELL GRANT, Senior Project AssistantCopyright National Academy of Sciences. All rights expanded edition of How People Learn is the result of the work oftwo committees of the Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences andEducation of the National Research Council (NRC).

10 The original volume,published in April 1999, was the product of a 2-year study conducted by theCommittee on Developments in the Science of Learning. Following its pub-lication, a second NRC committee, the Committee on Learning Research andEducational Practice, was formed to carry that volume an essential step fur-ther by exploring the critical issue of how better to link the findings ofresearch on the science of learning to actual practice in the classroom. Theresults of that effort were captured in How People Learn: Bridging Researchand Practice, published in June 1999. The present volume draws on thatreport to expand on the findings, conclusions, and research agenda pre-sented in the original the course of these efforts, a key contributor and one of the mosteloquent voices on the importance of applying the science of learning toclassroom practice was lost. The educational community mourns the deathof Ann L.