Harnessing Global Science Networks to Accelerate Cultures of Learning
Conserving, restoring, nurturing, and optimizing the most basic ability to learn and thrive, especially for those children exposed to the worst of economic and social circumstances, requires concerted action by a global science of learning network-of-networks.
This project is funded by the National Science Foundation’s Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) program. The goals of AccelNet are to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad to create a “network of networks” that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand research challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts.
Our Cultures of Learning (COL) network-of-networks is dedicated to harnessing global science networks to accelerate cultures of learning. With design and implementation funding from the National Science Foundation AccelNet program, we focus on learning, development, and culture related to global needs. We specialize in global development, learning, education, cross-cultural training, equity, and policy. Through our scalable convergence science methods, we aim to identify the specific needs of local communities and incorporate them into our network's direction.
We are an interdisciplinary network of networks that includes social science researchers, neuroscientists, psychologists, data scientists, engineers, designers, global development practitioners, philanthropists, educators, and policymakers. Our cross-functional teams collaborate scientifically for a shared objective, drawing on the expertise of members from diverse countries, cultures, ethnicities, and demographics worldwide to inform our work and amplify the intellectual capital of local community leadership for global impact. Our network partners include four existing network of networks. The Center for Applied Cognitive Science (CACS) is a center that specializes in applying cognitive science to relevant problems using culturally appropriate measures and approaches. Global Science of Learning Education Network (GSoLEN) is a network of individuals working toward science-based strategies designed to meet the learning needs of the global future and overcome the impact of systemic inequities on learning. Global Communities is a worldwide development network comprised of partners within the public and private sectors focused on saving lives, advancing equity, and securing strong futures for communities worldwide. The Mind Center for Educational Technology (MindCET) is an educational technology and innovation network that connects startups, researchers, educators, learners, the high-tech industry, investors, and policymakers.
We aim to evolve an interdisciplinary network of networks to create a cross-cutting infrastructure to promote learning, cohesion, standards, ethics, sharing, and collaboration. Our network of networks will work to tackle pressing challenges in the science of learning to meet the needs of global education. Our current topical focus is self-regulation, which has far-reaching effects on educational, social, and economic outcomes.
We seek to explore the underlying sources of variation in self-regulation and determine how to intervene in ways sensitive to different contexts and cultures through both practice and policy to promote its development on a global scale. Self-regulation is an individual's ability to control their impulses and redirect their behavior towards a specific goal (Hoffman et al., 2012; Mora & Ozakinci, 2013; Montroy et al., 2016). However, the path of self-regulation development is not linear or universal and varies significantly across cultures, countries, and demographics (Legare, 2019; McClelland & Cameron, 2012; Wanless et al., 2016). Thus, we seek to collaborate with global partners to synthesize knowledge and promote a shared understanding of self-regulation to benefit society.
Develop shared scientific questions and goals
Set principles of community and a culture of respect, sharing, collaboration, and communication
Design and build infrastructure
Organize network members and understand needs
Conduct a large-scale, global study to examine self-regulation in context
Plan for dissemination
Develop training materials and curricula
Global Science of Learning and Education Network (GSoLEN) website →
Collaborators
Advisory Board
Funding
The ‘Harnessing Global Science Networks to Accelerate Cultures of Learning’ project is funded by the National Science Foundation.
Co-funding for this project is provided by the Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence Program in the Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences.