15 Jan 2021
Spotlight

Spotlight on the Science of Learning and Development

We know from the science of learning and development that all young people have the potential to thrive when they have the right contexts, relationships, and experiences. The science of learning and development is a cross-disciplinary body of knowledge that describes how people learn and develop. It also provides many powerful lessons that can transform education systems, advance equity, and help every young person thrive. AIR is at the forefront of elevating the science of learning and development and using it to inform research, policy, and practice, as a member of the Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) Alliance and a coordinating member of the Readiness Projects.

The SoLD Alliance is a partnership of leading education research, practice, and policy organizations that includes AIR, Education Counsel, the Forum for Youth Investment, Learning Policy Institute, Turnaround for Children, and Populace. Using insights from the science of learning and development, the SoLD Alliance serves as a resource to connect and support leaders in research, practice, and policy to transform America’s education systems and achieve equity and excellence.

The Readiness Projects, led by the Forum for Youth Investment, the National Urban League, and AIR, advance work informed by the science of learning and development and grounded in practice, supporting adults in all settings and systems across the diverse youth fields. The Readiness Projects support meetings, projects, and products that focus on equitable learning and development opportunities and build on the strengths of people working at all levels to help children, youth, and young adults thrive.

Related Projects

Project

The Readiness Projects: Leveraging Science to Support the Readiness of Youth, Adults, Systems, and Communities

Emerging findings from neuroscience, psychology, sociology illuminate the optimal human development periods—early childhood and adolescence—when we must act with intention and care. The Readiness Projects will bolster projects that support the readiness of youth, adults, systems, and community leaders by finding ways to test the utility of the learning sciences findings, to inform efforts to improve quality, to increase engagement, and to advance equity.
Project

The Potential of Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) to Transform Education Systems

The Science of Learning and Development (SoLD) initiative began in 2016 with a shared commitment to a better and more equitable education for each and every child—and a hypothesis that a synthesis of the knowledge from multiple disciplines could provide critical insights and solutions to persistent and growing inequity and underperformance in the U.S. education system. An overarching goal of all SoLD partnerships, projects, and practices is to support the effective learning, educational attainment, and positive development of all children.

Related Work

14 Oct 2019
Brief

The Science of Learning and Development in Afterschool Systems and Settings

The SoLD Alliance is a collaborative effort to combine findings from diverse areas of research, from neuroscience to human development, into an integrated science of learning and development. It includes experts from AIR, EducationCounsel, the Forum for Youth Investment, Learning Policy Institute, Populace, and Turnaround for Children.
Topic: 
Education, Afterschool and Expanded Learning, Equity in Education, High School Improvement, School Climate and Safety, Social and Emotional Learning, Youth Development
1 Jan 2017
Report

Science of Learning and Development: A Synthesis

Human development can be influenced by a myriad of factors that include individual, biological, contextual, cultural, and historical factors. By synthesizing research across multiple disciples, it is possible to develop new approaches aimed at solving chronic learning and social problems experienced by children and youth.
Topic: 
Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Health
2 Nov 2020
Q & A

A Quick Word with Jill Young on the Readiness Projects

The Readiness Projects—a partnership of the Forum for Youth Investment, the National Urban League, and AIR—advances work informed by science and grounded in practice. In this Q&A, Jill Young, senior researcher at AIR, discusses how the Readiness Projects can support equitable opportunities for thriving youth.
Topic: 
Education, Early Childhood and Child Development, Equity in Education, Youth Development, Youth-Serving Systems
2 Apr 2020
Podcast

AIR Informs Episode #3: Creating a Safe, Supportive Learning Environment at Home

In this episode of AIR Informs, David Osher, an AIR vice president and Institute Fellow, explains the science of learning and development, as well as how parents can create a safe, supportive learning environment at home while their children are away from school during the coronavirus pandemic.
Topic: 
Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Health
24 Jan 2018
Journal Article

Drivers of Human Development: How Relationships and Context Shape Learning and Development

This article uses a relational developmental systems framework, known as Development Systems Theories to synthesize knowledge on the role of relationships and key micro and macro contexts in supporting—or undermining—the development of children and youth. By using a variety of correlational, longitudinal, and causal studies; multiple sources were triangulated to reach the conclusions drawn.
Topic: 
Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Health
24 Jan 2018
Journal Article

Malleability, Plasticity, and Individuality: How Children Learn and Develop in Context

Recent decades have witnessed an explosion of knowledge about how children develop into whole individuals, how they become learners, and how contextual factors nourish or hinder their development. This article shows how a developmental system theories approach provides a framework for viewing the effects of multiple factors within micro- and macro-environments on the shaping of how children learn, change, and grow throughout their development.
Topic: 
Education, Social and Emotional Learning, Health
1 Oct 2020
Blog Post

Bread and Roses Too

COVID-19 has amplified inequities and mental health needs, with disproportionate effects on marginalized people and communities. All humans deserve to thrive—socially, emotionally, cognitively, physically, economically, and spiritually. In this blog post, David Osher and Jill Young propose a more robust conceptualization of equity—one that incorporates thriving and addresses human learning and development across all life spaces and over the life course.
Topic: 
Education, Equity in Education, Social and Emotional Learning

Further Reading