Where the Science of Learning Meets Education Policy

Abstract

New movements in global education policy signal a reassessment among policymakers, educators, and advocates regarding the questions “What is education ultimately for?” and “How do we make learning in the classroom more relevant to the demands of the real world?” The Active Playful Learning framework answers these questions through a three-part equation using culturally responsive instruction and the science of learning to support how students learn and the skills students need to learn to thrive. The framework’s adaptable pedagogical approach is scalable through state and national policymaking. Offering an overview of the science of learning, the chapter (a) details how the Active Playful Learning framework embodies core principles from the science, and (b) illustrates how this model can be applied to policy and practice, from preservice teacher education to classrooms across the country.

Keywords: science of learning; Active Playful Learning; 21st-century skills; assessment; professional development