Learning in Interaction

Programme leader: prof.dr. M. Brekelmans

The aim of the reserach programme Learning in Interaction is to provide the theoretical and methodological basis for the analysis of (meta)cognitive and social-emotional development of learners through interaction processes. The programme includes the primary process of all types of educational contexts (primary, secondary, higher, vocational, special, work) in different settings (e.g. Computer Supported Collaborative Learning, face-to-face, class, groups, dyads).

The programme takes interaction and the individual and social regulation of interaction in learning processes as a primary focus. The program distinguishes four types of interaction: (1) between teachers and learners (including all forms of teaching), (2) between learners (including peer teaching and peer learning, collaborative learning in teams, and communities of learning and practice), (3) of a learner with oneself, and (4) between learners and learning materials (including various types of media). In the first two types of interaction communication takes place through verbal and non-verbal external dialogues. The third type communication, on both individual cognitive and meta cognitive level, refers to internal dialogues. By studying dialogues from different complementary theoretical perspectives (e.g., cognitive and social psychological theories) the program aims to reinforce mutual contributions from different theoretical perspectives.