Learning Engineering Toolkit

Introduction

What is learning engineering?

by Jim Goodell

Many people are uncomfortable when the words learning and engineering are used together. Online discussion threads on the topic of learning engineering prompted strong reactions. One comment compared learning to the weather—a complex outcome of social, cultural, and economic conditions that cannot be engineered (or engineered for). Someone else correctly pointed out that learning is what a learner does, not something done to the learner.

Learning is a human process, and “engineering” sounds too mechanical or industrial. The “art” of teaching sounds more natural. When talking about creating solutions for learning, isn’t “design” a better term? The words learning engineering justifiably ...