How to Navigate

The Knowledge Web is a densely interlinked network of concept pages and video minicases, which can be access through KW Theories and KW Cases. Each concept page gives you a summary of the latest scientific work on that particular issue, a list of further resources, and is linked to other related concepts you are encouraged to explore. Each video case gives you the video broken up into smaller video segments (minicases), a transcript of the video, and links to additional materials relevant to understanding the video case (inquiry materials).

The Knowledge Web is designed following the principles of cognitive flexibility theory (CFT), which you can read more about in the Knowledge Web itself. According to the theory, cognitive flexibility (the ability to apply learned knowledge in different situations) is best facilitated by instruction that is case-based, in which knowledge in the domain is viewed from different perspectives and represented in lots of different contexts, and in which connections are made across many cases.

Accordingly, the Knowledge Web supplies a collection of cases (KW Cases) linked to multiple learning science concepts (KW Theories) that can be accessed in a variety of ways. Following the links through both parts of the Knowledge Web is an excellent way to meet your core learning objective, to learn the content of the Learning Sciences in a real-world context.

Navigating the Knowledge Web

There are two main options for entering the Knowledge Web:

1. If you want view video cases of real teaching, and then explore the research on learning science concepts as they pertain to the videos, check out the KW Cases section and select links under "Related Concepts."
2. If you want to learn about practical cognitive science concepts first, and then from there explore the video clips as they illustrate the concepts, check out the KW Theories section and select links under "Related Video Clips."

Navigating the KW Theories section

The tab links above the main text content are organized by the linear metaphor of three concept families, each of which has a set of primary sub concepts. These sub concepts appear as links directly below the three concept family tab links.

The right hand navigation bar links are also organized by the metaphor of families, but in a nonlinear fashion. Parent concepts are broader or more general than the child concepts. The child concepts can also be parts of a whole (i.e. the parent concept). However the rules differ from human families in that a child concept can have more than two parent concepts, and the relationships between the concepts can change based on the context.

If you are looking for a page on a specific topic within the KW Theories section, then use the Search or the Sitemap tools in the top right corner of each page.