H128: Curiosity in Learning and Development

*Lottery-Based Enrollment* Why are human’s the only agents in the known universe that wonder “why”, and where does this epistemic curiosity come from? Parents, educators, and policy makers agree that we want to raise a generation of learners who are curious and creative thinkers. Our psychological theories suggest that curiosity is a critical component of learning. But to foster it, we must understand how it functions in the developing mind.

In this course, students will learn about the current cutting-edge science of curiosity from a cognitive science perspective. In addition to engaging in course discussions of the scientific literature, students will apply this knowledge in group assignments that will focus on how curiosity may be studied in the lab and will brainstorm on how it can be deployed in the classroom. As part of these assignments, students will build skills in talking about curiosity – whether it be to a scientific research funder, school administrator, or policy maker. A final group project will allow students to hone the knowledge and skills gained in the course by receiving feedback from a group of expert panelists.

No prerequisites for HGSE Masters students. Strongly recommended for students in LDIT and HDE programs. Pending space, this course will be open with instructor permission to advanced education and psychology undergraduates with a strong interest in the cognitive science of learning. Enrollment will be limited to 30 students.