FORM 7230 Introduction to Learning Sciences

This course introduces the content and skills needed to thrive as systematic designers of learningexperiences, environments, and technologies. It focuses on four themes: (i) how people learn cognitive processes involved in learning and social, cultural, physical, affective, and otherprocesses that work alongside those to influence what is learned; (ii) how to foster or promotelearning -- what we know about the help learners need to engage and participate at their best andultimately to become more knowledgeable and capable; (iii) designing for learners andanalyzing those designs -- how to apply what you are learning to the design and analysis oflearning experiences, environments, and technologies; and (iv) integrating learning technologiesto provide support for learning -- imagining the roles they might play and the functions they needto have to play those roles well. Examples come from across disciplines, developmental stages oflife, a variety of learning venues. It sets students up to know what they need to learn more deeplyto become masterful designers of learning experiences.

Course overview

Department
Formative Education
School
Lynch
Credits
3
Level
Graduate
Offered
Annually

Course evaluations

Response-weighted averages from Boston College’s official course evaluations (Avalanche/Blue).

Course rating
2.00 / 5 · Fair
7 responses
Instructor rating
1.83 / 5 · Fair
7 responses
Terms evaluated
1
Most recent: Fall 2025

Scales: overall ratings run from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent); agreement questions from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree); weekly effort from 1 (up to 1 hour) to 5 (10 or more hours).

Evaluations by term and instructor
TermInstructorCourse overallInstructor overallWell organizedClear learning objectivesIntellectually challengingHelpful assignmentsApplicable beyond courseAttendance necessaryWeekly effortResponses
Fall 2025Cathy Lachapelle2.01.81.92.73.73.14.13.07–9 hrs/week7 of 7

Data freshness

Course and evaluation data last updated 2026-10-09. Source details and limitations are documented in Data Sources and Methodology.

Instructors

Sections

  • Section 01
    Fall 2026 · Jessica Blake-West · Stokes Hall 131N Th 04:30PM-06:50PM · Offered