Elements of a Science of E-learning

A science of e-learning involves the scientific investigation of how people learn in electronic learning environments. Three elements of a science of e-learning are: a) evidence—a base of replicated findings from rigorous and appropriate research studies; b) theory—a research-based theory of how people learn in electronic learning environments, which yields testable predictions; and c) applications—theory-based principles for how to design electronic learning environments, which themselves can be tested in research studies. This article provides examples of these three elements from a program of research on multimedia learning. A science of e-learning involves the scientific investigation of how people learn in electronic learning environments. Three elements of a science of e-learning are: a) evidence—a base of replicated findings from rigorous and appropriate research studies; b) theory—a research-based theory of how people learn in electronic learning environments, which yields testable predictions; and c) applications— theory-based principles for how to design electronic learning environments, which themselves can be tested in research studies. In this article, I offer a rationale for a science of e-learning and then provide examples of the three elements— evidence, theory, and applications—from our program of research on multimedia learning (Mayer, 2001, 2002).