This book brings together research and theory about New Learning', the term we use for new learning outcomes, new kinds of learning processes and new instructional methods that are both wanted by society and stressed in psychological theory in many countries at present. It describes and illustrates the differences as well as the modern versions of the traditional innovative ideas.

The book you are now reading aims to bring together research and theory on "new learning, "which is te term used to refer to the new learning outcomes, new kinds of learning processes, and new instructional methods both wanted by society and currently stressed in psychological and educational theory. Many people keep asking about new learning. Is it really a new way of learning? Are there really new learning outcomes? Is this current fad really different from the other kinds of learning propagated by such traditional school innovators as Montessori, Dewey, Steiner, or Freinet? Of course, there are some similarities between the attention now being paid to new ways of learning and new learning outcomes and previous efforts. We believe, however, that at least three important differences exist. First, there is much more attention to the role of active, independent, and self-directed learning than before. Many more schools and teachers are involved in such efforts than in the twenties or the sixties, for example. Many governments are stimulating active ways to learn. Employers and employee organizations are for various reasons now in favor of active learning in school and on the job. This is clearly related to increased recognition of the importance of and need for life-long learning and what are now called learning organizations as a result of rapidly changing societies and economies."

In view of the present attempts to broaden the scope of educational research as far as learning is concerned, there has been increased interest in the functional environment of the learner. Since this environment includes psychological, pedagogical, sociological and even cultural-anthropological variables, the term learning environment is more often used. Traditionally this environment has consisted of the teacher and students in a situation similar to the real context, for instance in an apprenticeship. Although the apprenticeship form of learning has almost disappeared in Western educational systems, its characteristics can now be designed within intelligent learning environments that have the computation and storage capacity of modern technological innovations. The different perspectives regarding learning environments have been bundled into this book in an overview of Dutch and German research. These perspectives pertain to various system levels (learning activities, class- room and school) and to various disciplinary views (pedagogical, psychological, sociological).