Laboratory learning: Industry and university research as site for situated and distributed cognition

In this symposium we present findings from qualitative studies of both university and industrial research laboratories, and their partnerships, to illuminate how learning takes place in these settings. Research laboratories are unique in providing a window on learning of content as well as learning to participate. Both kinds of learning are central to the functioning of the laboratory as an organization and to the growth of individual researchers within the laboratory. We highlight common themes across the different settings and showcase some of the differences that lead to different outcomes. We discuss institutional level as well as micro-interactional level issues related to learning. The three studies that make up this session examine biomedical engineering, interactive media research, and applied computer science.