haridusteadus

Haridusteadus, or education science, is the systematic study of education and learning. It seeks to understand how people acquire knowledge, skills, and dispositions; how teaching and curricula are designed; how assessment and feedback influence learning; and how schools, families, communities, and digital platforms shape educational outcomes. It is an interdisciplinary field that draws on psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, and information technology to analyze learning processes, instructional practices, and policy environments.

The field is organized into subfields such as educational psychology, curriculum and instruction, assessment and measurement, school leadership and policy, comparative and international education, educational technology, and higher education studies. Researchers employ a range of methods, including quantitative experiments and surveys, qualitative case studies and ethnographies, and design-based research and meta-analyses. The emphasis is both explanatory—why and how learning occurs—and applicative—how to improve teaching, assessment, and systems.

Historically, haridusteadus emerged alongside professional teacher education in the 20th century and has become increasingly international and collaborative. In Estonia, as in many countries, education science informs teacher preparation, curriculum development, educational policy, and the design of digital learning environments. The field remains dynamic as it engages with debates on equity and inclusion, lifelong learning, and the use of technology to support learning across diverse contexts.