The Institute for Learning

Welcome to the Institute for Learning

The Institute for Learning (IFL) focuses on what it takes for all students in public school districts to become enthusiastic, effective, and independent learners as well as how educators can inspire, foster, and sustain high levels of achievement in their students.

Research in education demonstrates that, by working hard, virtually all students are capable of high achievement. These findings have caused educators to recognize the primacy of effort, rather than following ingrained assumptions about innate aptitude. Effort-based education research has started to demonstrate that properly focused student efforts not only yield high achievement for all students, but can actually create ability. People can become smart by working hard at the right kinds of learning tasks.

Since 1995, the IFL has been translating effort-based education research findings into practical actions that schools and districts can implement to help close the learning gap and promote high student achievement. Acting as a bridge between the domains of research and practice, the IFL brings educators the best of current knowledge, research, tools and models related to learning processes and principles of instruction, effective school leadership, and district design for reform.