The Institute for Learning (IFL) is an outreach of the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC). Comprised of scholar practitioners, the IFL helps educators bring what research tells us about teaching and learning into classrooms to help students grow their intelligence and reach the high standards demanded by today’s colleges and workforce. We believe—and research confirms—that virtually all students are capable of high achievement, if they work hard at the right kinds of learning tasks.
To do this, the IFL:
To do this, the IFL:
- serves as a professional development leader. We design instructional materials, tools, strategies, formative assessments, and other resources to enhance instructional effectiveness in K-12 classrooms.
- provides educational services. We offer customized preparation and consulting designed to meet districts where they are in the school reform process. Along with our in-district work, we regularly convene superintendents, other central office administrators, and principals from our partner districts to share their experiences and best practices.
- operates as a think tank. We bring to educators the best current knowledge and research about learning processes and principles of instruction.
- offers research-based solutions to the challenges facing public education. Our work has been and continues to be evaluated by independent researchers and organizations, including the Institute of Education Sciences, RAND Corporation, and MDRC, among others.