Design Research & Resources Contact Member Login 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. Read more at ifl.lrdc.pitt.edu