Our Mission

The Institute for Learning Innovation works with individuals, organizations, and communities to develop and support lifelong, free-choice learning as a mechanism for helping solve the major challenges facing humanity.

Our Vision

Learning is powerful and can change the world.

We envision a future that holds widespread appreciation for learning ecosystems that makes lifelong, free-choice learning possible and for the importance of investing in the research, development, and training that ensures that these systems are as effective and accessible as possible.

Our Values

Lifelong Learning

We stay curious and keep growing. At ILI, our work leads to connection, reflection, and learning throughout life — contributing to thriving communities and rich cultural and learning ecosystems.

Collaboration

We build community and connection. At ILI, collaboration with clients and within our team is what makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Ideas in Action

We connect knowledge with practice. At ILI, we combine insights from lived experience and research evidence to identify creative solutions in pursuit of a more just future for all.

Our History

What is Free-choice Learning?

“Free-choice learning” is a term we have long used to describe learning: the everyday, self-directed ways people explore their interests and gain knowledge at any age, wherever they are. Today, our work draws more broadly on the science of learning to support organizations to build effective learning experiences and systems that accelerate impact.

Our Focus Areas

Putting knowledge into practice.

Our decades of experience result in practical insights and strategies to put the science of learning into practice in real-world situations.

How Learning Happens

Learning about learning is at the heart of our approach. We aim to decouple the automatic association of learning with classrooms and expand notions of when, where, how, and with whom learning happens most effectively.

Family Learning

Families play a critical role in learning across the lifespan. We seek to understand and amplify how family learning supports young people, adults, and communities, while partnering with organizations that serve families to improve their outreach, program strategy, and impact.

Learning Ecosystems

Thriving learning ecosystems depend on strong partnerships and healthy connections among organizations. We seek to advance the conditions that support these ecosystems, including strengthening ties between cultural institutions and other formal and informal learning organizations.

Children, Youth, and Young Adults

Children, youth, and young adults learn best when programs and practices are intentionally designed for their developmental stages. We support museums and other informal learning organizations in creating more effective programs and building organizational capacity to engage learners at every stage.