Column One: Research

Significant improvements in education will occur only when the education system is redesigned to place the primary focus on the learner, a draft document from the American Psychological Association states.

The document outlines 12 principles, gleaned from psychological research, that are intended to serve as guidelines for reform. These include the cognitive, affective, developmental, and social factors of learning. The two final principles focus on differences among individuals.

The draft document also outlines the implications of the principles for educational practice, including changes in instruction, curriculum,...