With the advent of non-invasive imaging technologies such as the PET scan and MRI, neuroscience researchers are actually able to directly observe the process of learning. Through these observations they are able to see that practice increases learning and that learning changes the physical structure of the brain. With changes in structure, the brain reorganizes itself. Many of the new educational technologies have features consistent with basic principles of learning. The interactive feature helps students learn by doing, receiving feedback, and refining their understanding.
Technologies help people visualize concepts that are difficult to grasp.
And the most obvious, technologies provide access to a universe of information that includes digital libraries, real-world data, and a panoply of people for both information and feedback. By focusing research and education on cognition, we will advance our capability in everything from teaching children how to read to building human-like computers and robots. But, fundamentally we will help empower people and thus empower the nation, all of which can lead to wealth creation, and social progress currently unimaginable. Actually, Nobel Laureate Herb Simon said it much better than I could have. That tells us quite succinctly about your mission and NSF's in the journey to understand learning.