Learning: current knowledge and the future.

Some empirically based statements about learning are presented. The basic conclusion is that most of that knowledge will still be valid in the future and that some is dependent on various cultural factors that need to be further explored. Two research areas that ought to be encouraged for the future are presented. One addresses cognitive processing and professional development of physicians. The other one deals with the development of students' understanding of concepts. Examples of how students retain their wrong understanding of concepts despite training and good assessment results are presented, as well as findings by Schön, Mann, and Slotnick.