The Open Learning Initiative (OLI) at Carnegie Mellon University strives to transform teaching and learning by applying learning science and emerging technologies to increase student success, improve learning productivity and lower barriers to access. We believe the role of instructors is becoming more important than ever at the same time they are being asked to do more with less, and that communities of dedicated people can utilize these emerging technologies in important and transformative ways. We combine leading research in cognitive and learning science with state-of-the-art technology to create courses that enact instruction. These courses incorporate practice and assessment throughout and represent current best practices. Openly and freely available our courses empower independent learners and support instructors to improve effectiveness in traditional classrooms. By rigorously capturing and evaluating learner data, OLI creates powerful feedback loops that assist learners and educators, improve courses and contribute our larger understanding of how humans learn.