Learning centers are student centered. That is, instructional goals are matched to learner needs and desires and student learning is self-paced. Teachers coordinate the learning process while students explore and experiment with learning materials. The learning center has several advantages over the traditional classroom: (1) it is success oriented, (2) it reduces student frustration, (3) it meets individual needs on a variety of levels, (4) it permits flexible scheduling, and (5) it promotes self-directed learning. The number and variety of learning center personnel depend on center size and the number of students to be served. The physical environment should help to make adults feel at ease. In addition to commercially prepared materials, individualized learning packages, learning activity packages, contract activity packages, self-instructional units, self-instructional packages, independent learning packages, and auto-instructional learning packages are used. Effective learning centers offer students a self-instruction program with a flexible schedule and careful skill assessment, placement, and evaluation of progress. (Appendixes include references, checklists, and diagrams for learning centers.) (HOD)