In today's learning society, education must focus on fostering adaptive competence (AC) defined as the ability to apply knowledge and skills flexibly in different contexts. In this article, four major types of learning are discussed--constructive, self-regulated, situated, and collaborative--in relation to what students must learn in order to acquire AC in a particular domain. Two questions are addressed: What are the characteristics of productive learning processes that are required in order to acquire AC?, and How can such learning be stimulated and sustained through instruction? An illustrative study is presented that focuses on the design of a learning environment for improving problem-solving competence in primary school students. Concluding comments address the challenges to the implementation of innovative learning environments.