A system and method for improving student learning includes learning material that is presented to a student and a device that is used to acquire physiological data from the student in real time during a learning session. A cognitive assessment algorithm determines a cognitive state of the student using the physiological data, and a learning action algorithm modifies the presentation of the learning material in response to the student's cognitive state. The learning material can include lectures, questions asked of the student or problems or activities being completed by the student. In one embodiment, the device directly measures the brain activity of the student to determine the student's cognitive state. The cognitive state of the student can include the student's cognitive load, engagement or fatigue.