MIT Media Lab and Stanford’s d.school

The research and projects from the MIT Media Lab and the Stanford d.school are internationally recognized for their innovative methodology by corporate, non-profit and governmental organizations. Not only are these schools models of 21st century learning, they also provide a template for effective 21st century work environments. Harvard professor Tony Wagner in his book, “Creating Innovators,” interviewed Mitchel Resnick, head of academic programs at the Media Lab and a professor of learning research, to understand not just what the Media Lab does but how learning happens there.

According to Resnick, the linchpin to future success is the ability to think and act creatively. He goes on to say, “We take our inspiration from the ways people learn in kindergarten, where kids have opportunities to create, design, and build collaboratively. The best way to develop creativity is to design and create things in collaboration with one another. We also find that people do their best work when they are working on things that they care deeply about — when it’s their passion.”

In times of great change we are called to adapt to our changing conditions and think and act in new ways. Of course, we should learn from our past and respect tradition.  But failing to ever leave the safe harbor of tradition won’t yield new discoveries, insights and innovations. In many respects, we need to adopt the mindset of the Victorian explorer David Livingstone. When asked if he needed more men for an expedition he replied, “If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”

The quest for certainty prevents venturing into the unknown. Yet it is the unknown that is the frontier of opportunity and evolution.