November Learning Podcast Series

This is our second of two episodes with Mitchel Resnick, LEGO Professor of Learning Research, head of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Laboratory and BLC10 opening keynoter. In this episode, Mitch discusses the need for schools to find a balance between being open to new ideas and being able to focus again on sound practices. In addition, he and Alan discuss how important it is for teachers to network together as a community to share ideas and inspiration. Finally, Mitch discusses his hopes regarding the future of Scratch development. For more background on Scratch and the “creative thinking spiral,” click here.

This is our first of two episodes with Mitchel Resnick, LEGO Professor of Learning Research, head of the Lifelong Kindergarten group at the MIT Media Laboratory and BLC10 opening keynoter. In this episode, Mitch discusses the origin of the visual programming tool, Scratch. Additionally, he explains how the “creative thinking spiral” and this engaging tool have inspired students and teachers around the world to create fantastic interactive creations at a break-neck pace. You will learn about a young student and her new online team who are developing their entrepreneurial skills as they develop and share new characters within the Scratch interface. Finally, Mitch will emphasize how teachers must feel free to be creative, be open to losing a bit of control and help students reflect and make sense of what they are learning. For more background on Scratch and the “creative thinking spiral,” click here.

In this episode, Alan talks to Lona Jack-Vilmar, Literacy Coach at International High School at Lafayette in New York. The discussion centers around a Wikipedia-based article that Lona created on the Wodaabe, a nomadic group that resides in Africa. Similar activities have the potential for modeling appropriate use of Wikipedia within schools.