In the Lifelong Kindergarten book, Mitch Resnick introduces a great model for learners of all ages: the creative learning spiral.
Traditional kindergartens commonly use this model as an approach to learning. Mitch believes all ages should use this model because it suits the needs of the 21st century.
The creative learning spiral helps learners develop their creative-thinking skills, which are critical for succeeding in today’s society. We currently live in uncertainty and rapid change, so thinking creatively is crucial, both professionally and personally.
So what do children do in preschool? They are constantly designing, creating, experimenting, and exploring. A child imagines something and then creates a project based on what one imagined. The child plays with the creation and also shares it with friends. Finally, the child reflects on the experience. What could be done better? What else can be done? The child then imagines something new on top of what one learned before, on the experience one had, continuing the spiral again and again.
Example in preschool
Let’s see a concrete example where a kindergarten student uses the creative learning spiral.
- Imagine – John imagines a tractor.
- Create – John creates the tractor using the material that is available (e.g. lego).
- Play – John plays with the tractor.
- Share – John shows the tractor to his friends and they all play together.
- Reflect – the tractor isn’t stable and falls apart. The teacher shows pictures of tractors and John understands how he can make it more stable.
- Imagine – based on the experience John had, he now imagines more things. “How about if I build a farm where I also use the tractor? I can also make a more stable tractor that doesn’t fall apart.”
This model can be applied in any subject and with any materials.
Adults in MIT Media Lab using the model
How does this apply in the adult world?
The MIT Media Lab, one of the world’s leading research and academic organizations, adopted the creative learning spiral. Mitch has no doubts that this model provides the underpinning for the worldwide recognized MIT Media Lab’s creativity and innovation.
In MIT Media Lab, students spend little time in the classroom. Instead, they work on projects based on the creative learning spiral. Students build prototypes using different materials such as microcontrollers and laser cutters. They then try them, share with other students, reflect on what they learned, and then continue the spiral by creating a new prototype.
Conclusion
The model is working well in the Media Lab Students and kindergarten, so Mitch believes it works everywhere else. Do you think you could also use this model?
Mitch then tells us about the four P’s framework which supports creative learning and connects extremely well with the spiral. I’ll talk about it in my next post.
