Teaching to the Mold- The Shape of Ice and Education

Recently, when visiting a market in Mexico City, I came across a woman selling molds to make ice. The ice molds were in all different shapes and sizes. Some molds produced flower shaped ice cubes. Some produced sea creature shaped ice cubes. Weeks later, after a lesson, I reflected on my floating tortoise shaped ice cubes and had a small realization…

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The Nature of Creativity, Connection and Belonging.

In this article we want you to explore a novel way to foster each student’s sense of belonging by nurturing their creativity and connection. Connection, caring, and creativity happened early in humankind’s history.  Scientists believe that strong connections within small groups helped fuel an evolutionary cascade of creativity that generated humankind’s finest successes, as well as some of our epic failures.…

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Six Ways to Embrace Wonder: An Inspired Mindset Part 3

In graduate school I spent the summer in Saul, French Guiana - a sparsely inhabited village in the middle of a sprawling rainforest. The daily hot sweaty hikes deep into the rainforest to collect tree specimens of lecythidaceae (Brazil Nut) were punctuated with deep moments of wonder and awe. Columns of leaf cutter ants, flocks of macaws, swarms of butterflies and…

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Gifting Wonder- Part 2

In Part I of this series, I quoted Socrates: “Wisdom begins in wonder.” I introduced the idea of how a sense of wonder animates a sense of connection, which enlarges our empathy and capacity to see and feel things deeply. Within us, creativity soars as wonder loosens our imagination. Wonder is that fleeting and momentary experience that dissolves time and lets…

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Tools of the Trade – Wisdom Through Wonder

Wisdom begins with wonder- From wonder comes affection- From affection emerges connection- From connection grows empathy- From empathy soars creativity- From creativity ascends wisdom- Wisdom begins with wonder. In the photo are the tools of my grandfather’s profession. Norman was first a miner in Wales, then a mine engineer in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania and later in life, he was an engineer…

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Empathic Design – Our Feelings Change Us

One of the earliest evolutionary feelings that led to action for humans was empathy. The human ability to internalize and react to the feelings of others was transformational.

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Join us for 2021 Summer Imaginations

This summer, encourage your students to think like engineers and inventors! D!Lab is offering four design thinking challenges that develop creativity and engage students in the process of innovation. The D!Lab Summer Imaginations program engages students’ minds and hands in a summer where academic and creative connection and engagement is crucial. All four challenges are listed below. Participants will have until…

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Join us for Summer Imaginations

This summer, encourage your students to think like engineers and inventors! D!Lab is offering weekly design thinking challenges that develop creativity and engage students in the process of innovation.

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