In the Lifelong Kindergarten research group guided by Professor Mitchel Resnick at MIT Media Lab, we have identified four guiding principles for cultivating creativity: Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play. That is, we need to provide children with opportunities to work on projects, based on their passions, in collaboration with peers, in a playful spirit. We call them "the 4 P's" of Creative Learning.
Learning Creative Learning (LCL) is a free online course designed to explore and share these ideas broadly, supporting a global community of educators to design creative learning experiences in their contexts. The course itself is a model of creative learning, so that participants experience the creative learning process at the same time as they are learning about it.
The course is organized in six modules, each covering one aspect of the creative learning framework. Each module includes a short video introducing the topic, core reading materials, a hands-on activity, reflection prompts, and extra reading materials for those interested in learning more. People can work through the course materials at their own pace on the website.
Although LCL is organized and presented as a six-week online course, its ultimate goal is to cultivate an ongoing learning community in support of creative learning around the world. While offering online videos, readings, and hands-on activities, we also invite participants to share their reflections, connect, and discuss with each other through an online forum and weekly video calls. Participants are supported by a volunteer network of community facilitators around the world.
LCL supports multiple languages. In addition to translating the content on the website, video subtitles, and readings, we also set up language-specific sections in the online forum and created language-based video conference breakout rooms in live events.
