A successful new theoretical idea typically alters and extends the existing body of theory to allow for observational facts that could not previously be understood or incorporated. It also makes possible new predictions that can some day be tested. Almost always, the novel idea includes…
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Sometimes our expectations of what a thing is, or rather, what it should be blind us to the possibilities of what it could become. These expectations can prevent us from understanding the true potential of an object, and lead us to miss out on opportunities…
I often get asked: What are some resources where I can learn about makerspaces in higher education, in my K-12 institution, or just in general? So! Here’s a short toolkit for educational makerspace leaders that includes list of things I’ve collected, written about, and read…
The way we look at the world is influenced by our experiences and preconceptions. We use them to understand something new and to develop perspective. In doing so, we synthesize information from one context to inform another. The experiences that I often find myself…
This week we have quite a few readings on AI, because, well it’s experiencing an explosion of growth around the world. Another thing that seems to be seeing its day in the sun is one of my favorite topics — object oriented ontology. Lots of…
Developing real, tangible things is a messy process where one must listen to, and work with, the material they have available to them. By allowing the materials to lead the process of development, we embed their imperfections and constraints into our designs, which subsequently influences…
I fell off the habit horse toward the beginning of the week, but got back on and came back hard in the second half. This week’s list is a strange mix of curiosities, stories, and things I’m tinkering with — there’s no particular theme because…
Everything around us is magic, and nobody knows how things work. From the phones in our pockets, to the cars that ferry us around, to our systems of government, all of the critical things that have changed the way we think, work, and play are…
Tim Ingold describes thinking through making — a concept he interrlates with design — as a line that meanders, much like a donkey following its own path. Conversely, design has been described (through design thinking) as a straight line toward achieving some objective or solving…
Lately, I’ve been working on a blueprint for what I’m thinking of broadly as “innovation spaces.” That is, physical spaces that support innovation. This is tricky, because any physical space is necessarily located within a community — whether that’s a company, a school, a town,…