I spoke at this symposium today.

The work I’ve been doing on creative learning and neurodiversity is closely related, but I haven’t had many opportunities to talk about it.

It was a truly precious experience to have the opportunity to talk at length with Professor Mitchel Resnick of the MIT Media Lab—who could be described as the inspiration behind my creative learning activities—and to discuss our connection.

I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to Mimi for arranging this opportunity.

—————–

Supporting Creative Learning for Neurodiverse Children

Supporting Creative Learning for Neurodiverse Children

Environments and technologies that support young people in exploratory and creative learning have long served as havens for neurodivergent children. Fueled by new computational and interactive capabilities, emerging technologies can support learning experiences tailored to diverse cognitive and communication strengths, while also offering accessible and inclusive tools for creation and networking.

This webinar features Mitch Resnick and Natalie Rusk from the Lifelong Kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab, in conversation with Nanako Ishido, a leading scholar and changemaker in the fields of technology, neurodiversity, and learning. Professor Resnick and Rusk have led the development of inclusive technologies, including Scratch—a creative coding tool that enables children with diverse interests and backgrounds to create their own interactive stories, animations, and games, and share their creations with one another in a friendly and supportive online community. Professor Ishido has been a leading figure in introducing creative computing approaches to Japan and championing technologies that support neurodivergent learners. They will share their experiences, challenges, and successes in supporting neurodiversity-inclusive approaches to fostering creative and technology-rich learning environments.

In this webinar, we welcome Mitch Resnick and Natalie Lusk from the Lifelong Kindergarten research group at the MIT Media Lab to engage in a conversation with Nanako Ishido, a pioneering researcher and innovator in the fields of technology, neurodiversity, and learning.They have led the development of inclusive technologies such as “Scratch,” a creative coding tool that enables children to create their own interactive stories, animations, and games and share them within a warm and collaborative online community.Furthermore, Ms. Ishido is a leading figure who has helped spread the creative computing approach in Japan and promoted technology that supports learners with neurodiversity. In this session, she will share her experiences, challenges, and achievements in implementing an approach that embraces neurodiversity to foster a learning environment rich in creativity and technology.

—————–