I’m here to challenge you to think about how we educate our children could they
how we educate our children could they
how we educate our children could they learn engineering in kindergarten little
learn engineering in kindergarten little
learn engineering in kindergarten little kids they can say and do things that
kids they can say and do things that
kids they can say and do things that make you cringe I still remember the
make you cringe I still remember the
make you cringe I still remember the time I dropped my son off at preschool
time I dropped my son off at preschool
time I dropped my son off at preschool and as I was driving away I overheard
and as I was driving away I overheard
and as I was driving away I overheard him ask a teacher why your teeth are so
him ask a teacher why your teeth are so
him ask a teacher why your teeth are so yellow
they have no filter but that’s also why
they have no filter but that’s also why nothing stops them from believing
nothing stops them from believing
nothing stops them from believing anything is possible and because of that
anything is possible and because of that
anything is possible and because of that they are capable of far more than we
they are capable of far more than we
they are capable of far more than we realize
realize
realize and the time for them to start growing
and the time for them to start growing
and the time for them to start growing and identifying as problem solvers is
and identifying as problem solvers is
and identifying as problem solvers is today because they’re gonna be looking
today because they’re gonna be looking
today because they’re gonna be looking out for all of us tomorrow so you see
out for all of us tomorrow so you see
out for all of us tomorrow so you see this shoe it was engineered by a five
this shoe it was engineered by a five
this shoe it was engineered by a five year old girl I’m about to take you on a
year old girl I’m about to take you on a
year old girl I’m about to take you on a journey into the mind of a child
journey into the mind of a child
journey into the mind of a child engineer I’m the tour guide and it’s a
engineer I’m the tour guide and it’s a
engineer I’m the tour guide and it’s a job I never dreamed of but three moments
job I never dreamed of but three moments
job I never dreamed of but three moments in my life brought me here to you today
in my life brought me here to you today
in my life brought me here to you today the first moment was in my freshman year
the first moment was in my freshman year
the first moment was in my freshman year at MIT my friend Scott was sitting in
at MIT my friend Scott was sitting in
at MIT my friend Scott was sitting in the hallway outside my room at 3:00 a.m.
the hallway outside my room at 3:00 a.m.
the hallway outside my room at 3:00 a.m. and he was working feverishly on
and he was working feverishly on
and he was working feverishly on something he’d made himself he was
something he’d made himself he was
something he’d made himself he was taking MIT famous design and
taking MIT famous design and
taking MIT famous design and manufacturing class where every student
manufacturing class where every student
manufacturing class where every student gets a standard parts kit it’s a box
gets a standard parts kit it’s a box
gets a standard parts kit it’s a box with wires and motors and other hardware
with wires and motors and other hardware
with wires and motors and other hardware and they have to make a robot to compete
and they have to make a robot to compete
and they have to make a robot to compete in a contest now normally you can hear
in a contest now normally you can hear
in a contest now normally you can hear Scott’s laugh a mile away but that night
Scott’s laugh a mile away but that night
Scott’s laugh a mile away but that night he was silent and he had this hunger in
he was silent and he had this hunger in
he was silent and he had this hunger in his eyes that I will never forget the
his eyes that I will never forget the
his eyes that I will never forget the second moment was when I was an engineer
second moment was when I was an engineer
second moment was when I was an engineer in North Carolina I was tapped to join
in North Carolina I was tapped to join
in North Carolina I was tapped to join the team in charge of starting up an
the team in charge of starting up an
the team in charge of starting up an optical fiber factory from
optical fiber factory from
optical fiber factory from scratch and it was grueling we ran into
scratch and it was grueling we ran into
scratch and it was grueling we ran into challenge after challenge but one night
challenge after challenge but one night
challenge after challenge but one night we hit the start button and finally saw
we hit the start button and finally saw
we hit the start button and finally saw our first real sellable product come out
our first real sellable product come out
our first real sellable product come out the other end and that felt like winning
the other end and that felt like winning
the other end and that felt like winning the gold that’s when I finally tasted
the gold that’s when I finally tasted
the gold that’s when I finally tasted what Scott was after in that hallway the
what Scott was after in that hallway the
what Scott was after in that hallway the experience of creating something from
experience of creating something from
experience of creating something from nothing and seeing it work and the third
nothing and seeing it work and the third
nothing and seeing it work and the third moment it was when I became a mom now if
moment it was when I became a mom now if
moment it was when I became a mom now if there’s one thing that makes you feel
there’s one thing that makes you feel
there’s one thing that makes you feel like you’re a newbie you don’t know what
like you’re a newbie you don’t know what
like you’re a newbie you don’t know what you’re doing it’s Parenthood but there
you’re doing it’s Parenthood but there
you’re doing it’s Parenthood but there is something I did learn about myself
is something I did learn about myself
is something I did learn about myself early on and it stemmed from all those
early on and it stemmed from all those
early on and it stemmed from all those times I feel my kids tug on my shirt and
times I feel my kids tug on my shirt and
times I feel my kids tug on my shirt and I’d hear their voices say look mommy
I’d hear their voices say look mommy
I’d hear their voices say look mommy look what I did that’s when I discovered
look what I did that’s when I discovered
look what I did that’s when I discovered something that no matter how fulfilling
something that no matter how fulfilling
something that no matter how fulfilling it is to say I did it like when we
it is to say I did it like when we
it is to say I did it like when we started up the plant from me it is a
started up the plant from me it is a
started up the plant from me it is a million times sweeter to hear those
million times sweeter to hear those
million times sweeter to hear those words from a child so when it was time
words from a child so when it was time
words from a child so when it was time to go back to work
to go back to work
to go back to work I didn’t return to engineering I chose
I didn’t return to engineering I chose
I didn’t return to engineering I chose education because I wanted children to
education because I wanted children to
education because I wanted children to experience that I didn’t moment for
experience that I didn’t moment for
experience that I didn’t moment for themselves I made my way to Kingsley
themselves I made my way to Kingsley
themselves I made my way to Kingsley Montessori School in Boston where my
Montessori School in Boston where my
Montessori School in Boston where my peers and I created a child-friendly
peers and I created a child-friendly
peers and I created a child-friendly version of that MIT class Scott took
version of that MIT class Scott took
version of that MIT class Scott took every kindergartner got a standard parts
every kindergartner got a standard parts
every kindergartner got a standard parts kit but instead of wires and motors they
kit but instead of wires and motors they
kit but instead of wires and motors they got stuff from the junk drawer bubble
got stuff from the junk drawer bubble
got stuff from the junk drawer bubble wrap duct tape cardboard and instead of
wrap duct tape cardboard and instead of
wrap duct tape cardboard and instead of robots they made shoes now why shoes
robots they made shoes now why shoes
robots they made shoes now why shoes first of all you can’t make a working
first of all you can’t make a working
first of all you can’t make a working robot out of duct tape and bubble wrap
robot out of duct tape and bubble wrap
robot out of duct tape and bubble wrap not yet anyway second everyone
not yet anyway second everyone
not yet anyway second everyone understands and uses
understands and uses
understands and uses but we needed a map to guide their
but we needed a map to guide their
but we needed a map to guide their thinking and that’s where the Boston
thinking and that’s where the Boston
thinking and that’s where the Boston Museum of Sciences engineering his
Museum of Sciences engineering his
Museum of Sciences engineering his elementary diagram comes in this is a
elementary diagram comes in this is a
elementary diagram comes in this is a blueprint it boils the engineering
blueprint it boils the engineering
blueprint it boils the engineering design process down into five steps ask
design process down into five steps ask
design process down into five steps ask imagine plan create and improve so this
imagine plan create and improve so this
imagine plan create and improve so this map was our guide my peers and I
map was our guide my peers and I
map was our guide my peers and I challenged every kindergartner to design
challenged every kindergartner to design
challenged every kindergartner to design a functional shoe document their work
a functional shoe document their work
a functional shoe document their work and deliver a formal presentation now
and deliver a formal presentation now
and deliver a formal presentation now element even we thought you meant might
element even we thought you meant might
element even we thought you meant might be a region but you know what with kids
be a region but you know what with kids
be a region but you know what with kids it’s all in the way you say it so this
it’s all in the way you say it so this
it’s all in the way you say it so this is how we framed it guess what you’re
is how we framed it guess what you’re
is how we framed it guess what you’re gonna be an engineer for three weeks
gonna be an engineer for three weeks
gonna be an engineer for three weeks and you’re gonna make a real shoe all by
and you’re gonna make a real shoe all by
and you’re gonna make a real shoe all by yourself and we’re gonna take lots of
yourself and we’re gonna take lots of
yourself and we’re gonna take lots of pictures and you’re gonna get the
pictures and you’re gonna get the
pictures and you’re gonna get the pictures and make a very special book
pictures and make a very special book
pictures and make a very special book about how you made your shoe then we’re
about how you made your shoe then we’re
about how you made your shoe then we’re gonna take the pages and show them on a
gonna take the pages and show them on a
gonna take the pages and show them on a big screen you’ll be like the movie we
big screen you’ll be like the movie we
big screen you’ll be like the movie we can watch with your parents and all your
can watch with your parents and all your
can watch with your parents and all your friends see doesn’t sound like work that
friends see doesn’t sound like work that
friends see doesn’t sound like work that sounds like the chance to be a star so
sounds like the chance to be a star so
sounds like the chance to be a star so that’s how our workshop was born my
that’s how our workshop was born my
that’s how our workshop was born my colleagues and I have said alright let’s
colleagues and I have said alright let’s
colleagues and I have said alright let’s do this and we all held hands and jumped
do this and we all held hands and jumped
do this and we all held hands and jumped and this is what happened so ladies and
and this is what happened so ladies and
and this is what happened so ladies and gentlemen the tour is now beginning
gentlemen the tour is now beginning
gentlemen the tour is now beginning prepare to enter the mind of a child
prepare to enter the mind of a child
prepare to enter the mind of a child engineer so first we talked in general
engineer so first we talked in general
engineer so first we talked in general about what engineers do we find and
about what engineers do we find and
about what engineers do we find and solve problems we help people by making
solve problems we help people by making
solve problems we help people by making useful things like cars inhalers diapers
useful things like cars inhalers diapers
useful things like cars inhalers diapers and afterwards one of the girl wrote
and afterwards one of the girl wrote
and afterwards one of the girl wrote this in her journal Engineers solve many
this in her journal Engineers solve many
this in her journal Engineers solve many problems by first figuring out what the
problems by first figuring out what the
problems by first figuring out what the problem is then trying to solve it
problem is then trying to solve it
problem is then trying to solve it how many adult struggle with figuring
how many adult struggle with figuring
how many adult struggle with figuring out what the problem is
out what the problem is
out what the problem is how many times do we solve the wrong
how many times do we solve the wrong
how many times do we solve the wrong problem then we talked about what makes
problem then we talked about what makes
problem then we talked about what makes a good shoe and the children came up
a good shoe and the children came up
a good shoe and the children came up with two measurable design criteria the
with two measurable design criteria the
with two measurable design criteria the shoe has to stay on your foot one when
shoe has to stay on your foot one when
shoe has to stay on your foot one when you walk from one point to the other and
you walk from one point to the other and
you walk from one point to the other and two when you jump ten times then we
two when you jump ten times then we
two when you jump ten times then we passed out the standard parts kits
passed out the standard parts kits
passed out the standard parts kits that’s when the wheels started turning
that’s when the wheels started turning
that’s when the wheels started turning like this boy he kept running back and
like this boy he kept running back and
like this boy he kept running back and forth between the sink and his parts
forth between the sink and his parts
forth between the sink and his parts pile and I finally said him what are you
pile and I finally said him what are you
pile and I finally said him what are you doing and he said I’m testing to see if
doing and he said I’m testing to see if
doing and he said I’m testing to see if it’s waterproof because he wanted to
it’s waterproof because he wanted to
it’s waterproof because he wanted to make a waterproof shoe and then once all
make a waterproof shoe and then once all
make a waterproof shoe and then once all the kids were done imagining the shoes
the kids were done imagining the shoes
the kids were done imagining the shoes they were chomping at the bit to get
they were chomping at the bit to get
they were chomping at the bit to get started but we said no cutting or gluing
started but we said no cutting or gluing
started but we said no cutting or gluing without a plan so they all sat down and
without a plan so they all sat down and
without a plan so they all sat down and they sketched the pictures that were
they sketched the pictures that were
they sketched the pictures that were inside their heads and those plans look
inside their heads and those plans look
inside their heads and those plans look like this
detailed and then once I signed off on
detailed and then once I signed off on their plans then they could get to work
their plans then they could get to work
their plans then they could get to work now making shoes is fun but that’s not
now making shoes is fun but that’s not
now making shoes is fun but that’s not where the real meat is engineers find
where the real meat is engineers find
where the real meat is engineers find and solve problems now if you’re a
and solve problems now if you’re a
and solve problems now if you’re a teacher you know there’s that one kid in
teacher you know there’s that one kid in
teacher you know there’s that one kid in your class who thinks it’s a race and
your class who thinks it’s a race and
your class who thinks it’s a race and when that little boy or girl would run
when that little boy or girl would run
when that little boy or girl would run up to me and say I’m done my work on the
up to me and say I’m done my work on the
up to me and say I’m done my work on the first try I’d call them on it
first try I’d call them on it
first try I’d call them on it I’d say we’re not done
I’d say we’re not done
I’d say we’re not done you haven’t engineered anything go put
you haven’t engineered anything go put
you haven’t engineered anything go put that shoe back on your foot and listen
that shoe back on your foot and listen
that shoe back on your foot and listen to what it’s telling you because it
to what it’s telling you because it
to what it’s telling you because it needs to be better tomorrow than it is
needs to be better tomorrow than it is
needs to be better tomorrow than it is today
today
today otherwise your story might be boring
otherwise your story might be boring
otherwise your story might be boring ooh that’s when their stories came to
ooh that’s when their stories came to
ooh that’s when their stories came to life we said write down all your ideas
life we said write down all your ideas
life we said write down all your ideas write down what worked so this boy wrote
write down what worked so this boy wrote
write down what worked so this boy wrote down how he added felt because his shoe
down how he added felt because his shoe
down how he added felt because his shoe was sticking to his foot and another one
was sticking to his foot and another one
was sticking to his foot and another one added what he called a toe covered
added what he called a toe covered
added what he called a toe covered because his toes kept sticking out and
because his toes kept sticking out and
because his toes kept sticking out and then we said write down what was hard
then we said write down what was hard
then we said write down what was hard that’s the best part that’s what makes
that’s the best part that’s what makes
that’s the best part that’s what makes your story juicy so this girl discovered
your story juicy so this girl discovered
your story juicy so this girl discovered her shoe is uncomfortable so she added
her shoe is uncomfortable so she added
her shoe is uncomfortable so she added padding and another girl started over
padding and another girl started over
padding and another girl started over because she realized she spent all day
because she realized she spent all day
because she realized she spent all day making it beautiful but it didn’t even
making it beautiful but it didn’t even
making it beautiful but it didn’t even fit then they all practice their
fit then they all practice their
fit then they all practice their presentations when their books and shoes
presentations when their books and shoes
presentations when their books and shoes were done and then when the big day came
were done and then when the big day came
were done and then when the big day came the kids were all giddy with excitement
the kids were all giddy with excitement
the kids were all giddy with excitement these two showed up wearing Blazers
children were fighting to go first and
children were fighting to go first and then every single child got up by
then every single child got up by
then every single child got up by themselves and shared their work with
themselves and shared their work with
themselves and shared their work with confidence pride
confidence pride
confidence pride and joy and after their presentations
and joy and after their presentations
and joy and after their presentations they each walked around the room slowly
they each walked around the room slowly
they each walked around the room slowly with their prototypes letting everyone
with their prototypes letting everyone
with their prototypes letting everyone get a close look it was like they were
get a close look it was like they were
get a close look it was like they were showing off a baby
showing off a baby
showing off a baby and those close-ups revealed just how
and those close-ups revealed just how
and those close-ups revealed just how brilliant every shoe was but the
brilliant every shoe was but the
brilliant every shoe was but the greatest accomplishment for these
greatest accomplishment for these
greatest accomplishment for these children is none of those things it’s
children is none of those things it’s
children is none of those things it’s that they learned something about
that they learned something about
that they learned something about themselves they discovered these four
themselves they discovered these four
themselves they discovered these four words I can do it and their sense of
words I can do it and their sense of
words I can do it and their sense of triumph shines through in countless
triumph shines through in countless
triumph shines through in countless journal entries that my colleagues and I
journal entries that my colleagues and I
journal entries that my colleagues and I stumbled on after the children handed
stumbled on after the children handed
stumbled on after the children handed their journals in like this one I like
their journals in like this one I like
their journals in like this one I like to make my shoes because I think it’s
to make my shoes because I think it’s
to make my shoes because I think it’s fun and I like to do it because it is
fun and I like to do it because it is
fun and I like to do it because it is hard
hard
hard I love making my shoe and I chased a
I love making my shoe and I chased a
I love making my shoe and I chased a dream both of those entries is a child
dream both of those entries is a child
dream both of those entries is a child saying look what I did our children are
saying look what I did our children are
saying look what I did our children are our future someday they’re gonna tackle
our future someday they’re gonna tackle
our future someday they’re gonna tackle much bigger challenges then making a
much bigger challenges then making a
much bigger challenges then making a shoe that stays on your foot so we need
shoe that stays on your foot so we need
shoe that stays on your foot so we need to be giving them real opportunities now
to be giving them real opportunities now
to be giving them real opportunities now to let them grow and identify as problem
to let them grow and identify as problem
to let them grow and identify as problem solvers and to seek better ways of doing
solvers and to seek better ways of doing
solvers and to seek better ways of doing things so join the conversation in your
things so join the conversation in your
things so join the conversation in your community support programs that develop
community support programs that develop
community support programs that develop these skills you can’t find them start
these skills you can’t find them start
these skills you can’t find them start them because every single child is on a
them because every single child is on a
them because every single child is on a journey and every day is a fresh start a
journey and every day is a fresh start a
journey and every day is a fresh start a chance to try bold ideas and to test
chance to try bold ideas and to test
chance to try bold ideas and to test them even if it’s
them even if it’s
them even if it’s messy and to embrace struggle as the
messy and to embrace struggle as the
messy and to embrace struggle as the best part of the adventure thank you
best part of the adventure thank you
best part of the adventure thank you [Applause]
”
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