In this episode, educator, author, and pioneer in educational computing Gary Stager delivers a keynote address to a conference of educators in Lithuania, making the case that the future belongs to those who can think and create computationally. Gary unpacks why making — especially computational making — is the most powerful learning experience we can offer students, and why schools need to raise their expectations in the age of AI.
Max Headroom video of the talk:
Key Topics Covered
The Philosophy Behind the Work Gary’s 44 years of work is grounded in Jean Piaget’s foundational idea that knowledge is a consequence of experience. He argues that most problems in education can be traced back to an absence of rich, real experience for students.
What Computational Making Really Means Drawing on the work of Seymour Papert and Steven Wolfram, Gary explains why computation isn’t just a tool — it’s a paradigm for understanding and building the world. Making without computation, he argues, is just arts and crafts.
Programming as the New Liberal Art From the Bill Gates origin story to a student who taught himself Python overnight, Gary makes a compelling case for why learning to program gives children genuine agency in a complex world.
AI in the Classroom — Done Right Gary pushes back hard against using AI for automating lesson plans or surveilling students, and instead champions AI as a thought partner, copy editor, and creative amplifier. He shares vivid examples from his own life and his grandchildren’s adventures at the Great Barrier Reef.
Real Projects from Real Teachers Highlights from Gary’s summer institute Constructing Modern Knowledge include a fortune-telling robot built from recycled materials, an animated Marie Antoinette wig with a built-in microcontroller, and a pair of shoes that called an Uber.
Raising Expectations Gary closes with a challenge to educators: stop doing a little Scratch and start doing a lot. Fluency, depth, and meaningful projects are what unlock the real power of computational tools.
Memorable Quotes
“The best makerspace is between our ears.”
“Less us, more them is the key to great teaching.”
“Making without computation is arts and crafts.”
“Knowledge is a consequence of experience — and there’s no substitute for experience.”
“The question about your computer program isn’t whether it’s right or wrong, but is it fixable?”
Resources Mentioned
- Invent to Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom — now available in 10 languages including Lithuanian
- 20 Things to Do With a Computer Forward 50 — Gary’s book revisiting Papert and Solomon’s landmark 1971 paper
- The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and Amplification of Human Creativity
- Constructing Modern Knowledge institute — coming to Reggio Emilia, Italy in June
- Wolfram Notebook Assistant + LLM Kit — computational tools for learners of all ages
- Micro:bit — microcontroller for physical computing projects
- Scratch / MakeCode / Snap / Logo — programming environments for learners
About Gary Stager
Gary Stager is a teacher educator, author, and one of the world’s leading advocates for learning by making. He played a central role in the first schools where every student had a laptop, has worked with educators across the globe, and is the co-author of Invent to Learn. Learn more at professorgary.com
Connect & Learn More
- 🌐 Constructing Modern Knowledge
- 📚 Invent to Learn — available from Constructing Modern Knowledge Press
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