“It took me four years to paint like Raphael but a lifetime to paint like a child,” Pablo Picasso once said. Too often, children lose the confidence to follow their interests because of an educational system that is test-obsessed and focused on correct answers instead of creative problem-solving. The loss can be gradual, subtle and…
For young girls, every day is a new adventure of first-time experiences, discovering boundaries along the way. The entrepreneurial twist is to encourage girls to identify their problems and think about solutions to frustrations, focusing and improving on their ideas, with just enough guidance and assistance from grown-ups. When I teach 5-year-olds, I’m continually struck…
There aren’t many experiences that take place in a conventional school in which there are no grades, no penalties for not following rules, no possibility of a humiliating failure, no multiple choice test nor essay, no consequence for disruption, no avoidance of “coloring outside the lines,” no swipe at GPAs, no carrots or sticks, no…
Learn how art and design are being used as powerful tools to encourage more girls to pursue science. This innovative approach combines creativity with scientific learning, aiming to create a more inclusive and appealing environment in STEM fields.
Discover how VentureLab encourages girls to embrace the STEM fields by showcasing the inherent creativity in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (eSTEAM). Learn about the transformative experiences and educational approaches that can guide more girls towards innovative eSTEAM careers.
In this series of posts, I’ve been outlining seven strategies that I’ve uncovered—through my work, and through the insights explored by Frans Johannson in his book The Medici Effect that encourage the curious child to embark on a quest of discovery. In the last few posts, I looked at the need to reawaken a drive in children,…
In my last post, I began to outline the seven strategies that play out in entrepreneurial class—strategies that encourage the curious child to embark on a quest of discovery. I spoke about the need to reawaken a drive in children. Here, I look at the second strategy: 2. Learn Differently Diverse teams who have been…
How can you encourage a curious child to move from first ponderings to a quest of discovery? From Frans Johansson’s insights into what he has called the “Medici Effect,” in which combining disciplines leads to creative discoveries, and from my own work as a scientist and as an entrepreneurship educator, I’ve have identified seven strategies…
A family that lived in Italy 700 years ago changed history so much that we still talk about it today. The Medici were wealthy, entrepreneurial, politically powerful, religiously connected (producing four popes) and, as if that weren’t enough, influential in helping to kick-start the Italian Renaissance. The Medici were a curiosity-driven bunch. They loved a good conversation,…
Our pop-culture mind values creativity in music, the visual and performing arts, media, digital design, and self-expression. But our K-12 education system is heavily focused on student “outputs,” how well children perform on standardized tests, and how well they tell admissions officers what they want to hear. In today’s society, we praise creativity but penalize children…
Curious girls are often inclined toward science because scientific questions are fascinating and the answers potentially world-altering. Once girls get in a ryhtym for their curiosity, they can generate fascinating questions, big and small, on topics that are doctorate-worthy. Here are some intriguing questions from some of the brilliant, curiosity-driven children we’ve worked with at…
In my last couple of posts, I looked at how improvisation and entrepreneurialism are related, because improv helps foster the skills to think on the fly and be open to ideas, and entrepreneurialism runs with those skills to help develop new products and processes from ideas. As with improv, in entrepreneurial learning, an idea has…
“Improv makes you an amazing listener,” says Kevin Benson, who coaches entrepreneurs. “Listening involves more than just speaking and hearing. Listening is a deeper level of awareness for the communication and messages being sent by others.” Improv performers learn to pay attention to details and nuances that can open up a scene to entirely new…
If you’ve ever been to an improv theatre, you’ve seen performers who are quick on their feet, creating storylines on the spot while they collaborate with the other performers. In fact, improvisation and the entrepreneurial process have a lot in common: improvising with the materials on hand, playing off individual strengths, stretching beyond comfort zones, changing…
Explore the concept of ‘free-range curiosity’, where simple natural observations like feathers can inspire deep questions and lead to expansive learning. This article delves into how nurturing curiosity can connect children with nature and potentially guide them towards innovative environmental solutions.
Discover the pivotal role of curiosity in cultivating resilient and engaged lifelong learners. Learn valuable insights on how encouraging inquisitive thinking from a young age can empower children to navigate and thrive in uncertain environments, fostering a proactive and adaptable mindset.
We’re on a mission to create the next generation of diverse innovators and changemakers by making entrepreneurship education accessible to ALL youth.
© COPYRIGHT 2025 VENTURELAB, A 501 (C)(3) NON-PROFIT | Powered by Electric Oak | Privacy Policy | License Agreement