

Richard Miller (Olin College) - More Innovation Through Education [ETL Looks Back]
7 snips Oct 23, 2024
Richard Miller, the founding president of Olin College, revolutionized engineering education with a focus on hands-on, community-based learning. He discusses the shift from passive classroom environments to a 24/7 learning model that emphasizes problem-solving and design thinking. Miller challenges the status quo by advocating for a more integrated educational approach that fosters creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges and thrive in the innovation economy.
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Olin's Unconventional Beginnings
- Olin College was founded with a $500 million grant from the Olin Foundation, aiming to revolutionize engineering education.
- Its founding president, Richard Miller, started with four non-engineer, non-academic advisors and a blank slate.
Olin: A Laboratory for Learning
- Traditional engineering education is criticized for not adequately preparing graduates for real-world demands.
- Olin College is designed as an educational laboratory to address this gap.
From Knowledge to Making
- The value of knowledge alone is diminishing due to easy access to information.
- The emerging 'maker economy' emphasizes applying knowledge, with educators acting as coaches.