Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators Collaboration: The Heart of Innovation
Sep 29, 2025
Dylan Thuras, cofounder of Atlas Obscura, joins Jennifer Swanson, an award-winning children’s author, to delve into their ambitious exploration of invention and technology. They discuss how collaboration fuels innovation and the importance of interdisciplinary learning. The conversation emphasizes the role of play and curiosity in the invention process, highlighting how everyday objects can inspire new ideas. Thuras shares insights on connecting historical inventions, while Swanson suggests engaging classroom activities that trace the evolution of ideas.
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Tracing Invention As A Time-Spanning Thread
- The book traces inventions as a connective thread across time, pivoting back and forth to show lineage.
- This approach reveals how technologies answer similar human needs in different eras.
Same Needs, Different Technical Paths
- Many inventions solve the same human needs (phenotype) via different methods (genotype).
- That viewpoint helps evaluate technology's trade-offs and long-term impacts.
Turn Big Ideas Into Kid-Friendly Explanations
- Collaborate with domain experts to translate big ideas into clear explanations for kids.
- Work with illustrators and experienced writers to make complex topics accessible.
