Episode 12: The Epiphany with Daniel PinkDaniel Pink’s book A Whole New Mind makes the case for why experiential learning is necessary in the 21st century. His book Drive explains why it is also so much more motivating for young people. The epiphany that led Dan to these ideas may have occurred when, as a 14-year-old freshman, he wrote his first story for his high school newspaper, The Bexley Torch. In this interview Dan digs up long-buried memories and relives the moment that experiential learning produced what he describes as a physiological change in his brain. We cover a lot of territory including:3:37 Dan as a regrettably compliant student4:30 Performance goals vs. learning goals (or why Dan can’t speak French)5:59 How performance goals harm mental health8:49 Dan’s first Torch story assignment produces a major epiphany14:07 How extra-curricular experiences differ from traditional school learning15:11 The link between motivation and human nature17:51 How the world has changed yet schools stay largely the same19:37 The skills young people need to avoid having their future jobs outsourced22:12 Why traditional academic skills are still important, but they’re no longer sufficient24:04 How Dan’s children engaged in experiential learning outside of school26:21 What about kids without well-resourced parents?27:41 Can schools change when we’re so deeply rooted in “bygone era” traditions?29:00 Dan’s simple and practical suggestion to educators29:45 An outrageous visual picture of traditional education30:43 Standardization vs. extreme customization31:42 A passage from Drive that epitomizes the value of experiential learning My favorite quote from Drive:“We know that human beings are not merely smaller, slower, better-smelling horses galloping after that day’s carrot. We know- if we’ve spent time with young children or remember ourselves at our best- that we’re not destined to be passive or compliant; we’re designed to be active and engaged. And we know that the richest experiences in our lives aren’t when we’re clamoring for validation from others, but when we’re listening to our own voice- doing something that matters, doing it well, and doing it in the service of a cause larger than ourselves.” Daniel Pink’s website: https://www.danpink.comA Whole New Mind: https://www.danpink.com/books/whole-new-mind/Drive: https://www.danpink.com/books/drive/Sign up for Daniel Pink’s newsletter: https://www.danpink.com/subscribe/Steve Shapiro’s website: https://www.steventshapiro.com About Experience MattersExperience Matters with Steve Shapiro invites guests to reflect on the most profound learning experiences of their youth and to consider how we can reform American schools. Each episode provides clues about how parents and educators alike can engage young people in powerful, sometimes transformational experiential learning. Education can take many forms, but whatever form it takes- experience matters.

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