Knowledge is only useful to catalyze creativity

One of my favorite quotes about learning is from Donald Oliver, who writes in Education and Community (published in 1976, it’s been out of print for years): “Knowledge, treasured as the gift of education, is really only useful as a catalyst for the active use of the student’s creativity. Not used for this purpose, knowledge simply amounts to inert ideas.” Learning is a process where we become more of ourselves, shedding what doesn’t fit and moving into what does.

To read more go to my book, Getting Messy. A discussion of Oliver’s quote and others is in Chapter Two.