We need to have making, including computer science, shop, etc. as part of the core curriculum from the beginning, not just an optional afterschool thing. Things like First Robotics and all of those great programs need to become mainstream. Megan Smith More Quotes by Megan Smith More Quotes From Megan Smith It's very difficult to solve a lot of problems from the top down. Megan Smith problems down top difficult I've been working on the lost history of technical women. Megan Smith working women lost history There are several places in Vietnam where they're teaching computer science from second grade in class, so they don't have a gender divide because everybody is expected to program. Megan Smith gender computer-science class science We have two boys, and one of our kids is much more interested in history and stories, so if you want him to do some calculations about lenses, you would start talking to him about Galileo... Then he would be into the lenses, but if you just start talking to him about lenses, he might not stay with you. Megan Smith start you talking history Talent is everywhere. Not all talent has access. Megan Smith everywhere access talent What was so special about the Mac, we all know, was the graphical computer interface. Megan Smith mac about know special There are hundreds of historic and current examples of women and minorities doing groundbreaking work in technology, but so many of these stories are not well known, and in some cases, the stories have been all but lost. Megan Smith doing women technology work I actually think that working in the federal government, or state or local, is one of the most significant things that a technical person can do. Megan Smith person things think government The American government will be whatever we all make of it. Megan Smith american whatever will government I went to an inner-city school in Buffalo. We had no money. But our teachers believed in hands-on active learning - there was a mandatory science fair, which was critical. Megan Smith learning money science school I think open source is an evolutionary idea for humanity, this idea of transparency. It played out for us in the technology world, but it also played out with the idea of a truth and reconciliation commission and Wikipedia. Megan Smith technology truth humanity world There's this fabulous innovation ship called Unreasonable at Sea, where I'm a mentor. One of the companies there was called Protei, and they're an open hardware ocean exploration and monitoring idea. Megan Smith ship innovation ocean sea Science class is traditionally taught as science history class - you learn all these facts that someone else discovered, which you need to know, but that's not really an inspiring way to learn science. Megan Smith you science history way I'm on the MIT board, and a lot of our buildings now have daycare centers; it's becoming a standard. Megan Smith buildings standard our now Code is just a list of instructions. There are countries that are teaching it as part of the core curriculum. Having some experience in those early years is very important. Megan Smith some just experience important Each kid is unique in what captures their attention and their passion. Megan Smith kid passion unique attention
