Why ‘Unlearning’ Old Habits Is An Essential Step For Innovation

By Leah Shaffer
August 4, 2017

This article explores Beaver Country Day School, a private 6-12 school in Massachusetts’, experience with the idea of “unlearning”– creating new ways to think in the face of established practices. Using both large and small scale examples, like grading models and teacher’s instruction, the article explores what it really takes to change habits in a school. The author shares four questions to determine if something needs to be unlearned to make room for change and presents a framework for unlearning–changing mindsets, changing habits, and changing organizations.

This article can be used as the starting point for conversations around large and small scale change, to explore why people are apprehensive, and as a model for success that can provide inspiration.

Source Organization: KQED

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