Mitchel Resnick

Mitchel Resnick (born June 12, 1956) is an American computer scientist, educator, and professor known for creating the Scratch programming language. He is the LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Lab, where he directs the Lifelong Kindergarten research group. 

Resnick's work centers on developing technologies that promote creative learning through projects, passion, peers, and play.

 Early life and education 
Mitchel Resnick was born on June 12, 1956, in Chicago, Illinois. He developed an early interest in technology and problem-solving, which guided his academic and professional pursuits. Resnick graduated from Haverford High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts in physics from Princeton University in 1978. He later pursued graduate studies at MIT, receiving a Master of Science in 1988 and a Ph.D. in computer science in 1992, advised by Seymour Papert and Hal Abelson.

 Career 

 Journalism and early career 
From 1978 to 1983, Resnick worked as a science and technology journalist for Business Week magazine, exploring the societal impact of technology. This experience informed his later focus on educational technologies. He has since consulted globally on integrating computers into education.

 MIT Media Lab and Lifelong Kindergarten 
At the MIT Media Lab, Resnick serves as the LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research and leads the Lifelong Kindergarten group, which designs technologies to engage children in creative learning. His group's philosophy, rooted in the "Four P's of Creative Learning" (projects, passion, peers, and play), emphasizes hands-on, collaborative, and imaginative education.

In the 1990s, Resnick's team developed Programmable Bricks, which inspired the LEGO Mindstorms and LEGO WeDo robotics kits. These tools allow children to build and program robotic creations, fostering computational thinking and creativity.

 Scratch programming language 
Resnick is best known for leading the development of Scratch, a block-based visual programming language launched in 2007. Scratch enables children to create interactive stories, games, and animations by snapping together code blocks, making programming accessible without prior experience. 

Inspired by Resnick's work at the Computer Clubhouse, a network of after-school centers he co-founded, Scratch has become the world's leading coding platform for children, with millions of users globally. Its latest version, Scratch 3.0, was released in 2019.

Scratch encourages a "creative learning spiral" where users imagine, create, play, share, and reflect on projects. Over 25% of Scratch projects are "remixes," where users build on others' work, promoting collaboration and innovation.

 Other contributions 
Resnick co-founded the Computer Clubhouse, a global network of over 100 after-school centers providing underserved youth with access to digital tools for creative expression. He contributed to the One Laptop per Child project, designing the OLPC XO laptop, and serves as a co-principal investigator for MIT's Center for Civic Media.

Resnick has authored several influential books, including Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams (1994), Adventures in Modeling (2001, co-authored), The Official ScratchJr Book (2015, co-authored), and Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play (2017), which won the PROSE Award for Education Practice in 2018.

 Awards and recognition 
Resnick has received numerous awards for his contributions to education and computer science:

 National Science Foundation Young Investigator Award (1993)
 McGraw Prize in Education (2011)
 Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People (2011)
 AACE EdMedia Pioneer Award (2013)
 ISTE Making IT Happen Award (2018)
 LEGO Prize (2021)
 SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education (2025)

In 2018, Resnick spoke at the Belarus Hi-Tech Park, sharing his vision for Scratch and creative learning. He is a member of the Scientific Committee of Fondazione Reggio Children.

 Personal life 
Resnick's educational philosophy has been influenced by his mentor Seymour Papert's constructionist learning theory. This approach advocates for learning through creating tangible objects. Resnick's "Kindergarten Approach" emphasizes lifelong exploration and play. 

Resnick resides in the Boston area, where he continues his research and educational outreach.

 Legacy 
Through Scratch, Resnick has transformed computer science education, making coding accessible to millions of children. His work at the MIT Media Lab, LEGO, and the Computer Clubhouse has reshaped educational practices, encouraging the integration of coding as a tool for creativity and problem-solving.

 Selected publications 
Resnick, M. (1994). Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams: Explorations in Massively Parallel Microworlds. MIT Press.

Resnick, M., & Silverman, B. (2001). Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo.

Teachers College Press.

Bers, M. U., & Resnick, M. (2015). The Official ScratchJr Book. No Starch Press.

Resnick, M. (2017). Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and Play. MIT Press.

 External links 

Scratch Official Website
Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT Media Lab
Computer Clubhouse Network

Category:1956 birthsCategory:Living peopleCategory:American computer scientistsCategory:Educational technologistsCategory:Massachusetts Institute of Technology facultyCategory:Princeton University alumniCategory:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumniCategory:Scratch (programming language)Category:LEGO