Festival of Learning 2025 discusses the future of mens et manus education at MIT
The annual event aims to “improve teaching and learning at the institute”
On Jan. 29, the Festival of Learning 2025 took place at Stata Center. Co-sponsored by MIT Open Learning and the Office of the Vice Chancellor, the annual event serves to bring MIT faculty, staff, and students together to discuss ways to improve “teaching and learning at the Institute.” This year’s theme centered on the future of mens et manus education at MIT. This motto of MIT, mens et manus, means “mind and hand” in Latin, which reflects MIT’s focus on hands-on learning.
The event began with opening remarks from Interim Vice Chancellor Daniel E. Hastings, followed by a panel titled “Mens et Manus for the Future.” The panel was moderated by Director of MIT Teaching + Learning Lab Janet Rankin, and featured four panelists from different disciplines: Professor of History Christopher Capozzola, NEET Founding Executive Director Dr. Amitava ‘Babi’ Mitra, Professor of Biology Adam Martin, and Professor of Anthropology Susan Silbey. Following the first panel was a second panel called “Moving Forward Together,” an event where panelists discussed how interdisciplinary collaboration helped “transform their MIT subjects.”
The afternoon consisted of three facilitated sessions across different areas in education and pedagogy. Associate Director of Learning Sciences and Teaching Aaron Kessler hosted “Improve Your MIT Subject(s),” while Senior Educational Technology Consultant Jim Cain organized a session about the educational tool Lightboard, used for creating written or visual demonstrations. Prof. Adam Martin held a white paper brainstorming session for the Task Force on the Undergraduate Academic Program (TFUAP), an initiative that aims to improve and change the MIT undergraduate academic experience.
A recording of the event has been uploaded onto the MIT Open Learning website.