Mitchel Resnick

Mitchel Resnick (born June 12, 1956) is an American computer scientist. He is the LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, and he created Scratch, a popular programming language for young people.

As of 2019, Resnick led the Media Arts and Sciences academic program at the MIT Media Lab, which offers master's degrees and Ph.D.s. His work has created many educational tools that help people learn through design. These include Programmable Bricks, which inspired the Lego Mindstorms kits, and StarLogo software.

Resnick also helped start the Computer Clubhouse, a network of learning centers for young people from communities that have fewer opportunities. He worked on projects like the next generation of Programmable Bricks and the One Laptop per Child initiative, which made the OLPC XO laptop, an affordable computer for students.

Education

Mitchel Resnick went to Haverford High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Princeton University in 1978. He then went on to get his master's and doctorate degrees in computer science from MIT, finishing in 1988 and 1992.

Career

Mitchel Resnick spent five years working as a science and technology journalist for Business Week magazine. He has helped many people understand how computers can be used in learning and teaching. In 1993, he received a special award called the Young Investigator Award from the National Science Foundation. Resnick has worked together with many researchers, including Natalie Rusk, Brian Silverman, and Yasmin Kafai.

Awards

Mitchel Resnick won the 2011 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. He was also named one of the 100 most creative people in Business in 2011 by Fast Company. In 2025, he received the SIGCSE Award for Outstanding Contribution to Computer Science Education.

Published books

Mitchel Resnick has written several books about learning and creativity. One of his books, Lifelong Kindergarten, talks about cultivating creativity through fun projects and play. Another book, The Official ScratchJr Book, helps kids learn to code with ScratchJr. His other books explore topics like modeling complex systems and constructionism in digital worlds.