--- title: 5 Lessons Change Managers Can Learn from Seymour Papert description: Seymour Papert's constructionist theory has played a key role in learning efforts. Here are five lessons change managers learn from him to activate change. image: https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/210301/Article%20Photos/210301-fast-facts-shutterstock-1595587102-featured-image.jpg --- [![Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logodark-1.svg "Activate Behavior Change")](https://www.cognician.com) - About Us - [Clients](https://info.cognician.com/clients) - [Security & Privacy](https://info.cognician.com/security-and-privacy) - [Our Team](https://info.cognician.com/our-team) - [Careers](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-careers) - [Contact Us](https://info.cognician.com/contact-us) - Our Approach - [Methodology](https://info.cognician.com/methodology) - [Features](https://info.cognician.com/features) - [Gamification](https://info.cognician.com/gamification) - Activation - [Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/quest-collection) - [Activation Workshops](https://info.cognician.com/activation-workshops) - [Activation Courses](https://info.cognician.com/activation-foundations-certification-program) - Activate AI Adoption - [Copilot M365 Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-microsoft-copilot-adoption) - [Copilot Agent Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-ai-agent-adoption-with-cognicians-proven-change-platform) - [Copilot Chat Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/how-to-activate-copilot-adoption-and-empower-employees-to-work-smarter) - Resources - [Transformation Tactics](https://info.cognician.com/transformation-tactics) - [Research](https://info.cognician.com/resources) - [Thought Leadership](https://info.cognician.com/blog) - [Press](https://info.cognician.com/press-releases) - [Webinars](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-webinars) - [Log in](https://www.cognician.com/login) - [Book a Call](https://info.cognician.com/book-a-call) ![5 Lessons Change Managers Can Learn from Seymour Papert](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/210301/Article%20Photos/210301-fast-facts-shutterstock-1595587102-desktop-image.jpg) [Back to Blog](https://blog.cognician.com) # 5 Lessons Change Managers Can Learn from Seymour Papert Fast Facts by Aisling McCarthy 1 March 2021 - - [Change Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/change-management) [Leading Change](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/leading-change) - - *Seymour Papert's constructionist theory has played a key role in learning efforts. What can change managers learn from him?* --- Seymour Papert is best known as a leading figure in constructionist learning. Constructionism describes the way that students learn by working with concrete materials rather than abstract concepts. The best known examples of this are the logo programming language and LEGO Mindstorms.  Here are 5 lessons that change managers can learn from Papert's constructionist thinking: Lesson 1: **Learning needs to be an active process** Change management programs need to put the learner front and center in order to actually achieve something. Learners cannot simply read, listen to or watch content and be expected to *really* learn from it. They need to be actively involved in the learning process. **Lesson 2: Learners need their minds to be engaged** In order to ensure learning does happen, [change management](https://info.cognician.com/topic/change-management) programs need to be set at the right level. They should be difficult enough to keep the learner engaged and thinking critically, but not *too* difficult that they become despondent and detached from the experience. Lesson 3: Learning is a social activity Humans are social creatures, and our learning is intimately associated with our connection to others. Learning shouldn't be viewed as an individual activity performed by a person in isolation. Rather, change management plans should use social elements to maximize learning. Conversation and interaction with others are powerful learning tools. **Lesson 4: Learning is contextual** People do not learn theories and facts in isolation. Everything we learn is in relation to our personal context: what we know and the way we experience the world around us. While it is possible to memorize facts in isolation, learners are only able to truly *understand* concepts when they can contextualize them. **Lesson 5: Learning takes time** Learning doesn't happen immediately. Learners cannot simply read, listen to or watch learning content and fully understand it all from the get go. They need time to consider ideas, contextualize them, and then revisit them several times. [Reflection](https://info.cognician.com/how-reflection-helps-us-learn-according-to-science-opinion-piece) is a key element when it comes to significant learning. When it comes to [leading change](https://info.cognician.com/topic/leading-change), there is much to learn from Papert's theories. In order to successfully [activate behavior change](https://info.cognician.com/how-to-activate-behavior-change-at-work), change management professionals should keep these lessons in mind. ### Related Articles [![5 Myths That Are Breaking Your Performance Reviews](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/feedback%20.png)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/5-myths-that-are-breaking-your-performance-reviews) 11 July 2025 ## [5 Myths That Are Breaking Your Performance Reviews](https://info.cognician.com/blog/5-myths-that-are-breaking-your-performance-reviews) Debunking performance review myths and breaking down why real-time feedback is the future of performance. 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Drawing from real... [Change Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/change-management) [Leading Change](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/leading-change) ![logolight (1)](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logolight%20(1).svg) Cognician’s founding belief is that people are capable of great things when their behavior is driven by meaningful conversations, great questions, powerful ideas, and deeply felt emotions. Our core capability is enabling large organizations to activate behavior change at scale. We achieve this by creating personalized, data-driven digital experiences that are grounded in action, follow-through, reflection, and social engagement. 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