--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Teenagers learn best by doing things…" description: "\"Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite of what mainstream schoo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg" --- # Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in… ![“Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite of what mainstream schooling actually does.” quote by Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg) > “Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite of what mainstream schooling actually does.” [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active, collaborative, real‑world learning outperforms passive, individual classroom methods. **In simple terms:** Learning by doing in teams works best. Key Takeaway Prioritize hands‑on, collaborative projects. Themes education collaboration experiential learning youth development Mood optimistic critical Type policy motivational When to use this quote - school curricula - after‑school clubs - internships - community projects Key Concepts pedagogy team dynamics skill acquisition Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent schools from adopting experiential methods? - How can students drive their own learning? A Different Perspective Traditional lecture models still dominate many systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Doing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-things/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mainstream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mainstream/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Opposites](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposites/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Schooling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schooling/) [Schooling Actually](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schooling-actually-4621270/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teams Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-learn-4388733/) [Teenager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenager/) [Teenagers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers/) [Teenagers Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenagers-learn-4621269/) [Things Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-learn/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [The teams that learn better are the teams that grow better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruben-dias/the-teams-that-learn-better-are-the-teams-that-grow-better/) [Ruben Dias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruben-dias/) > [Teams, not individuals, are the fundamental learning unit in modern organizations. This is where the "rubber stamp meets the road"; unless teams can learn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/teams-not-individuals-are-the-fundamental-learning-unit-in-modern/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [“Getting feasible actions out of a retrospective and getting them done helps teams to learn and improve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-linders/getting-feasible-actions-out-of-a-retrospective-and-getting-them-done/) [Ben Linders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-linders/) > [Predation is part of the everyday life of capitalism, in sectors as mainstream as pharmaceuticals, software and oil - where people's money, their data,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/predation-is-part-of-the-everyday-life-of-capitalism-in-sectors-as/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [“You are the sum total of the people you meet and interact with in the world. Whether it’s your family, peers, or co-workers, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanner-colby/you-are-the-sum-total-of-the-people-you-meet-and-interact-with-in-the/) [Tanner Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanner-colby/) > [It's easier to learn many other things, if you first learn how to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/it-s-easier-to-learn-many-other-things-if-you-first-learn-how-to-learn/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [I'm far from perfect but I have managed to earn a good deal of respect by trying to implement the kinds of things you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-martin/i-m-far-from-perfect-but-i-have-managed-to-earn-a-good-deal-of/) [Mark Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-martin/) > [For me, there are always things to learn. It's like the next movie is going to be the good one, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maiwenn/for-me-there-are-always-things-to-learn-it-s-like-the-next-movie-is/) [Maiwenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maiwenn/) > [But the virtues we get by first exercising them, as also happens in the case of the arts as well. For the things we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/but-the-virtues-we-get-by-first-exercising-them-as-also-happens-in/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [We learn good things and we learn bad things but together they come out awesome because the bad cant out weigh the good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frenchqueen/we-learn-good-things-and-we-learn-bad-things-but-together-they-come/) [Frenchqueen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frenchqueen/) > [3 Things to learn from a CHILD:-To be happy for no reason..To be always busy doing something..To know how to demand small things without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/3-things-to-learn-from-a-child-to-be-happy-for-no-reason-to-be-always/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [I've learnt a lot about certain things but you also learn through your own experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-ve-learnt-a-lot-about-certain-things-but-you-also-learn-through/) [Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/) > [There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/there-are-some-things-you-learn-best-in-calm-and-some-in-storm/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [This extends to all things, but you only learn it by losing a few times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/this-extends-to-all-things-but-you-only-learn-it-by-losing-a-few-times/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [When I know things are not for me, I learn to let go. It doesn't mean I'm weak but I'm just showing how strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-know-things-are-not-for-me-i-learn-to-let-go-it-doesn-t-mean-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Geoff Mulgan > [For most of human history, the main goal of states has been to conquer land and to achieve glory for their rulers, usually at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/for-most-of-human-history-the-main-goal-of-states-has-been-to-conquer/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Over 5,000 years, states have made surprisingly consistent claims about their duties. They have promised to protect people from threats; promote their welfare; deliver…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/over-5-000-years-states-have-made-surprisingly-consistent-claims/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The wrongful arrest of tens of thousands of British Muslims after the September 11 attacks can be explained by the very poor intelligence the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-wrongful-arrest-of-tens-of-thousands-of-british-muslims-after-the/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Understanding capitalism is in some ways simple. At its best, capitalism rewards creators, makers and providers: the people and firms that create valuable things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/understanding-capitalism-is-in-some-ways-simple-at-its-best/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [By international standards, many of the U.K.'s policies for civil society are exemplary. However, there are concerns about constraints on civil liberties - particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/by-international-standards-many-of-the-u-k-s-policies-for-civil/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Bangalore has become a centre for healthcare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/bangalore-has-become-a-centre-for-healthcare/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [The idea of entrepreneurship applies as much in politics, religion, society and the arts as it does in business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/the-idea-of-entrepreneurship-applies-as-much-in-politics-religion/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Deeper fulfilment is rather different from the happiness of seeing a good film or watching your team win at football, and it doesn't come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/deeper-fulfilment-is-rather-different-from-the-happiness-of-seeing-a/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [With a fractured sense of self, we come to depend on what people feed back to us - often mediated through social networks -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/with-a-fractured-sense-of-self-we-come-to-depend-on-what-people-feed/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Predation is part of the everyday life of capitalism, in sectors as mainstream as pharmaceuticals, software and oil - where people's money, their data,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/predation-is-part-of-the-everyday-life-of-capitalism-in-sectors-as/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [As a civil servant in charge of the government's Strategy Unit, I brought in many people from outside government, including academia and science, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/as-a-civil-servant-in-charge-of-the-government-s-strategy-unit-i/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Systems governed by only one set of rules are more vulnerable than those with variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/systems-governed-by-only-one-set-of-rules-are-more-vulnerable-than/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [States which used to communicate directly to their citizens now do so through the media, where their messages are reshaped by the logics of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/states-which-used-to-communicate-directly-to-their-citizens-now-do-so/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [Even many of the teenagers who feel confident on navigating the web simply don't have the skills needed to 'write and create' digital tools,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/even-many-of-the-teenagers-who-feel-confident-on-navigating-the-web/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) > [“Forty percent of our social interactions happen with 5 other people, and 60 percent with only 15 others. It’s hard to have a sustained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/forty-percent-of-our-social-interactions-happen-with-5-other-people/) [Geoff Mulgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) [Explore all 93 Geoff Mulgan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real - all the opposite of what mainstream schooling actually does.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geoff Mulgan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6f/geoff-mulgan-7252_children_teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-the_556224.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Teenagers learn best by doing things, they learn best in teams and they learn best by doing things for real…” — Geoff Mulgan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Geoff Mulgan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-mulgan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Teenagers learn best by doing things,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-mulgan/teenagers-learn-best-by-doing-things-they-learn-best-in-teams-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```