Praxis refers to the exercise or practice of an art, science, or skill. It can also mean the customary practice or conduct of something (Merrrian-Webster). These ideas lie at the heart of a practical education. At MIT Sloan, our goal is to help develop innovative and principled leaders with the skill and passion to make a difference in the world. In order for great ideas to have an effect, they must be turned into action. And an education in praxis offers the tools for that practical action. The approach rests on a belief that we equip ourselves to have the best impact on the world by developing and practicing the skills for effective action. Praxis also plays a role in how we learn from others: the practices and conduct of real-world managers and leaders provide illustrations and examples for our own learning.
But the notion of praxis goes beyond practicality: it also rests on the idea of turning theory into action (from Merrrian-Webster: "practical application of a theory"). Pairing theory and action is a hallmark of MIT, and at the Sloan School of Management students prepare by learning theory, tools, and methods in classrooms, act as they apply them in real-world projects, and reflect on their experiences to build their own practice of effective management.
Appreciating the value of practical application of theories is an important theme American pragmatism, a philosophical approach with deep roots in American culture. The pragmatists assess the value of ideas by their practical import, asking how it changes people's experience. Praxis resonates in management research, too: in 1945, describing a research program at MIT that preceeded the founding of the Sloan School of Managment, Kurt Lewin declared that "nothing is as practical as a good theory" http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0038-0431%28194505%298%3A2%3C126%3ATRCFGD%3E2.0.CO%3B2-D
. Today his words still frame the study of organizations, business, and management for academics throughout the world. And in education, the notion of praxis embodies the highest goals: Praxis "..enables learners to engage with the situation as committed thinkers and actors." http://www.infed.org/biblio/knowledge.htm#practical Reproduced from the encyclopaedia of informal education www.infed.org According to this notion, in praxis for learning, the goal is an interactive process in which both learner and teacher seek to improve the situation (see also http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-curric.htm#praxis and http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-praxis.htm).
This rich history and our own experience MIT Sloan offer us a great starting point for further developing praxis at MIT Sloan. Please join our emerging community, look around our emerging website, and join the dialogs in our meetings, participate in our learning experiences, and let us know what you think.