Scott is changing both what teachers teach and how they teach it, through the creation of free and open resources, including curricula, lesson plans, and video documentation drawn straight from the classroom.

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But it has also spawned an important lesson in designing challenges and open innovation projects.

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The other lesson is to just be insanely open, and realize there will always been conspiracy theorists whom you will never convince.

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Above all, the biggest lesson learned from startups is that you have to be open to trying new and unconventional tactics.

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The most important lesson of Napster is that, surprisingly, people are willing to open their computers to, and share files with, complete strangers when they see value in doing so.

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Back when he was a young golfer, he got an Augusta lesson from Ken Venturi, whose accomplishments included a U.S. Open win and a Masters second-place finish as an amateur.

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Mr. Gates's lesson to managers was more along the lines of innovate, work hard and trust the customer through open systems.

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