Stanley McChrystal TED Talk Response

Stanley McChyrstal’s TED Talk, “Listen, learn… lead” tied back to a lot of the things that have been discussed in the past month. McChrystal incorporated story into is presentation to appeal to his audience. He had an easy pace as he spoke that kept the flow of the presentation. As well as pace, McChrystal also used passion to tell his story.

From this talk I take away many connections to other TED Talks and also Pink’s writing. McChrystal ended his speech by saying, “…a leader isn’t good because they are right…” this quote reminded me of the last TED Talk I watched, “On being wrong”. Schulz is dedicated her life to learning about being wrong.  Both McChrystal and Schulz believe that being right is not always the answer, sometimes the answer lies in being wrong. Why does this matter? As a society there is emphasis on being correct and always having the right answer, yet both of these speakers understand the importance of not being correct. Both speakers addressed the idea of failure. McChrystal explained that a leader allows others to fail while not allowing them to be a failure. I believe that Schulz would agree with this. By failing or being wrong you have not become a failure, but rather tried to succeed and fought the conventional idea.

In connection to Pink, McChrystal concludes with stating that “if you’re a leader the people who need you, need you on your feet”. I think that this statement relates to Pink’s, Drive. Leaders have what Pink refers to as intrinsic motivation. Leaders do things because they are motivated to do them and not because they will be rewarded or punished. They do whatever it is they do because of emotional ties to the people around them. Pink publicized the data about the day care center that implemented a fine to its clients for tardiness, thus canceling out emotional ties and leaving only economic ties. From this data we learn that when people feel emotional responsible they are more motivated to achieve. This is how a strong leader, leads.

Why do these things matter? In a world that is changing quickly and leading down the road to the unknown, leaders are necessities. This relates to me as a student because education can be changed and with a strong leader it can accomplish that. This leader would not allow the fear of being wrong allow them to halt their progress. This matters to the world because change is born from a strong and powerful leader that has intrinsic motivation. These qualities of leadership matter to education and the world because the world needs a leader.

Kathryn Schulz TED Talk Response

Kathryn Schulz’s TED Talk, “On being wrong” addressed a topic that people tend to associate with being unsuccessful. Schulz disagreed with this belief, saying that being wrong is what leads to great successes in life. She spoke with passion and told stories during her presentation. She also used visuals and provided an analogy in her presentation that compared the Coyote and Roadrunner television show to what being wrong feels like. This metaphor helped to transition Schulz’ Talk.  

Schulz mirrored what Pink has been discussing in chapter Symphony. Both Schulz and Pink have described that the people who have the ability to see the world as it can be (the inventors as Pink refers to them) will be successful in the future. They both said in one way or another the most successful people were at one time, wrong. In education, being wrong means that you have failed, and as Schulz said, that there is something wrong with us. Yet, it has been proven time and time again in history that being wrong doesn’t necessarily mean that you have failed. Sometimes the best of things come out of being wrong. Things such as the microwave oven, post it notes, and even silly putty. It seems that progress is made by being wrong and making discoveries and failing. How do we incorporate this idea into education? I believe we need to not emphasize being correct, as much as we need to emphasize the discovery and learning that lead to the answer. What does that look like? Well, I believe that it will take many attempts and maybe a few people being wrong to get us to that place. Why does this matter to the world? This matters because there is no progress or change without the fundamental human instinct to be wrong. In a world that has many people searching for change, being wrong is the way. Success exists in discovery and without first being wrong, that discovery cannot come to light. The assumption that being wrong also means failing is a belief that needs to be changed in order to change the world.

Clay Shirky TED Talk Response

Clay Shirky’s TED Talk,“How cognitive surplus will change the world” video explained human generosity and how it shapes the knowledge that people have access to. In the video Clay Shirky used story and subtle humor to prove his point and carry his speech. Shirky had a subtle humor that shined throughout the presentation and while presenting, Shirky showed two graphs that scientifically corresponded with what he was saying.

What matters most from this video is its relevance to the future. While the future is moving to a time of less consumption and more creation, we need to understand why that is. Shirky believes that it is because of intrinsic motivation and human generosity. So what does this mean for education? I believe that it means that we must learn to share our learning and create more. Sharing our learning means, having more face to face conversations and having all students perform in fishbowl type learning environments. If the world is becoming one of more creation, then the students need to partake. If what Clay Shirky believes is true class should center more around creating and less about consuming. Classes could change in a way that holds students socially and emotionally responsible, because as the experiment Clay Shirky presented, having these constraints results in higher performance from people. The world is obviously changing and if cognitive surplus is the way that the world is going, then it becomes vital for students to participate.

Dan Pink TED Talk Response

Dan Pink’s TED Talk, “The surprising truth about what motivates us” is a very mind blowing video. This video proves that the carrot-stick philosophy of motivation is not necessarily as effective as self-directed motivation. I take away a new appreciation for the average human. In the past it has been believed that what motivates people to perform better is incentive. Pink brings to attention that there is another drive. This drive is applied to work that Pink explains as “rudimentary cognitive work” and in these instances rewards lead to a lesser performance. Motivation for tasks such as these comes from the human urge to master a task and incentive cannot compete. Pink uses expression and passion as he speaks. His body expressions coexist with his words as he mesmerizes his audience. While presenting, Pink used visual aids to enhance his overall presentation. These techniques and styles create a great presentation that carries a powerful message. This message is what matters most. That incentive or punishment is not always a motivator and that can change the world. The public school system runs on a carrot- stick policy. By working hard, remaining on task, and completing assignments students are rewarded a great grade which mostly refers to an A. If students do not do this they receive poor grades and fail. After watching this video I personally see many things that can change in my own school that apply this new found discovery. If applied to schools, then the increase of student performance may be remarkable. Students would be learning for the sole purpose of learning and to master skills, a drive that a grade cannot compete with. Pink believes that this discovery can change the world and I agree. If the world embraced this idea business could achieve more such as Atlassian did with its own employees. The company challenges their employees to create something totally new in 24 hours and present it at a meeting. More software and devices have been created because of these meetings, where no one is rewarded or punished for what they produce. If the entire world did this, everything would change and that’s what ultimately matters, changing the world in a positive way.

Caroline Casey TED Talk Response

Caroline Casey’s TED Talk, “Looking past limits” was very inspirational. Casey had unique speaking techniques. She told her story with passion, a passion that seemed to reach every person in the audience. She used genuine emotion to get her point across and inspire others. She presented herself with the same passion. Her facial and body expressions reflected her story and she spoke with not only her voice, but also her expressions.  Casey talked about her life and the reality of belief. Casey explained that belief can change the world and that the world needs to change. Through her childhood and into her teenage years Casey’s parents allowed Casey to live, not knowing her limits and until she was seventeen; she never knew she was legally blind. Casey lived a double life by accomplishing things while never allowing anyone to know of her handicap. After a traumatic event Casey learned that she was believing in the wrong idea. Casey invested herself in a dramatic career change which allowed her to once again believe in something, herself. I took away the power of belief from listening and watching Casey. Casey is evidence that belief overcomes limits. Belief matters when challenging what was once seen as a limit. I believe this means that if you believe in yourself and not your limits you can accomplish anything. Believing leads to succeeding which is one point that Casey tries to convey. Casey, once she had accepted herself began to overcome her limits like never before, all because she believed that she could. That is what matters most, belief. It connects to me personally because as a student and an athlete I have limits, but that is not what matters. This connects to education on a more personal level. Each student, especially ones that have handicaps and learning disabilities, need belief in order to be successful. Instead of educators placing labels of limits on these students, maybe a different approach should be taken. Whatever that change is, it needs to happen. Everyone needs to believe that they can overcome to be able to reach their potential. Casey inspires us to believe in ourselves and see past our limits.

Ken Robinson TED TALK Response

Ken Robinson’s TED Talk leaves an immediate impact because he brings up a relevant issue that needs to be addressed. I take away from this video a new perspective on creativity. As Robinson says, art and dance are subjects that are not valued in the public school system. Robinson’s words gave me a new perspective. Maybe the public school system has it all wrong. Maybe we are not being educated in a way that will help us succeed in the future. Robinson’s TED Talk began a thought process in my head that will hopefully lead to a place of more understanding of creativity and what it means to me, personally. Robinson’s own creativity creates an, at ease feeling for the audience. He speaks as if he is having a one on one conversation with an individual rather than lecturing a room of people. Robinson uses humor periodically to keep the audience interested and everything he says flows and is relevant to what he is trying to communicate. Robinson’s relaxed speaking techniques carry on to his presentation style which is likewise, also relaxed. Robinson never becomes flustered or to the point where he raises his voice, and by presenting in this way, the audience is more able to take in his words and reflect on his personal beliefs. In this video Robinson discusses his belief that education kills creativity which is a relevant and meaningful opinion. It connects to me in every way possible because I am a student in a public education system. Everything Robinson discussed pertains to me and my future. Education needs to change to better fit the future is the opinion of most. How it needs to change can be debated, but it needs to change. Robinson believes that there needs to be more of an importance and significance placed on creativity. If that is the change that the world is making than education should be adjusting as well. I think that’s what matters above all, adapting to the new world. Whether it is by making progress in developing creativity, or in some other way, being able to make that change matters most.