Sam Richards TED Talk Response

Sam Richards’ TED Talk, “A radical experiment in empathy” connected to what was discussed in fishbowl today. Richards used visuals in his presentation some with just one word this made for a significant slide. He drew attention to what was projecting behind him and allowed it to connect his ideas and reinforce his point. Richards spoke with his hands and moved across the stage when he wanted to emphasize a point that he was making. Richards created experiments for the audience that solidified his main point.

                I take away from this presentation a new understanding of the world. As we discussed in class perspective is vital in achieving empathy. Richards used an experiment that put the audience in the shoes of an Arabic person. This experiment helped to put the people in a new light and change their perspective. In the blog someone brought up history books and their swayed perspective. I believe that empathy and understanding begin during education. Students learn mostly of how the United States was and is the hero and it is everyone else that is the enemy. This is relevant in education because education begins to teach students from a young age to not be empathetic. Not only do school systems fight empathy, but as Ken Robinson says they also kill creativity. Empathy and creativity are both right brained skills that need to be taught and enhanced. Empathy connects to the world because of perspective. If the world had a basic sense of empathy for each other maybe it would create more understanding. Understanding in the coming age will be more essential to the world than fact. I believe that Pink would agree with this statement. Richards experiment that put the audience in the shoes of the people that the United States considered enemies should be used on the world. We may not need to sympathize with the world, but it is important to empathize with the world.

Dave Eggers TED Talk Response

Dave Eggers’s  TED Talk "Once upon a school" presentation related directly to the world in which I live, the educational world. Eggers was obviously nervous to present, but he acknowledged it in a humorous way to make the audience more comfortable, I found this speaking technique to be humbling and more importantly, effective. Throughout the presentation, Eggers used a series of stories to illustrate his talk. He also used visuals and humor which made the presentation more dynamic.

From this TED Talk I take away a new idea of what education can look like and how it looks in areas in which Eggers has implemented his idea. Through talking with his friends and family who had teaching careers, Eggers noticed the importance of one on one time between students and their teachers. Eggers decided to introduce this idea in his community and opened a tutoring center where students could work one on one and beside actual writers and editors in a publishing company. I believe that Eggers did this because he was intrinsically motivated to do so. Eggers did not want to earn a profit from the tutoring, but he just wanted to help the students. This idea is similar to when Dan Pink talked about Wikipedia and how it was started by people voluntarily working on it and sharing their ideas. Both people in these instances were motivated to accomplish something and they did so without being rewarded. Eggers talk relates to me personally as a student. As class sizes increase due to teachers getting laid off, one on one time starts to decrease.  If something like what Eggers created was available I think it would be very beneficial to students because they would be getting what they lacked in their actual classrooms. Eggers gave a statistic in his presentation that said something along the lines of, if students are given one on one time for an hour a day, then it could improve their grades by one letter grade by the end of the year. This idea relates to the world because of what Clay Shirky said in his TED Talk about social constraints. Shirky talked about how the social constraints of a society create a society that is more generous. I think that relates to Eggers idea of one on one help because they both are about coming together to achieve something. If the world contributed to education and put forth the effort to help and volunteer because of the social constraints, and because they had the drive to do so, then we can change the world.

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.