This morning was spent grading my online students’ TED analysis presentations. I always love this part of the month because my students refer me to yet another must-watch TED Talk. Since many students love and analyze Stephen Ritz’s “A teacher growing green in the South Bronx,” I decided to finally watch the Talk:
Ritz is definitely a “whirlwind,” as TED’s biography describes. His speech is fast-paced. He is dynamic, energetic, and truly “the oldest sixth grader you’ll ever meet.” Ritz is more than just a delivery whirlwind; he is trying to use his energy to change his community. This TED Talk is inspiring. Take 13 minutes to watch it!
One of my most hardworking August superstar students chose Gabe Zichermann’s “How Games Make Kids Smarter” TEDx Talk for his TED Analysis presentation. We talked about game theory in education, and I couldn’t believe this student’s wonderful ideas and brilliant outlook. This inspired me to watch his TED Talk. Watch it here:
After I finally finish Jane McGonigal’s Reality Is Broken next week, I’m going to lend it to this precious angel student. I wish more people would learn about and get on board with game theory in education; I think it’s truly where we need to be in our classrooms.
What do you know and how do you feel about game theory in education?
You’ve heard me rave about Jane McGonigal’s Reality Is Broken. But if you’re not a reader, spend 20 minutes of your day watching her TED Talk: “Gaming Can Make A Better World.” It’s outstanding and also based on the ideas covered in her book. Matt Gilhooly, this TED Talk is for you today:
My online and classroom students analyze TED Talks. It helps us become better, stronger presenters if we can evaluate, break down, and study a successful speech. Why does it work? How does it work? What can I take from that speech and use in my presentations?
Some students have a difficult time with “dynamism” and a presenter’s presence. These students usually believe a speech should be entertainment and nothing more. If the speaker isn’t funny, he or she is boring. If the topic isn’t fun, the speech isn’t worth watching.
David Dow’s “Lessons From Death Row Inmates” is a presentation that proves a person doesn’t have to be funny to deliver a powerful, impacting message.
While at work last Saturday, I took a little TED break somewhere near the middle of five hours of grading. TED’s homepage featured LZ Granderson’s “The Myth of the Gay Agenda,” and I clicked to learn more.
Since I study, analyze, and teach public speaking for a living, I’m confident in my assertion that Granderson’s 17-minute “Myth” is not only one of the best TED Talks I’ve ever seen but also one of the best speeches I have ever seen.
He uses storytelling, audience interaction, and humor to capture and maintain his audience’s attention. He grounds his argument in history and references national documents to establish his external credibility. He uses Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, and logos) masterfully. Granderson’s speech also follows Nancy Duarte’s Sparkline structure. He goes back and forth between “what is” and “what could be” with a clear call to action. This TED Talk embodies all of the qualities of a strong persuasive presentation. It is a must-watch!
In “The Technology of Storytelling,” Joe Sabia delivers a quick, 4-minute presentation story by using his iPad. This is a tremendous example of story in terms of content alongside powerful visual story. Sabia’s visual presentation is exactly what you should be creating! Are you putting together another death-by-PowerPoint? If so, it’s time to ditch the template and get real! Visual presentation should be visual, and Sabia’s TED Talk is a perfect example.
As I mentioned in my current reading list, after watching David Kelley’s TED Talk (below), I stumbled upon Tom Kelley’s book The Art of Innovation written with Jonatahn Littman. David Kelley is the founder and chairman of IDEO while brother Tom is IDEO’s general manager.
Building creative confidence is something we should all make a priority. In his TED Talk, David Kelley asks us to think of creativity as a process that we can ALL develop. Creativity isn’t some talent bestowed only on certain people; it is a trait we all inherently have. If we’ve forgotten how to be creative, we must learn to see creativity in a different way, to focus on creativity as a process, and to build back up that creative confidence we had when we were younger.
While listening to The Diane Rhem Show on NPR earlier this week, I was introduced to Sherry Turkle (Source). Her words inspired my recent post “My Year Without Facebook.” This afternoon, after an 8-hour day of work on a Saturday, I needed a break from grading student podcasts and decided to visit TED for the first time in a few weeks. I happily discovered Sherry Turkle once again:
This TED Talk is a wake-up call for communication. Turkle explains that the cell phone and Internet technology is pulling us away from real life communication as well as self-knowledge, self-exploration, and true self identity. I love the idea that living in this Facebook world allows us to retouch and delete the “self,” eliminating the messy real world and replacing it with a more clean, clear technology. Turkle calls this the “Goldilocks Effect.”
I also love that she brings up this idea of “I share, therefore I am.” We’re finding so much of our identity lies in “connecting” with others using a gadget, but we are afraid to be alone; we don’t know who we really are because we can’t enjoy the solitude that comes with learning and developing our self-identity; and we aren’t truly connecting because all this communication occurs in isolation. These ideas are so important, I believe, for the culture obsessed with staying connected at all times. This is why most people will never have the courage to deactivate their Facebook accounts, although it is a healthy choice.
Man, I love Sherry Turkle!
I just put Turkle’s 2011 text, Alone Together, on my must-read list. Have any of you read Alone Together yet? What do you think of Turkle’s written work? Is it as great as her TED Talk and NPR interview with Diane Rehm?
Nancy Duarte Tweeted a link to this video yesterday: Why I Create.
Side note: Yes, I know I talk about Nancy Duarte on my blog almost every single day. Some people follow and adore celebrities. I worship Nancy Duarte. Just accept it :)
When I began researching creativity and where great ideas come from, I found this amazing video:
This week, I finished reading Scott Berkun’s Confessions of a Public Speaker, and while I haven’t yet written a review of the text, I wanted to share with you this wonderful gem:
