TED Talk

TED Talk

TED is a non-profit organisation devoted to spreading ideas in the form of inspirational and powerful speeches which are usually eighteen minutes or less. It began in 1984 as a conference that converged Technology, Entertainment and Design but today covered all topics e.g. from science to business issues. Also filmed around the world in more than a hundred languages (TED, 2016).

          A TED talk that I enjoyed and found related to ICT and education, was one that Tony Wagner from Harvard University presented. He stated that there should be seven survival skills taught throughout education, these were:

1)   Critical thinking and Problem solving (by asking the correct and specific questions to make the most of Google or the ability to do so during class without the aid of Google).

2)   Collaboration (the ability to work with others online, and example Wagner gave in his talk was the ability to Skype conference call with hundreds of colleagues or fellow people who are interested in educational development).

3)   Agility and Adaptability (the ability to be flexible in the forever changing technological era e.g. being able to learn how to use a brand new device).

4)   Initiative and Entrepreneurial skills (allowing the class to share ideas and opinions to formulate individual short term or long term goals e.g. an idea on how a lecture will be run or whether or not they want to have a business one day).

5)   Effective Oral and Written Communication (teachers and employers complain that in this digital age there is a lack of ‘persuasive’ writing that contains opinion and enthusiasm because everything can be found online).

6)   Processing and Analysing Information (the way in which we do so has dramatically changed compared to twenty years ago whereby we can ask ‘Siri’ on our iPhones a question without needing to go to the local library and digging out large textbooks etc).

7)   Curiosity and Imagination (to allow for creativity to solve global problems such as sustainability).

It is important to make sure that students graduate with the capability of effectively searching a relevant question to critically analyse and problem solve. This should be included for all subjects in all aspects of life. This could be the way that global problems can be resolved and the way that the world can develop to achieve its full potential.

After researching and listening to many fantastic TED talks online, I shall definitely use some relevant talks in my lessons to test and give motivation to my students.