Motivation: TED Talks

I like TED Talks. The goal, according to the website, is to "share Ideas Worth Spreading". I really love when someone on Facebook has "liked" a Talk and I'm exposed to some passionate person sharing some idea that makes me think. I wish I was in a TED Talk club (like a book club but with video watching) to discuss the ideas from the various Talks.

If you read comments on some of the videos, you'll find plenty of people discussing and disagreeing with the speakers. When I watch a video, I tend be swept up by the speaker's passion. I think that's why these videos can be so powerful. And why they can spark so much discussion. A few of my favorites, about education, are below.



This is a fairly recent (May 2015) Talk from a principal who shares how she has attempted to turn around some failing schools in Philadelphia. I liked her "so what, now what" principle.



This teacher's perspective on being a champion for every child was refreshing. She speaks about the importance of relationships and asks us to think about building kids' self esteem as well as their academic achievement.



This former teacher believes that educators can learn from "master storytellers" such as rap artists and preachers in black churches. He talks about the importance of engaging students and believes that this magic can be taught to new teachers.


What TED Talks have you found particularly powerful, inspiring, or thought-provoking?