TED Masterclass

not just 'ideas worth sharing'

I am sure most of you (many if not all) have heard a TED talk. I have been inspired by some and the ideas shared by various speakers, experts in their own rights.

Ever since I began my journey as a Google Innovator last year, we have been provided with access to many different tech tools to tinker with to improve teaching and learning experiences for the students within our reach. One of those tools is the TED Masterclass app for organisations.

It seemed quite idealistic for me when I first started on the app. There were 3 main stages within 11 lessons before the optional submission of a video to the TED team in Stage 4. In this little blog post I will be sharing about some of my takeaways from the app and the value it brings for professional development.

Early on in the introduction videos, metaphors were used to convey the power of 'Ted-like' talks. When a scientist Sophie Scott shared about laughter in her speech, it gave the listeners a gift of incalculable value, an idea that will forever be a part of them.

It is also said that a great talk is like a journey that the speaker and the audience take together. When Tierney Thys speaks, it is transporting as she speaks like a tour guide
bringing the audience to a beautiful new place.

Why do great thoughts and stories resonate so strongly with so many people, and how do we communicate them? Using functional MRI experiments, Uri Hasson of Princeton is looking for the answers of why and how language helps spread ideas.

Working with the end in mind, focusing on what one will give or reveal is the perfect foundation for one's talk. However the process is important too as the video lessons in the app are filled with imageries and animations details out 'Talk Tools' like connection, storytelling, explanation, persuaion, revelation and visual (like a wonder walk).

TED apps 

Below are some brief notes I took as I watched the videos and learned actively (just as how I wished my students would too):

• Style without substance is awful. Insights could be drawn from one's experiences.
• Have honest conversations for those who know you best
• Own 1st person experience of life
• Use this opportunity to discover and have something worth saying
• Say something meaningful
• Need to have a plan, have a throughline, spend time on the overall arc
• Ensure there is a connecting theme that ties together each element
• All the pieces need to connect, it is about the flow
• 'more choice actually makes us less happy'
• 'vulnerability is something to be treasured not hidden from.'
• It is important to bring choices to the table for students. 
• Apply differentiated instructions, have equalisers to motivate and engage them to learn better.
• 'education's potential is transformed if you focus on the amazing and hilarious creativity of kids.'
• expect the unexpected. ensure there are no unexpected leaps
• find out as much as possible about the audience
• unpack the idea with the time provided
• overstuffed = underexplained
• something interesting- show why it matters and flesh out each point you make with real examples, stories and facts
• a single connected thread
• cover less but impact is greater, less can be more
• Think - no more than 15 words, what is the precise idea
• Consider passion, curiosity, gift or an ask?
• Is it fresh or already out there?
• Do I know enough? Do I have the credibility?
• Will the 15 words persuade others
• say it out loud, it crystallises the idea
• Elizabeth Gilbert, choose your own human (intelligent and curious) and engage the person, blow their mind, choose something that lives deep within you
• most important in your life
• not a fresh radical gimmick
• 'you will only cover as much ground as you can dive into in sufficient depth to be compelling'
• Tough making decisions? Giving students choices make them better humans.

Recently, Ted-Ed has also launched a TED-Ed@Home in response to the COVID-19 pandemic for users to "Stay Curious!"

TED inspires me to continue writing and reflecting so that I can share my ideas (bigger & better)