TED-ED clubs give students a platform for sharing ideas

The clubs are fashioning the next generation of TED speakers one big idea at a time

One of Mitzi Stover’s biggest challenges as a teacher is convincing her students they have a voice. Stover teaches speech and English at North Torrance High School in a working-class area of Los Angeles where kids seldom travel or even leave the neighborhood.

“Their world is very small geographically,” Stover said during a recent presentation at the CUE 2016 national conference in Palm Springs. “And teenagers are already so dismissed most of the time.”

From her years of teaching, Stover knew that having students delve into their interests and personal experiences was one of the best ways to develop their passions — and in turn their public speaking. But presenting to the same classmates they saw every day was decidedly low-stakes and hardly helped her convince students they had a voice, let alone a global reach.…Read More

7 TED Talks All About Mobile

The psychology of mobile devices, a 12 year-old app developer, how phones make us antisocial, and more

mobile-teensThis month’s TED Talks focuses in on a subject near and dear to our thumbs—our mobile devices.

TED Talks are some of today’s most popular examples of the internet’s power to expand learning opportunities to all. They’re also fun to watch.

I picked this month’s theme because I find the subject endlessly fascinating and the talks listed here, illuminating. For educators juggling using mobile devices in their personal lives and in the classroom, the past, present, and future of the device has a special importance.  There’s plenty to learn about the psychology, anthropology, and future of the mobile device.…Read More

6 inspiring TED Talks

These TED Talks highlight promising and inspiring concepts

TED-talksEvery educator needs some inspiration now and then, and these days, such inspiration can be found online in just a few seconds.

The internet brings inspiring and motivational speakers and experts to anyone with a connection and an internet-ready device.

TED Talks are one of today’s most popular example of the internet’s power to expand learning opportunities to all.…Read More

5 must-watch TED Talks

These 5 TED Talks are each given by an education professional or technology expert with their own unique vision for how to improve learning.

ed-tech-ted-talksThe nonprofit Technology, Education and Design (TED) is “devoted to spreading ideas,” according to its mission statement. How does it do that?

By recording and posting various talks on different topics, given by experts in different fields. It began in 1984, but has lately risen to new popularity, and now has a worldwide following.

Not only does TED have a wide range of Talks devoted exclusively to education, but many of these talks–all available online–deal specifically with education technology, and how to best integrate technological innovations into schools everywhere.…Read More