Comments on: Post TEDxNYED Thoughts http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/ creativity + technology Mon, 12 Dec 2011 23:13:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: Alex Britez http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Alex Britez Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:11:49 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-162 In hindsight, I think the source of my aggravation was partly due to my own role in education. I am a technologist that works with education. The majority of the people at the conference where direct opposites, educators that work with technologies. Although I am familiar with all the topics, there was nothing that I could really latch onto for my own personal role. I still stand by my comments that I would have liked to see more examples, but the issue then becomes, how to prevent each talk from being a complete brag fest filled with "I this" and "I that". Don't really know what the answer is, except maybe a little more diversity. I am not so sure if i agree with not being able to engage a child that comes from a terrible home. I think just about every kid has the ability to be engaged in any topic. In my opinion, if a kid could be engaged while playing video games, or in a conversation with their friends, then there is nothing stopping them from being engaged in school. Although it may not be easy, I wouldn't say it is impossible. It is actually one of the main reasons why I recently decided to focus my technical talents in education. I want to do my part in insuring that those kids have a shot, and not get written off before they even had a chance to succeed. In hindsight, I think the source of my aggravation was partly due to my own role in education. I am a technologist that works with education. The majority of the people at the conference where direct opposites, educators that work with technologies. Although I am familiar with all the topics, there was nothing that I could really latch onto for my own personal role. I still stand by my comments that I would have liked to see more examples, but the issue then becomes, how to prevent each talk from being a complete brag fest filled with "I this" and "I that". Don't really know what the answer is, except maybe a little more diversity.

I am not so sure if i agree with not being able to engage a child that comes from a terrible home. I think just about every kid has the ability to be engaged in any topic. In my opinion, if a kid could be engaged while playing video games, or in a conversation with their friends, then there is nothing stopping them from being engaged in school. Although it may not be easy, I wouldn't say it is impossible. It is actually one of the main reasons why I recently decided to focus my technical talents in education. I want to do my part in insuring that those kids have a shot, and not get written off before they even had a chance to succeed.

]]> By: @briwcarter http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-161 @briwcarter Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:47:36 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-161 I watched the event via the Livestream and have shared your feelings about hearing what we SHOULD do but not enough of what IS CURRENTLY being done or HOW TO actually do it. I think this speaks to the state of schools and how difficult it is to change them. For now, public schools are always going to be 2 steps behind society in terms of technology until we reach the tipping point where our staff, as a whole, understands that implementing technology involves a lot of tinkering and trial and error. They aren't as receptive to learning, unlearning and relearning, quite frankly, because it takes time. I hate to be "that guy" because I really enjoyed Chris Lehmann's speech and love everything he is doing, but the reality is that he is the Principal of a charter schools that can be selective in its admissions. My reality is that our school must admit every kid that lives within our borders. Some of these kids are so damaged from their home situations that the most creatively crafted inquiry lesson will still not engage them in the learning. We can care about them and even if we do understand that we teach kids, not content, they aren't being cared for when they walk out the door. I watched the event via the Livestream and have shared your feelings about hearing what we SHOULD do but not enough of what IS CURRENTLY being done or HOW TO actually do it. I think this speaks to the state of schools and how difficult it is to change them. For now, public schools are always going to be 2 steps behind society in terms of technology until we reach the tipping point where our staff, as a whole, understands that implementing technology involves a lot of tinkering and trial and error. They aren't as receptive to learning, unlearning and relearning, quite frankly, because it takes time.

I hate to be "that guy" because I really enjoyed Chris Lehmann's speech and love everything he is doing, but the reality is that he is the Principal of a charter schools that can be selective in its admissions. My reality is that our school must admit every kid that lives within our borders. Some of these kids are so damaged from their home situations that the most creatively crafted inquiry lesson will still not engage them in the learning. We can care about them and even if we do understand that we teach kids, not content, they aren't being cared for when they walk out the door.

]]> By: Alex Britez http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-160 Alex Britez Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:29:18 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-160 It's my pleasure. As proactive as you and your team have been post event, I am positive that your next event will be mind blowing. Best of luck, and i will be sure to fill out a survey once i get my hands on it. It’s my pleasure. As proactive as you and your team have been post event, I am positive that your next event will be mind blowing. Best of luck, and i will be sure to fill out a survey once i get my hands on it.

]]> By: @arvind http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-159 @arvind Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:44:37 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-159 Alex, thanks for the suggestions. They are helpful, and you're right about the hallways - they're one of my favorite parts of any conference! As an organizers I was really sad to miss out on making some of those F2F connections. Knowing now that we could have done more to facilitate them is a helpful point. You'll be receiving a survey in the next couple of days which we hope you fill out. We've found much of what's been posted on the web, but it's hard to collect it all since there is so much out there in all kinds of locations! Alex, thanks for the suggestions. They are helpful, and you're right about the hallways – they're one of my favorite parts of any conference! As an organizers I was really sad to miss out on making some of those F2F connections. Knowing now that we could have done more to facilitate them is a helpful point. You'll be receiving a survey in the next couple of days which we hope you fill out. We've found much of what's been posted on the web, but it's hard to collect it all since there is so much out there in all kinds of locations!

]]> By: Dave Bill http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-157 Dave Bill Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:57:56 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-157 [In full disclosure, I am the curator for TEDxNYED] Thanks for your thoughtful comments. TEDxNYED was designed to introduce many of the ideas to a larger audience. Obvioiusly many of the attendees had prior knowledge of some if not all of the speakers but our hope was for those attendees to make connections and potentially go back to your institutions and spread awareness on those particular speakers that spoke to you. As for the networking suggestions, you bring up some great points and I appreciate your insight. We will definitely take your ideas into consideration for next time. [In full disclosure, I am the curator for TEDxNYED]

Thanks for your thoughtful comments. TEDxNYED was designed to introduce many of the ideas to a larger audience. Obvioiusly many of the attendees had prior knowledge of some if not all of the speakers but our hope was for those attendees to make connections and potentially go back to your institutions and spread awareness on those particular speakers that spoke to you.

As for the networking suggestions, you bring up some great points and I appreciate your insight. We will definitely take your ideas into consideration for next time.

]]> By: Alex Britez http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/2010/03/07/post-tedxnyed-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Alex Britez Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:25:01 +0000 http://blog.unthinkmedia.com/?p=538#comment-158 I understand where you are coming from, it can't be easy to create a full day event with a broad audience. Although, I didn't get that "ah ha" moment, i wrote in my post, I definitely learned a lot which made the event worth every minute and then some. Keep up the great work, and look forward to the next event. As for my networking suggestions, I don't know if my suggestions are the answer, however, I am sure that there is an innovative way to scaffold conversations. In my opinion, the discourse that happens outside of the auditorium is really where the power of an event like this could make things happen. I understand where you are coming from, it can't be easy to create a full day event with a broad audience. Although, I didn't get that "ah ha" moment, i wrote in my post, I definitely learned a lot which made the event worth every minute and then some. Keep up the great work, and look forward to the next event. As for my networking suggestions, I don't know if my suggestions are the answer, however, I am sure that there is an innovative way to scaffold conversations. In my opinion, the discourse that happens outside of the auditorium is really where the power of an event like this could make things happen.

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