TED Talks

TED Talks

Improving education is an ongoing endeavor. Educators all over the world can share ideas through TED Talks, articles, and more, and we have found a selection of ideas to be particularly inspiring. Read on to share the knowledge of what other educators experience, learn, and research in the effort to always make education more accessible and rewarding for students of all ages.

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High School Math Teacher Dan Meyer discusses how the current mathematical curriculum trains students to expect overly structured step-by-step problems and simple formulas to plug numbers into, leaving them unable to learn proper critical thinking skills. "We need more patient problem solvers." Check out Math Curriculum Needs a Makeover, presented by Dan Meyer at TEDxNYED 2010.

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Erik Stern and Karl Schaffer have integrated mathematics and dance in their teachings for over 20 years, using body movements and dance to explore mathematical ideas such as symmetry and combinatorics. Their presentation also shares with the audience how engaging in full-body learning activities can help students develop a mathematical mind.  Check out Math Dance, presented by Erik Stern and Karl Schaffer at TEDxManhattanbeach 2012.

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Presented by Arthur Benjamin, Arthur discusses not only the beauty of mathematics in nature with the simple and amazing Fibonacci sequence, but also explains how we need the inspiration in mathematics to teach students to learn how to think. "Mathematics is not just solving for X, is it also figuring out WHY." Check out The Magic of Fibonacci Numbers.

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Kahn Academy is well known for its clear videos and "Learn Anything" approach, but how else can videos make a difference in education? Founder of Kahn Academy, Sal Kahn, explains that reversing lecture and homework time creates more humanized classrooms that benefit everyone. Check out Let’s Use Video to Reinvent Education.

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