Ted Talk 8 Niels Diffrient rethinks the way we sit down

Diffrient's Ted Talk displayed his life's "romance for design". He grew up with a "romance" for drawing airplanes and building them. Once he chose to study aerodynamics in school, he discovered that he was more into the design of airplanes and not the airflow and mathematical part of airplanes. He then went into design for his profession and put out pieces of this "romance" but he received nothing in return since the nature of his designs were decided by the customer. Diffrient then moved on to another profession of design with furniture, his specificity was chairs. Now, he would focus on how to accommodate the human body and its needs not like the aerodynamics of airplanes. He then made an easily-adjustable chair after many years that would fit almost everyone. The chair was designed without knobs or twists but to be adjustable by simply pulling up or down on the chair, headrest, etc. This creates people to have a fitted chair that helps their work performance level since they are accommodated. 


Diffrient speaks using examples from his early childhood and how he loved to draw airplanes. He also displays his own product that he designed, his accommodating chair. Diffrient actually tested his chair and showed the easiness of its function to the audience. This helped them understand more and how this design fits the function. This made me think of the design chapter in "A Whole New Mind". I thought that things had to fit their function but also be user-friendly and easily able to accommodate all the different people. I also thought that this talk showed how much work is put into the design and function of a product especially a chair! It's much more complicated than at first glance.


This Ted Talk is presented well in storytelling format. Diffrient tells the audience how he loved the "romance" between planes and how they worked. Then he explained his career into design which eventually led to furniture design of a very functional chair. He also uses jokes throughout his speech to bring humor into a usually dry topic which was his life into design and how things work (chairs, "the romance", planes, etc.).


This video exhibits the "romance" between creativity, design, and function. (Again, I think this goes hand-in-hand with the design chapter in "A Whole New Mind."). I think this also presents the idea that you have to understand how an object works before you can creatively design it. This video personally teaches me that many ideas go into designing something before a finished product results. I need to understand more how things work essentially before taking one design over another. (This Ted talk also made me interested in his chair!) Education can benefit from this video because it explains careers may change. Students can learn that if one thing doesn't work out, that there is another profession that is made for them. For the world's perspective I think that designers have a much more difficult task than artists. Designers need a product to have capability and function, while artists have more of a free-range over what they accomplish for their job. The artists can create various things, but, designers must stick to one product and create a commendable design.

Ted Talk 7 Joachim de Posada says, Don't eat the marshmallow yet

This video displayed the importance of good things come to those who wait. I thought the experiment in this Ted talk was very interesting. The man took three, four year old children and gave them a marshmallow. He told the children you can eat the marshmallow now, or you can wait 15 minutes (not eat the marshmallow) and then you will get a second marshmallow to eat. In these tests, 2 out of 3 children ate the first marshmallow. Posada followed up this experiment many years later and found that the child who did not eat the marshmallow right away ended up at a university with good grades. The children who ate the first marshmallow right away ended up with bad grades and were unsuccessful throughout their late teen years.


The speaker uses video to show the second time this experiment was carried out. In the video, you got to see the children contemplating if they would actually eat the marshmallow. The same results occurred, 2 out of 3 ate the marshmallow. The video showed the child who waited was trying not to focus on the marshmallow. This technique allowed the audience to understand what the mind goes through while making this decision.


Posada's style in this talk is not overly expressive. He gives out the information and facts without really adding anything else to this topic. He tells about his experiments with the marshmallow and children and how the children ended up later in their lifetime.


Personally, this video made me wonder if I was put in the same situation, would I wait for a larger-scale reward? Would I take what was just given to me? I hope I would wait since waiting for something has a better personal "feeling" reward that you earned the extra reward. Education should interpret this Ted talk as an affective way of seeing how many children take what's given to them. Over 50% of the children were making irrational decisions so teachers should see how this may affect the learning environment. Some students may not try their best just to get an average grade. The "others" who wait and try hard for the optimal reward will earn their above-average grade. The world should take into account that over half of the population will not amount to their fullest potential since they will "take whats given to them".

TED talk 6 Dave Eggers

Eggers's Ted talk showed students need to have one-on-one tutoring time at least an hour a week to improve their capabilities. He made a tutoring center and had volunteers come to the center to offer free tutoring one-on-one with students. The tutoring center he had set up was unlike a tutoring center for "those kids who need extra help". He creatively came up with a silly-themed shop with tutoring in the back. The school setting was eliminated and the environment was amusing. Students were actively engaged and actually wanted to learn. The students who repeatedly visited centers like these wanted to get their homework done. One student felt like getting his homework done and knowing the next day he would achieve made it like a good addiction. This whole organization was made to engage students to complete their homework and tasks and want to complete their homework and tasks.

The speaking techniques of Eggers include his various descriptions of all the comical tutoring centers. One for instance was a pirate shop and Eggers showed a slideshow of pictures and the environment of the shop that was surrounding the students  and created the want to be there feeling. 

Eggers's style seemed nervous, but, very prepared. He said "uh" numerous times; however, he definitely had prepared lots of information to talk about and show the positive outcome of these tutoring centers. His information was also about the tutoring centers' designs and what each one of them is like.

This video shows the importance of one-on-one creative tutoring set up in a positive environment for students. The students will excel and actually want to excel! I personally will seek more one-on-one help with my teachers now if I don't understand something. Once I learn how to accomplish the task, then, I will have that want to do the work well. Education can definitely be influenced by this Ted talk. Teachers need to actively engage their students and make learning and carrying out new ideas a good outlet for students. The entire world as a whole can benefit from this talk. More students who want to learn can become successful. These successes will benefit society and create a world that is more open to new things.

Ted Talk 5 Dan Ariely "Are we in control of our own decisions?"

After watching this video, I learned that our decision-making process is affected by many things. When making choices, if a third option is added (to the two choices to begin with) that is less desirable but like one of the other two options we tend to choose the superior-like option. We also irrationally decide if something is a bargain. He uses an example of subscription. There is an online version of the subscription which is cheap, a print version which is expensive, and the third option is a combo deal with the online and print subscription for the same price as just the expensive print subscription. Most people chose the expensive combo deal. When the combo deal was taken away, there was only the online and print subscription choices. Then, most people chose the cheap online subscription.


The speaker uses many illusions to prove his point. He says that the human mind is incapable of detecting an illusion which shows the lack of humans' decision processes. Once example is when he shows two tables, one turned horizontally and one turned vertically. Our mind tricks us into thinking that the table turned vertically is longer, even though it is the exact same length. He also shows statistics that display how options affect the human decision-making process. The statistic shows difference in organ donation in different countries. In one country the dmv had a box that said check this if you want to participate in organ donation. The other country said check this box if you do not want to participate in organ donation. The results concluded the countries that said "check this box if you do not want to participate in organ donation" had practically no one check that box.


The speaker uses numerous examples to prove his point. He uses examples with attraction. He has three computer generated male faces. Two are similar but one of the two has been photoshopped to be less desirable. People choosing between the two faces chose the man who was similar but superior to the undesirable. Another example was medical reasons. A doctor told a patient to start hip replacement therapy but found he hadn't tried the ibuprofen option. Most doctors would go and try the ibuprofen. But in the other example ibuprofen and another drug were added as options. The doctors then just kept the patient on hip replacement therapy and this shows humans are irrational decision makers.


This video shows us that we are not thinking through our decisions very well when we make them. We are highly influenced by factors making one choice more desirable than others. This video will help me think through my decisons more when I face an obstacle like choosing one thing over another since it may seem like a better bargain. Education should not have outside sources that impact students' decision making. Students need to be able to stand their ground on a decision not just because it's a better bargain. The world's population should consider options while making decisions and think if one of the choices was taken away, would they choose something different?

Ted Talk 4 (Clay Shirky)

This video taught me about cognitive surplus "ability of world's population to volunteer, contribute, collaborate on large (sometimes global) projects". I learned that cognitive surplus is made up of free time that people have to commit to shared projects. Cognitive surplus lets motivation to be formed into a new design resource. When someone puts out creative information, no matter how silly it may be, they have still accomplished more than someone who has not put out that information, since, the creativity that was put out can be improved. Another take-away from this video was the deterrences theory (add a punishment and they will do less than even what they are doing). Shirky used an example of daycare centers and their pickup time. The experiment was, parents would be fined if they picked up kids late; consequently, more and more parents picked up kids late. The money got rid of the personal connection/relationship between the workers and parents. Then the culture made by the fine stayed after the fine was lifted and many parents still came late. I also learned about communal value which is a "solved problem". Additionally I learned, how we should use cognitive surplus with civic value to change society for the better. Shirky's speaking techniques included showing examples of communal value with LOLcats, civic value's importance with Ushahidi, and the deterrences theory with the daycare center's experiments. This makes his information apply to regular life and people can relate to it more. The speaker's style is overall serious. There are only a few instances where he uses humor to relate to his point. He tries to convey the significance that civic value has on our lives. This video is important because civic value with cognitive surplus will help benefit society as a whole. It will help me see what's going on in the world and track it more closely as well as education and the world. Cognitive surplus will definitely assist the world in many things to come.

Ted Talk 3 Dan Pink

            Daniel Pink introuduces the idea that those who are not motivated to begin with end up with better results than those who are not motivated. Daniel Pink brings up many scientific experiments agreeing with functional fixedness or no creativity. Those who are not given a reward always had a larger spectrum of focus and they were able to complete non-mechanical tasks without a clear path to the ending.  Extrinsic motivators (carrots & sticks) is valued in the 20th century; however, in the 21st century we live in now, the prominent motivator is intrinsic. The problem is we build our buisnesses around the simple candle problem with an extrinsic motivator and a clear path which does not work well. We need less mechanical skill and more cognitive skill since we lack even a rudimentary amount. Businesses need a new approach to that is built around intrinsic motivation including autonomy.  An example of this is 20% TIME where google created half of its products used while their workers had 20% of their time to create whatever they wanted. Also, ROWE, has no schedules or anything mandatory,but, workers just have to get their work done in their own way (productivity increased due to this). Another very valid example is Encarta vs. Wikipedia in which Encarta was expected to be the best and workers were paid. Wikipedia actually took the world by storm and no one was paid or anything! So, science knows intrinsive motivation and businesses need to bring up their workers in the same way. Pink presents his information using illustration of pictures of experiments to support his topic. He feels very strongly about his topic and he shows emotion during his talk as well. Pink also shows us how we need to broaden our perspective to reach foggy-goals. This Ted Talk helps me know that if a reward is offered to me if I complete a task then, I should not shut down my creative thinking and extrinsic motivators would not change my productivity. Education needs to produce successful students that have a balance of cognitive skill and mechanical skill. Times are changing and students need to be prepared for when they are adults and cognitive, creative skill will overshadow mechanical skill. (Preparing them for times where we don't know what to expect). The world itself is changing and is becoming a more creative-minded society and everyone needs to be prepared for this, so they can prosper. The 21st century brings much change in business and how society functions. If people are prepared to think outside the box they will be ready for times ahead.

Ted Talk 2 (David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 min)

This video was really inspiring. After watching this I have learned to go after the impossible. David Blaine trained day after day for this death-defying feat and accomplished it with much focus and concentration. No one believed he could actually hold his breath underwater for 17 minutes long and everyone said it was impossible, but, he never gave up. David pushed through stress and contractions (trying to breathe) and made a new world record. He held his breath for 17 minutes. David explained his story in this Ted Talk very fluently and he used his life accomplishments to show all that he has been through. He presents his information using videos, pictures, and his experiences to convey the message to the audience. This video shows people that unimaginable goals can be reached regardless of if they are possible or not. This helps me realize I can do anything I set my mind to, no matter how impossible it may seem. Education can use this Ted Talk to show their students to set high goals and do their best because students can accomplish amazing things. This Ted Talk also applies to the world because no matter how difficult times may be, you can overcome them and exceed the expectation. This Ted Talk can influence people to do the most they can and they will succeed with focus, concentration, and training of the task.

Ted Talk 1

I was surprised that children are brought up in Left-Brained thinking and how they will not succeed without it. Even the very creatively talented children feel like they will not amount to anything. I learned that creativity is really how some people learn and how they feel confident. I thought it was strange that we are still brought up with left-brained ideas having the most importance.
The speaker uses lots of examples and stories to relate experiences to his topics/points.
He presents to the audience without any use of extra technology or props.
This video is important because it tells people that we are focusing too much on certain standards which mask student's talents. This connects to me because I'm being educated right now and I need to learn creative abilities as well as computation abilities. It connects to education because educators should focus on all of student's abilities including creativity. The whole world is beginning to have a more creative-mind mindset and we need to be prepared for this change.