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.