6 Great TED Talks to Inspire You This School Year

TED talks are an easy way to learn and be inspired by great speakers- all from the comfort of your living room, and requiring only your phone, tablet or computer.  If you want to get jazzed up for this school year, here are our suggestions for six great TED talks about education.  Watch the videos below and get ready to make a difference this year!*

Diana Laufenberg:  How to Learn? From Mistakes 

Laufenberg understands that today, schools are no longer places we go to get information, but places where we go to learn to do something with information. She shares examples from her classroom where learning is experiential, project based, authentic and meaningful.  When she gives kids a voice, they rise to the occasion.

Rita Pierson: Every Kid Needs a Champion

Pierson, an educator for over 40 years, is wise, funny and passionate.  She will tug on your heartstrings and inspire you to build relationships, because helping children to be the best they can be is a lasting legacy and the best gift we can give them.

Stephen Ritz: A Teacher Growing Green in the South Bronx

Think you can’t make a difference?  Want to be uplifted by the power of one teacher?  Watch Ritz, a fast talking, high energy teacher who started a green revolution in his school, increased school attendance, provided students with job skills, and helped feed his community.  

Kakenya Ntaiya: A Girl Who Demanded School

In Kenya, Kakenya Ntaiya was engaged to be married at age five, suffered abuse and exchanged bodily mutilation for the opportunity to attend school.  She used her education to return home and create a school for girls in her Maasai village.  She challenges us all to change our community, which will change our country, which will change the world. Her heart wrenching story speaks to the power of education to change lives. 

Angela Lee Duckworth: The Key to Success?  Grit

What causes students to succeed in school… and in life?  It turns out that intellectual ability is not the answer.   You might be able to help all students do well in the long term by encouraging them to develop passion, perseverance and a strong work ethic.  This is the talk that started the “grit” movement.

Beau Lotto and Amy O’Toole:  Science is for Everyone, Kids Included

We love this approach to science- where questioning and playing games become inquiry and scientific method.  Never underestimate the power of children, who are capable of far more than we often give them credit for.  Encourage your students to be scientists this year!

Do you have favorite TED talks?   Please share your favorites in the comments below and help us all to find some new, inspiring ideas. 

*All video are originally available at www.ted.com and used with permission via Creative Commons License.