::::: Make and Meaning (actually Paul Overton of Dudecraft too!) and some of my Twitter pals helped me to zone in on some really great TED talks. If you haven’t looked at the site, you really are missing out. It’s a bit like an eject button for your brain. It’ll get you thinking about all kinds of good stuff and realizing all sorts of things are possible. Ted up, I say.
Jane McGonigal talks about why we should all be gaming more (especially our kids!), gaming as an alternative (additional) education stream and the great rewards to be gained from gaming. Really. It’s a fantastic talk and an optimistic view. And my kids could not stop talking about it when we watched this during dinner last night. (I had to keep pausing it because they wanted to discuss, discuss, discuss!) Bookmark this and watch it, I say. Or listen to it while you are paying bills or ironing (if you iron!). There is a TED App available if you are an on the go type.
I know that Dudecraft and Ghostpatrol and John and Cam are big fans of Dave Eggers. Dave’s talk is totally amazing. It’s all about how he was absolutely driven, indeed compelled to gather his community of smart people together and use their smarts to open a tutoring centre. The tutoring centre is a super interesting, super casual place where kids can hang out and remember the things they like about learning stuff. Dave’s tutoring centre is cleverly concealed behind Dave’s Pirate Supply Store. Yes. Pirate Supply Store. Where else would you conceal a tutoring centre, if indeed you did need to?! Dave talks about how it all came to be, and also about the other tutoring centres that have sprung up, modelled on Dave’s idea (one is behind a Superhero Supply Store). This talk is a huge kick in the pants and shows that focus, imagination, trust and energy can create the very best things. You must watch it. If you don’t, you can’t read my blog anymore.
Are you a fan of the TED Talks? Leave us links to your favourites in the comments so we can see what makes you tick and share in something great.
xx Pip