TED for FIRSTERS

[MysterE]

Hi all -

While I should be making a Powerpoint on Unit IV of my AP Human Geography class, I've instead decided to start a Chief Delphi thread. Today's thread?

TED Videos.

I'll be honest, I'm addicted to them. I'm sure many of you are. I show them in my classes, to my leadership team, to my builders. . . my wife. . . . you name it. With that in mind, I wanted to ask all of you what TED videos you like and what videos you think could really help FIRST teams. Please leave a link to the video and describe why you think it could be used so well.

One video that I've found recently and have fallen in love with is the one by conductor Benjamin Zander. While the video seems to be mainly about the love for classical music, it is really an amazing video on how to be a better leader. His supposition? Leaders must believe that the people under them are capable of accomplishing the vision that is set for them.

Take a look:
http://www.ted.com/talk/benjamin_zander_on_music_and_passion

[dag0620]

A Ted Talk from a FIRSTer thats great for FIRST:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfC3JdkEVgQ&feature=kp

Seriously though, I love Karthik's Ted Talk. I've shown it to my friends, co-workers, team mates etc. Reason why, I think Karthik makes such an important point, that it is important to be passionate about what you choose to do.

The reason FIRST has so many success stories is because this program does an amazing job about not only inspiring kids about science and technology, but it gets them extremely passionate about it.

[Steven Smith]

I enjoyed the one Woodie Flowers did on the difference between training (learning a skill) and education (application of skills in a creative way).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv-yfaq7DzY

[Nick1912]

I've always been interested in prosthetic limbs and such, and Dean does a nice one about the Luke arm, here: http://www.ted.com/talks/dean_kamen_...prosthetic_arm

I have two favorites, kinda, I really enjoy this one which discusses TED talks (so meta) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo5cKRmJaf0 but this is another amazing one on bionics that I promise if you watch til the end will be so gratifying: https://www.ted.com/talks/hugh_herr_...mb_an d_dance

[AllenGregoryIV]

By far my favorite TED Talk ever is by Bill Strickland on his education center in Pittsburgh. It's a very simple presentation with many great ideas and a lot of emotion.

Another very good one about the power of mentoring and an interesting idea for non STEM mentoring is by Dave Eggers. He talks about 826 Valencia a writing space, mentor space, and pirate themed novelty store.

[RoboMom]

In 2013 FIRSTer Keimmie Booth from Team 2528 - the Robodoves in Baltimore - gave a talk on finding her passion at TEDxBaltimore. I know Keimmie, and it was a very moving experience sitting watching her be so brave speaking in front of so many.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouOHn2ywfE8

[JVN]

While it's almost cliche to recommend, because he's become so widely recognized...

Anything by Sir Ken Robinson is FANTASTIC:
http://www.ted.com/speakers/sir_ken_robinson

I had the opportunity to meet him a few years ago, and he was just as fun to talk to in person as you'd imagine.

[RyanCahoon]

The talk I would challenge any FIRST team to operate by is Margaret Heffernan's Dare to Disagree.

Most people instinctively avoid conflict, but as Margaret Heffernan shows us, good disagreement is central to progress. She illustrates (sometimes counterintuitively) how the best partners aren’t echo chambers — and how great research teams, relationships and businesses allow people to deeply disagree.

"It's a fantastic model of collaboration: thinking partners who aren't echo chambers"

"It means we have to resist the neuro-biological drive which means that we prefer people like ourselves [...] and find ways to engage with [people who aren't]"

"What matters is that the candidates are willing and able to stand up to authority [...] I think we need to be teaching these skills to kids and adults at every stage of their development if we want to have thinking organizations and a thinking society"

"When we dare to break that silence [...] and we create conflict, we enable ourselves and the people around us to do our very best thinking"

Note: the talk is framed using anecdotes. While it's worth watching from the beginning, the core of the talk doesn't get introduced until around 3:50, so be patient