Ted Talk: 5 Discussions - Assignment Example

TED TALK: 5 Discussions Due Christopher Emdin: Teach teachers how to create magic https www.ted.com/talks/christopher_emdin_teach_teachers_how_to_create_magic Some teachers inspire learners in regards to the material, encouraging them to pursue the topic with interest and energy. However, there are other teachers who lecture with no personality and drone on like he is a machine reading directly from a cold, clinical textbook. Christopher Emdin is concerned with the nature and format of how teaching is done in modern educational institutions. When someone decides to become a teacher they have to go to school and learn an immense number of, what he defines as, outdated education theories, as to how to relate, engage, and lead a successful class. Emdin explains that it really does not matter how many degrees you have if the students are not listening and it does not matter what approaches you use if you ascribe to rigid unappealing and formal tones and attitudes. He says that if you want to learn how to engage a classroom full of students or an auditorium full of people is charisma, empowerment, and magic. He uses the ministry of primarily African American Churches as an example of a leader that knows how to lead and engage his listeners. Emdin believe that modern teachers, particularly teachers in economically depressed environments, need to spend time in the environment that they will be teaching. You cannot go straight from university and enter the classroom and get the results that all of your training promised you. You need to bring “magic” to what you teach. He explains that rap artists have a fantastic way of grasping the attention of audiences and engaging them completely by their body language, hand gestures, confidence, and empowerment creates the fire necessary to spark interest in students. We need a lot of reforms in the funding, nature, structure, and curriculums of schools all over this country. Emdin’s explanations are very interesting. It is true that people respond better to charisma and energy in learning environments more so than a monotone and flat tones spouting facts and figures for you to memorize. People are more interested in stand-up comics because they use laughter as a tool, which can also be beneficial to teachers as well. For this reason the speaker is quite right, we definitely need to readdress and improve the nature of education for all students and teachers everywhere. Gabriel Barcia-Colombo: My DNA vending machine https://www.ted.com/talks/gabe_barcia_colombo_my_dna_vending_machine There are lot of interesting things that our modern advancements in science allow us to so. We can track anyone down within a millimeter of their location, we can see and talk to people all over the world with the push of a button, when we want answers to question we turn to our science and technology. Most people know a little something about cells in the body, blood vessels, the organs, and, of course, the incredibly important DNA, the very thing that makes us entirely individual is listed on our DNA. These are sterile, clinical concepts for experiments and research conducted in medical and science facilities, but is it ever considered that these microscopic internal structure as the makings of beautiful art? Gabriel Barcia-Colombo came up with the idea to separate individuals DNA and taking photographs of what those strands of DNA look like. After presenting them as artistic pieces he realized he might have a lucrative, innovative, and completely new way to combine science, capitalism, and art into one entity. His product is literally a DNA vending machine. It produces individual, one of kind, Enlarged, freeze framed, DNA photographs. Pictures of DNA art? But the results are quite beautiful and since we are all completely unique individuals we each have our beautiful piece of artwork unique to us inside each and every one of us. To be honest it is likely that this new invention is going to be huge success and innovative enough to be considered new age art for new age era. This really does seem like something out of science fiction. But the images are beautiful and I have no doubt that he will find both a trend market but also a great artistic following. He hopes to perfect the machine and have more available in multiple malls in the near distant future. The only criticism that can really be mentioned is a matter of genetic security. There are literal DNA samples inside of a vending machine, can anyone be certain that these little pieces of people do not end up in the wrong hands or used in some kind of crime. If the scientific community is creative and intelligent enough to develop a means to extract, enlarge, and turn DNA into art, then there could easily be wrong-doers who could misuse and abuse their access to such things. Henry Lin: What we can learn from galaxies far, far away https://www.ted.com/talks/henry_lin_what_we_can_learn_from_galaxies_far_far_away “Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away” are some of the most famous opening words of one of the most famous and significant of science fiction tales, the Star Wars saga. Henry Lin believes that galaxies far, far away are excellent teachers about the nature of the universe as a whole and how it all works. He mentions that there are certain types of galaxy clusters; some are so large that they emit the light equivalent to a million burning suns, while others are very small, or unbelievably hot. He explains that the physics of space, galaxies, and universe is not a completely certain science there are things we do not yet know or understand. By studying these environments we may be able to predict, determine, and understand how events may transpire or have transpired in our own galaxy. He admits that many of the studies involving space and the physics involved are often theoretical, not yet exactly practical. There is a lot more work to be done before we reach that answers that we seek the most. He understands that this might be disappointing to listeners because there are only so many certainties. Finding the answers will require out of the box and innovative thinking. He equates the situation to a quote by Henry Ford on developing and manufacturing motor vehicles. He had explained that if he had asked people what they wanted back then they would have said faster horses, so he gave them the car. Most people do not really have a concept of the vastness of the universe. Most do not know that the distances between one galaxy and another could take a million years to traverse; and there may be millions of possible galaxies out there in the unending space. He believes that by studying these galaxies throughout the greater universe we can use them as little laboratories. How these galaxies act may be a directly comparable to how the universe behaves and functions as well. Using the galaxies that we can study to understand the larger universe is fantastic and could be incredibly relevant to the future of humanity as we move into the future. Juan Enriquez: Your online life, permanent as a tattoo https://www.ted.com/talks/juan_enriquez_how_to_think_about_digital_tattoos Speaker Juan Enriquez begins his discussion about tattoos and the fact that tattoos are literal answers to personal questions, what you like, what is special to you, the names of your children, and what you think is funny. Tattoos are forever and they speak volumes about you and your life. He equates the permanency of tattoos with the permanency of the information that you put on the internet. The internet is, also, forever. He comments on the fact that with all of the difference apps, programs, websites, and any and all forms of social media that is being shared about your personal likes, dislikes, favorite shows, books, and movies and automatically gear advertisements that they think are suited to you based on your information even if you did not ask for them. This can be a bit spooky. What if the information that finds its way into the archives of the internet is incredibly intimate or personal that is embarrassing. Enriqurez also compares the results of the permanency of your electronic tattoo to the ancient Greek myths. One very relevant metaphor is comparing the struggle to maintain ones reputations and integrity once embarrassing information has been forever archived is not unlike the ancient Sisyphus who was condemned to spend eternity rolling a heavy rock up hill; once it reaches the top he just has to start again. That is what it is like, once your information is out there in cyber space; it may haunt, come back to bite you, or require you to be on the lookout for it for the rest of your life. Modern society today love the instant gratification and the importance of self they gain from engaging in social media; their own personal “life show.” It is possible to locate where you’re messaging or posting from, they can see where you eat, what you drive, where and how often you work, and who your friends and relatives are. This information is easily accessed through Facebook. Human beings put too much faith in the security of technology until it fails, which is, also, starting to happen. Many people have been victims of physical and property crimes due to the freedom of personal information on Facebook. Ludwick Marishane: A bath without water https://www.ted.com/talks/ludwick_marishane_a_bath_without_water Have you ever wondered if you could take a bath, become clean, and not use a single drop of actual water; well thanks to the research and development of Ludwick Marishane there is. Ludwick Marishane grew up in Limpopo a rural part of Africa. The young man, at the time 17, was inspired by his friend’s idea to create something that would make it unnecessary to bathe. So Ludwick was on a mission to find out if such a thing was possible. With little internet service, limited income to invest in his idea, it was not until he went to college that he was able to make his proprietary substance called “DryBath” was formed. During his research he discovered that there are a huge number of people in the world with limited access to clean water. Many of that unfortunate statistics were in Africa. Now his product is being considered for distribution and sale to such places as these. What started out as a desire not to have to take a bath had turned into a humanitarian cause that could improve the lives and sanitation of 1000s if not millions. Ruddick, during his presentation, turned into something of a motivational speaker as well. He asks those in the audience that if he can do such things with limited means in disadvantaged circumstances then what is stopping anyone else from accomplishing similar things. He has earned a number of distinctions for his work, intelligence, and humanitarian cause. The idea of a waterless bathing was one solely the realm of science fiction. To know that it is now possible for people who have no access to clean drinking water, let alone safe bathing water, is essential. The number of health, hygiene, and contagion issues involving people who are unable to stay clean and germ free is a huge contributor to the spread of disease. This charismatic speaker and inventor presented a fantastic story where inspiration, met ingenuity, combined with an invention with benefits on many levels. He is wonderful inspiration and, ideally, his inventiveness and dedication to his goal will be contagious and encourage other bright minds out there leading to many other, helpful, practical, beneficial, and innovative products, ideas, and concepts being developed. In the end, with the future of minds like these the world may be in good hands after all. Read More