I chose to watch a TED talk given by Rita Pierson that was regarding education and titled, "How every kid needs a champion". This title first caught my attention because I am currently growing in my education, scholastically and on my own. I have seen TED talks in the past and for the most part have enjoyed the quick, to the point speeches that are given. Rita goes into education first because she is an educator herself. She turns the tables a little in her discussion. You think she is going to talk about how you can help a child learn on a scholastic level, maybe some tricks to the trade and how you can succeed academically. What she focuses on and what I really liked is the fact that an educator can do all they want in terms of educating a child, or teaching some sort of curriculum. Now the child learning that subject or grasping that concept is up to the child. This is because if the child doesn't like the educator that child will not learn from them. She goes into the depth and meaning of a valued relationship between her and her students. On a class level and also to an individual basis. She talks about being positive and capturing the attention of the students by simply doing something that is not common. Maybe apologizing to your class once in a while if you do something wrong. She is big advocate of the power of positivity. Even if a child is not grasping concepts of progressing the way you would like, keeping their spirits high and mental state positive is key to any success in the future. She shared an example of given her class a 20 question quiz. One child only got 2 answers right. When he received his paper he said, "Mrs Rita, why did you put +2 and a smiley face, inst this a F?" She replied and said,"yes, and your almost there, you did not miss all 20, you got 2 right". she then asked the child if he would do better next time and he said yes I will. This simple example helps up to see the power and motivator a positive attitude can have.
I love the Possibility of Success that is shares in this message. This goes in line with what we learned regarding Larsen's Cultural Images and Myths. Rita brings out the motivation that needs to be used in the classroom and how this has a positive effect with her students. She has arrived at this conclusion because of her personal experiences in being positive as a motivator for the kids and also the affect that has taken place because of it. She also draws upon experiences that she has learned and experienced from her mother as an educator that have made impressions that have lasted beyond her lifetime, and that is something great to live for, is Rita's belief. To help make this point Rita repeated on multiple occasions examples, bad or good to prove her point and steer you to lean towards that of being a positive motivator in all things, especially as an educator.
What an entertaining speech. I loved it. She is dynamic and entertaining as well as able to get her message across very effectively. I agree with your assessment of this dealing with the possibility of success. What process premises do you think she used in this?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this video.
I agree that this is a great talk on the importance of teachers making some kind of connection with the students they teach. I found this to be true for myself. The teachers that I know are teaching because they want to make a difference automatically motivates me to do well. It makes me WANT to do well. I'm sure we have all experienced this even in the cohort. We know what professors want us to succeed at a higher level than expected, and the ones that don't care as much. Young children realize this too,and at a young age they are so much more vulnerable. You talk about the possibility of success that goes along with Larsen's Cultural Law, but I would say there is even the wisdom of the rustic and a challenge of rising to the occasion in this speech. Don't forget to add how the process premises can fit into all of this. I made that mistake the first time.
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