This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
Creativity in Action
We can overcome geographical, language, age and political barriers. We can make a difference. Let's take the next step.
This is Stage 2 of the debate on Creativity and Education, do it!
What: Now that we have brainstormed so many possibilities, let's choose a few real world problems from our own group of TEDsters, and begin to tackle them, one at a time.
How: Connecting, cooperating, organizing information, sharing our skills, giving ideas, encouraging, writing or blogging, creating a webpage, reaching out to our own communities.
For example, we could:
...set up of a more permanent online network that remains connected and researches solutions, organizations, resources to make a difference in local communities, like Cairo,
... create an even wider survey of ideas utilizing our current online social networks,
... organize a non-profit of any scale to address improvement,
... start up a collaborative project where we pool our different skills and make an online zine to create awareness and broadcast creativity in different forms (new inventions in all areas, articles, school innovations, video clips, robotics, green solutions, etc.)
… [your idea here]
Closing Statement from Karina Eisner
The TEDsters here have lived and worked around the globe, and are already in education, creating and causing change in very different ways, in different communities. I am thankful to each of them for sharing how they make a difference on daily basis. Your input, weather in words, resources, articles, or music, has been inspiring, motivational and uplifting. I am looking forward to more updates and collaboration, continue to inspire the world!
JAIME lives creatively, and changes communities through his university work (Mexico and Italy), the "Taller del Asombro" (Asombratorium), and his civic involvement. He does seminars and design courses for designers, arts and crafts workshops for kids, ecological design field courses, exhibitions (art, toys and design), traditional Mexican cooking, book design and print, etc. To take a closer look at his creative explorations, go to his website: http://tallerdelasombro.com/Main.html
AMIRA is a Harvard graduate in Cairo, with a deep desire for positive change in this time of crisis. She teaches at the American University, and also works with private schools and multinational organizations. Her vision is to utilize her training and experience incorporating technology and social networks to advance education and bring people, faiths and nations closer together.
PETER is a global renaissance man -a social innovator with an interest in anything and everything, particularly education. He impacts his community as TEDx organizer, educational consultant to schools and colleges, overall idea generator, and effective communicator. As we could see in both debates, he is a also an impressive researcher.
Thanks to all! You moved me to take action into my hands, actively participate in this network and others, research and study new disciplines, effect change at work, collaborate with the local college strategic planning committee, join others in social impact projects, reset personal & professional goals, and redefine open-mindedness.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
Showing single comment thread. View the full conversation.
Amira Makhlouf
Karina Eisner 10+
I haven't been here as often, as I had a few more things to deal with outside of TED :-)
But I can tell you that no, I haven't put this in the back burner.
As for the rest, they heard the call, but I think we need to come up with a platform, a plan (however schematic) of the next step. Otherwise, this is too gray a territory, not clear how the "action" is going to happen.
I can tell you that I met with our local TEDx group just yesterday. We discussed, among other things, this creativity debate, and my vision to turn all this talk into action, a real project, and make a difference. The idea took flight, people were very interested and got carried away, I am afraid, taking most of our meeting time.
The seed has been planted there.
This TED group meets randomly, so is not able to make progress on this as fast as the TED.com debate, but there is great potential for collaboration. We discussed several local cases of successful interactions with the existing educational system, as well as some disaster stories. I believe there is definitely a desire to extend locally. The global aspect (what we covered for the most part online here) may need a separate place, a virtual niche that keeps us in touch more often (although virtually) to be able to shape this idea.
Have you given any more thoughts to this? Do you have a way to share this project with a similar group there? Do you think there could be a local think-tank there too? The more the merrier...
And how do see this project materializing from your stand point?
In the case of Cairo's situation, for example, what kind of support or intervention do you see is needed? At what level is it more urgent? Is the current system the same you had before January? And to what extent do you think the current government will allow any creative steps within education?
Keep us posted :-)
Amira Makhlouf
.Peter, thanks for the link, I will look into it right now.