TED Community » Maria Fernandez

More About Me

I'm passionate about

taking responsibility for providing our children with the tools they need for the 21st Century. Continuously re-evaluating what those skills may or may not be is a joyful challenge.

An idea worth spreading

Open ended toys are under appreciated in today's high tech world. The simplest toys can open the doors of imagination for children if they are not bombarded by too much external stimulation. Our teenagers still play with their Legos, blocks, Lincoln Logs, etc, but now they have become their prototyping materials.

People don't know that I'm good at

stopping to smell the flowers. I love to embrace simple joys in life which fill me with love and peace.

My TED Story

I don't remember when I first found out about TED but I do remember the excitement of finding a whole new world of passionate people! One of my favorite TED talks is Jill Bolte Taylor, the neurologist that had a stroke and lived to tell about it. The awareness of the interconnection of life and its people is something I continuously strive for.

Comments

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• +1

  A comment on Conversation: An emphasis on technology actually reduces the amount of learning.

  Oct 31 2011: When I see toddlers at the supermarket playing with their parent's smart phones, I don't find it amusing...I wonder how their brains are being wired. What opportunities are they missing in the world to smell the produce, feel textures, and smile and communicate with their parents.
  
  We home-schooled our boys and chose not to have a television. We provided lots of open ended toys and materials for them to use their imagination and create.
  
  One of our prized moments in parenthood happened when our first born son who is presently 17 said " I've never been bored a day in my life!". He has never relied on external stimuli to entertain him, but has instead chosen to use his imagination to create. Both are boys use the computer now that they are older and the younger one definitely began earlier than the older one, simply because he was copying behavior.
  
  I am a firm believer in lots of exposure to nature, and real world experiences. However, if the options are dull worksheets over well thought out technology, then some technology might be better. But perhaps a trip to the park is better than the most sophisticated technology.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: What is the first thing you tell yourself when you wake up to give yourself energy or courage?

  Oct 31 2011: Anwar, A friend of mine shared this link with me today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Zl9puhwiyw&feature=relmfu
  I really enjoyed it and hope others will too. It will be the new way I start my day. It is a beautiful video full of gratefulness.
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: What specific educational experiences ignited your passion for a subject?

  Oct 31 2011: Gordon, how wonderful that you received such a quality education!
  
  Is it still common in Ontario for the teachers to have advanced degrees? Is this a requirement?
  
  How common was it for your teachers to stay after school so you could create your own experiments? Do you think they still do this today? Do you remember any accidents happening or were the students taught enough knowledge to prevent such a catastrophe? Did you feel safe when the teachers weren't supervising?
  
  How do you think teachers can bring this type of freedom to classrooms today?
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: What specific educational experiences ignited your passion for a subject?

  Oct 31 2011: Gordon, your high school sounds wonderful! Where did you go to school and when? What I hear you saying is similar to Peter in that you had a lot of freedom to come up with ideas. Teachers simply provided the support and supervision.
  
  How did you think of grinding your own mirrors for telescopes? How did you find out about different competitions? I love that you were allowed to take initiative and produce your ideas. How do you think such experiences continue to influence you today?
  
  How were your classes structured? Was there a sense of excitement because anyone might lead the class in a new direction?
  
  Do you know what your high school is like today? Are the students allowed to express their creativity through projects. How much say do they have in their education?
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: What specific educational experiences ignited your passion for a subject?

  Oct 31 2011: Wow!
  
  I love your story Peter! I can imagine what a magical experience it would have been to create such a town. You must havefelt so validated having the power to imagine and create such a village. What a wonderful interdisciplinary educational experience you created for your fellow classmates, all because your teacher was not afraid of what others may think about her unconventional teaching style. I wonder if the principal at your school was supportive of such endeavors?
  
  I wonder how many teachers today would allow students to go across the street to pick up a refrigerator box. I wonder if perhaps part of the problem with creativity in schools is that our society has become so litigious that many creative efforts are nipped in the bud because of lawsuit concerns.
  
  One thing I noticed after watching a video on the Finland phenomenon was how much the teachers trusted the students and how much the administration trusted the teachers. Your teacher obviously trusted you and her principal must have trusted her as well. How can schools get back to trusting children? Do you think this same experiment would work at the elementary school you attended? Would students be allowed 5 days of "frivolous" play. Would it be recognized as learning? Would testing trump creativity?
  
  Wouldn't it be interesting to send a letter to the principal of your elementary school and share with him/her the impact such an experience had on your life and see if the 5th grade teacher would be willing to place some cardboard boxes on the school grounds within window viewing. Would students see the possibilities or would their eyes see only trash? Would they feel free to pose the idea if they had it? Would they play with the boxes during recess? Do schools still have recess?
  
  I remember a neighborhood child that connected several refrigerator boxes and created a long tunnel in which to crawl through. It was during Halloween. Spiders hung from the cardboard ceiling! It became our 3D world.