TED Community » Jonathan Sieg

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Education reform, attaining deeper understanding of God and purpose, helping the disenfranchised, understanding cultures and people

An idea worth spreading

An education system based entirely off applicable processes. A curriculum would involve presenting a complex problem that included many areas of study, and giving students the tools they need to solve the problem on their own, thereby learning with enthusiasm and attaining a greater depth of understanding as to what they need to know. This new system not only benefits students academically, but the camaraderie and confidence gained from solving these problems can help emotionally as well.

Talk to me about

Education Reform, Modern architecture, alternative energy, psychology, culture, nature

People don't know that I'm good at

riding horses, archery, throwing tomahawks, public speaking, canoeing

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.40 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to stimulate a tired mind and body?

  Apr 9 2013: Thanks for the comment! I probably do need to reaarange some things in my life, but I feel as I need to just finish this schoool year out strong (anyway I can, within reason, of course), and try to approach college differently. A fresh start I suppose. Great advice. thanks :)
  
  JS ES 2012

• A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to stimulate a tired mind and body?

  Apr 9 2013: Those are all great suggestions...very interesting. I will definetely try a few of them out! Thanks for the comment
  Jonathan

• A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to stimulate a tired mind and body?

  Apr 6 2013: Thanks for the comment! And thanks for the congrats!
  
  
  Your own experience with this is really interesting. If i had more autonomy with my schedule, i would definitely take a break for fitness in the middle of my day. Unfortunately, I'm a senior in high school, taking several college-level classes. All the same, great anecdote and advice! Thanks :)
  
  Jonathan

• A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to stimulate a tired mind and body?

  Apr 6 2013: Thanks for your comment! Very well put!
  
  I guess most of my energy is consumed trying to keep up with school and extracurricular activities. I tend to overload myself, than end up regretting it later. I see what you mean about priorities, though. I might have to take some time to realign my own life. Thanks Colleen! :)
• +1

  A reply on Conversation: What is the best way to stimulate a tired mind and body?

  Apr 6 2013: I love walking through the woods also to help me relax and refocus! i agree, just generally relaxing for a little bit would probably help some. Thanks for the comment!
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: If you have NEVER been to Africa, when someone mentions "Africa" or you hear "Africa", what is the FIRST thing that comes into your mind?

  Apr 6 2013: I think of poverty, drought stricken regions of West Africa, with countless warlords and gangs driving around small Toyota trucks. My views are probably most influenced by the commercials for African charities, which feature impoverished areas, and from a book called "A Long Way Gone" by Ishamael Beah. This autobiographical book centered around the life of a boy living in war-torn Sierra Leon.
  I do realize this narrow perspective certainly does not describe most of this beautiful continent, but unfortunately, it is the FIRST thing that comes to mind...

• A comment on Conversation: We do not need to change the education system

  Mar 16 2013: hello afshin,
  I am currently a high school senior in America, so I believe that my particular perspective is not only the most relevant, but often overlooked(many times reformers seem to overlook those that are currently affected and talk with the "experts in education" who have not been in high school for thirty years)
  I don't necessarily agree that the older generation is trying to relive thier lives, but just trying to ensure that thier children will have the same oppurtunities as they had. However, there is a significant problem with this. Many of the oppurtunities for employment the older generation had is either already gone or will be soon. As computers increasingly replace the menial, mindless jobs, the need for innovative, discerning workers will become necessary (as computers lack the ability to discern or self-progress). You did touch on it, but just to reiterate, education needs to promote free thinking problem solvers....not brainwashed robots designed to regurgitate facts at a moments notice. I can tell you from current experience, the kids who can most quickly rattle of statistics (which they dont really understand) are the ones who are most rewarded. We need to change this convention, and aim for a generation of students who understand the problem in a deeper, more relevant way, through education that can be applied directly to thier lives, aiming them problem solvers who know how to actually effectively utilize the information they already know.