TED Community » Al Meyers

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Student-Centered Learning Technologies, Neuroplasticity, the Medici Effect, our founding fathers, online gaming, globalization, breakthrough innovation, baseball, and my wife and children

An idea worth spreading

"Digital Natives" require different stimuli to learn effectively, as they have been exposed to technology since they were in preschool or kindergarten. The textbook, "broadcast lecture" passive learning approach must be embraced by our education system, or we risk losing our intellectual leadership to emerging countries in Asia and Europe. These people require constant networking, instant gratification, free-forming exploration and frequent rewards, and this can be achieved through a more aggressive rollout of technologically innovative resources in the classroom setting. The world has flattened, and we must train our children with the skills required for relevance/success in the 21st century work environment.

A big idea worth spreading comes from two books I highly recommend: Clayton Christensen's "Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change The Way The World Learns," and "Grown Up Digital" by Don Tapscott (author of "Wikinomics"). These two books say it all.

Talk to me about

Globalization, Digital Media, Student Centered Learning, Disruptive Innovation, Medici Effect, Games & Learning, Innovation in Education, online gaming/social networking/user generated content/web 2

People don't know that I'm good at

Japanese, Business Writing (I have "ghost-written" many board memos and other critical strategy docs), Lecturing in academia, baseball instruction

My TED Story

I've been slower than most at embracing technological innovation, as our children are engaging in activities that are foreign to most generation Xers. However, I have been fortunate to travel expensively around the world, particularly in Asia, and I have seen the creative, entrepreneurial and technological innovation taking place there, and it is clear to me that Thomas Friedman was very astute in his book "The World is Flat." It has been happening since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and I believe that a global perspective, appreciating cultural differences, and providing our children with critical skills is the key to success in the digital world. It is our responsibility in Corporate America to collaborate extensively with academia so that our children are prepared for a world much different than the one we grew up in. The ability to exchange ideas via TED could go a long way towards moving the ball forward to grow our civilization. I have a new concept to evangelize at TED 2008.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +3463.70 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +2

  A comment on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: Debbie, I stand by my remarks. I said I used the wrong word - these presenters were not "sleazy." It's the web, I said it, and I can't take it back. Enough said.
  
  My other point was not pointing fingers, just raising a possible correlation. Many TED speakers have books in the marketplace, but most know how to handle it. A breakdown occurred here, and TED is listening, and they will make adjustments. I disagree with you on one point: while there is always a risk with authors on the TED stage, it is the ones who have reviewed the guidelines, understand the TED brand, and who have rehearsed appropriately that will never face any backlash from the TED (or TEDx) community. As this is my final point on the matter, I again am sorry for turning you "sideways" on this. As a long-time TEDx organizer, where I come out on this is that I would not risk the brand by considering a talk in this genre of topics. Other TEDx organizers can handle differently, but that is how I will curate my events as long as I am an organizer. There are plenty of exciting topics to explore that are "ideas worth spreading."
• +2

  A reply on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: Bernardo, you raise some very salient points. I reiterate that I suspect TED will be revisiting how this situation unfolded and the manner in which it responded to the incident. The fact that former TEDx speakers are also expressing their disappointment is likely resonating with the TED staff so they can develop a new troubleshooting process. Yes, the organizers had a theme that on the surface, these talks would fit quite well with. However, policy changes were made last fall and communicated with EVERY organizer, so they should have been erring on the side of caution. At the end of the day, I agree with you that this matter was not handled as well as it could have been, and again, I believe that changes will be made to ensure it does not recur. I trust that TED is listening, learning and refining based on this unfortunate situation.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: Last night I used an inappropriate word ("sleazy") to describe Sheldrake pitching his book in one part of his talk, which I deeply regret. It is unfortunate that using this word has riled up this already "spirited" group, including that of an alleged "TED Fellow," on here, and that someone would flag that comment as inappropriate. While I believe that folks are a bit "insensitive" in their responses to using that word, I apologize for using it.
  
  I didn't have to read the deluge of comments I received when I woke up this morning to realize that there are some folks who believe VERY STRONGLY that TED has "wronged" these two presenters. What I can tell you is this:
  1. It appears that a vast majority (not all) of the talks that TED has "flagged" in the past are related to a speaker who has a book published. When last year's talk by Nick Hanauer caused a stir for crossing the political line, his PR agent caused a stir. When these things happen, as a TEDx organizer, I have found that a speaker's true motives for taking the TED stage come out. I question those motives to some degree here. I don't need the "marketers" who responded to my comment to chime in. TED is NOT a trade conference, so speakers who are doing this or business development reasons should rethink their approach for this type of forum.
  2. TED's guidelines are VERY specific about what speakers can/can't do onstage. A speaker can talk about the substance and not even mention the book onstage.
  3. I suspect that TED will work with its staff and TEDx organizers to improve its curation practices and how it can prevent this situation from repeating itself. TEDx organizers had been issued rules about pseudoscience and must share the responsibility in how they select speakers. They are stewards of the brand, and they must do better in this area, or else the TEDx program could be at risk.
  
  Lets all learn from this episode and ensure TED comes out stronger as a result.
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: No I'm not, Steve. I think you've twisted my words. Every TEDx speaker is given the rules on how to give a TED Talk. If they did not receive them, then the TEDx organizer did not do his/her job. Anyone who knows about TED knows that you NEVER self-promote on the stage. The "TED Commandments" are all over the web. So if Sheldrake used the stage to plug his book, that is a huge red flag and should have been edited from the version uploaded to the web. Steve, if you don't like the rules, you are under no obligation to participate in the TED community. My TEDx event has declined to invite speakers who do not respect the brand.

• A comment on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: It probably depends on the sophistication of this TEDx event's editing capabilities. In principle, you're correct, Nate. In Gilbert's case, she wasn't really pitching her book. Her book was already a hit when she took the TED stage to give a talk about a completely different topic : )

• A reply on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: Seriously? It is quite convenient that this "small" point got ignored. If Sheldrake did, in fact, open his talk by promoting his book, then the talk should have never been uploaded because it is ABSOLUTELY a violation of the TEDx rules. That puts the TEDx organizer in a difficult spot - if they had seen an advance copy of his slides and this was an "ad lib" addition by Sheldrake, then that is pretty sleezy but as an organizer, nothing you can do about it.
• +2

  A reply on Conversation: The debate about Graham Hancock's talk

  Mar 20 2013: Nate, you are absolutely correct here, and I am glad to see you are jumping into the foray. At the end of the day, Hancock and Sheldrake should be thanking TED for the incredible social media promotion they're getting. Negative PR is still PR.....as a former media executive, I should know : )

• A comment on Conversation: U.S. Education Overhaul

  Dec 2 2012: Instead of taking them out of high school, I would try and get back to the original concept of vocational education. There are some school districts, such as Nashville, which have implemented "learning academies." They have brought companies into the education process and they allow students to move around the school system to partake in those that cater to their interests. I don't believe we should eliminate secondary education, but we should modernize the old concept of "vocational education," now called "career readiness." I don't believe that college is a "waste," as you say; rather, it is not affordable to many families and steps should be taken to ensure that every family can afford some type of college education should they choose to purse it.

• A reply on Talk: Ami Klin: A new way to diagnose autism

  Jun 11 2012: I'm not sure I come to the same conclusions that you do; however, Dr. Klin is not the only expert on autism. His reputation is impeccable, and there are of course, many areas to cover with autism, and I think he covered some important, albeit not all, of the key issues in the 18 minutes you're allotted.
  
  Clearly, you have an inherent bias in this area, and I can certainly understand why you would have one. The autism spectrum is VERY wide, and I could not begin to know what a parent goes through when they have a child with a more acute form of autism.
  
  The key point with TED Talks is too tee up an "idea worth spreading," and get the community to talk about it. I think Ami's talk is doing a very good job on that front, and your insights are certainly adding to the depth of the discussion.
• +7

  A reply on Talk: Ami Klin: A new way to diagnose autism

  Jun 10 2012: With all due respect, I think your comments are off base and inappropriate. The work that Dr. Klin is doing, as one of the most respected experts on Autism in the world, are CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, because they are getting at early intervention, which is so important to give children such as yours not only the care that they need, but the chance at a productive life. Before casting judgment, I suggest you follow the valuable research Dr. Klin is spearheading. He truly cares about these children. I don't believe he gets into the vaccination issue you were quick to bring up.
  
  We are all about sharing ideas and discussing them in an open, non-confrontational community which is TED. I'd like to see what the rest of the folks think of Dr. Klin's talk before making such judgments. If TED can help expand the dialogue around autism in a non-political way, then it is doing a GREAT service for the world, and, most importantly, the children like yours who suffer from this disorder.