TED Community » liz Tuohy

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Learning, being creative, being present, and helping our country and the world by being educated and awake.

An idea worth spreading

What if educators were part of a respected profession in which those participating would challenge themselves by learning in rigorous ways. This experience would translate into understanding of what high level learning behavior looks and feels like. Student/learners in schools populated by these engaged professionals would expect to work at the job of becoming more educated. Parents of these student/learners would be welcomed participants in the education of their children and would find in these new schools a place where they, too, can learn, and also understand the process used by educators in the continuing development of thought, art, understanding, science, brain development, stages of growth, and whatever else the community requires/requests/needs. Schools would not look like brick factories, nor would it be required that learning happens inside, sitting still and listening to one teacher/facilitator. Learning would occur throughout the day, within the community. What if...

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My TED Story

When I first "found" ted I was elated, ecstatic, hopeful and engaged-things I had missed in my life. Knowing that there are people all over the world that are working-and succeeding-at solving the problems that face us helped bring back my enthusiasm and energy for change. Even if people sharing their ideas are merely pointing out a problem, they are opening a door in which I can walk through and see a room of compadres. I continue to visit ted hoping that one of the many individuals making changes and being brave about their individualism will push me forward in maintaining my desire to affect the world positively, too. Thank you, ted, and all those who come together here. You are valued.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +0.20 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: What if learning, rigorous learning, was a part of everyday life? How would it change us, our communities, our countries, the world?

  May 16 2011: Zdenek expresses much of what I feel about learning. I guess if we look at the definition of rigorous in the strictest sense, it can seem like a negative way to acquire knowledge. I'd like to suggest another way of looking at the word "rigorous". Learning that creates a sweat. Learning that requires effort, conciseness, reliability, replicability, and that is shared by large groups in order to go forward and engage in high levels of discussions for the purpose of solving problems, learning about others and ourselves, being full citizens of the world.
  
  I don't doubt that many people learn everyday. The very act of learning another language requires "rigor". But without this perspiration of our brains, we do not exercise it properly. It does not gain in capacity without strenuous work. Brain studies prove this out. In fact, it is quite possible that those in their later years in life who stop using their brains fully, lose the ability to use it proficiently. We may see more brain studies done on baby boomers, a generation known to push the boundaries of age, with respect to the "use it or lose it" belief.
  
  Imagine if we all, generally, learned new things, difficult things, on a regular basis. Wouldn't that change how people perceived just about everything.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: What if learning, rigorous learning, was a part of everyday life? How would it change us, our communities, our countries, the world?

  May 16 2011: There was a time in my life when being was limited to watching tv and going shopping. It's hard to admit this out loud. As I awakened again, and reading was again more engaging than watching movies and tv, I began to create more, dream more, understand in more depth and have ambition. Soon after that I went back to school (I like formal learning as well) and started a journey to another career - something I avoided for quite a while. What I found was that I had stopped vigorous learning and beginning it again was hard.
  
  The rewards, as Alan and Kevin relate, are many, not only for me personally, but for those around me. My interest and comprehension of national and international affairs became deeper and more empathetic. I find I am more engaged in finding solutions than waving my fist in anger.
  
  I wish for those, like Jafia, a positive experience in the rigors of learning, It sounds like it wasn't fulfilling for her. As a past educator, I am saddened that learning wasn't a lifelong goal for her and I cast some responsibility for this on systems of mass education. However, we all can throw off the negatives of learning in our pasts and create more positive experiences in learning that best fit us. I encourage you, Jafia, to explore it again. Rigorous learning is not an excess in life. It is a requirement for thoughtful citizens of the world.

• A comment on Conversation: Health and wellbeing can be improved by nurturing creativity. Creativity can exist in a conversation, in text, in art, and in habits.

  May 15 2011: I so agree that getting time off from high paced working situations can enhance creative thought. Think about what our world would be like if "our working situations" weren't so high paced that we had to get time off. What if we were creatively involved in our work, meaning, our work was an extension of ourselves.

• A comment on Conversation: Health and wellbeing can be improved by nurturing creativity. Creativity can exist in a conversation, in text, in art, and in habits.

  May 15 2011: Does creativity exist merely to be seen, or does it exist because unique individuals want to find their voices in the world?

• A comment on Conversation: Who do you trust more to help you understand world events, the press, politicians or your friends/family, or someone/something else? Why?

  May 15 2011: I don't look to any one source, as I have found any one is insufficient, to understand major events, live my life and be connected in my community. I have learned that national tv network news, as well as cable news, cover events THEY deem worthy, rather than covering events that are worthy. One news source that represents a more unbiased view is PBS. Though I subscribe to a local newspaper and read it everyday, I read the NY Times and the Washington Post occasionally, mostly because I can and it's available. But with all of the above, I still do not feel like I have all the information. I do value talking to other people and hearing their take on things, but I admit I don't always agree with them. When I talk to friends who have connections to politicians/politics I realize how much is not discussed in public forums and the reasons why. I feel disappointed in the average person's knowledge of current and past events and fear this ignorance.
  
  I value, as many who have written here, NPR, and wish for other sources as honest and open.
  
  This is an interesting forum. Thanks to all who have written here.