TED Community » Libbey Koppinger

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Visual Communication. Compassion. The Beauty of Words. Empathy. Raising Daughters. Immersion. Diverse Learning Environments. Naps and finally, Non-Extreme Bicycles with Handlebar Baskets ;)

Talk to me about

Anything. Really. [except toenails and gross out horror ~ I draw the line there] ;)

My TED Story

Is yet to come.

Comments

• TEDCred score: +7.50 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A comment on Conversation: Has written communication coupled w/technology {email, texting} caused a decline in verbal skills? Is the art of conversation endangered?

  Feb 1 2012: I often find that the technology which promised to streamline life - has actually complicated it - and think this is true regarding verbal conversation vs digital communica~
  I often ponder too long meaning when using email - and in regard to facebook, texting, etc - I believe tone can be so lost, so too is the emotion or meaning when engaging in exchange in these formats. BUT - these modes of exchange are here to stay it would seem. So the benefits I've experienced personally are worth mentioning.
  Twitter gave me practice in the art of brevity. I think it's an invaluable skill - especially for students - to learn to use 140 characters as powerfully as possible. My overall writing is better. I get quite a lot of practice and though some communication is slower than if I were talking on the phone - often, I feel I'm able to wrangle many thoughts into better flowing and constructed thoughts.
  Perhaps we are still learning how to most effectively use these mediums? With so many channels to communicate now, there is a rich source of opinion available to tap for discussion on most any subject.
  I wonder tho - has anyone become "phobic" so to speak about actually talking on the phone? That IS something I like to do less and less... but I'm always glad when connect to others, it just feels as though it isn't either convenient, or productive most often. Thoughts?

• A comment on Conversation: Attending College IS a Right. Enrich the person & the future (theirs & ours) via Mandatory 4 yr Higher Ed in the US or Compulsory K - 16

  Dec 18 2011: Thanks Paul :) I think you hit on some critical points. My favorite: competition to be educated. That's at the heart of my topic. I think all people, regardless of station in life, or career path - should have the opportunity to learn. To formal education. The mechanic who is also a botany major might just be the person to engineer a plant based fuel that's better than what we have today. The bus driver who was a pysch major might propose changes to mass transportation that provide the passenger with therapeutic respite on their journey and so on.
  It's about loving to learn, and having real access to formal education, and educators, for the purpose of the enriching the whole person.
  It requires a paradigm shift in what we value. I think that to separate the trades from higher learning is a HUGE mistake in the first place. Being able to do more than one thing, well - gives our kids more choices. AND it encourages creative thinking, applied perhaps from what was learned in either discipline - to solve problems in a whole different field.
  A pipe dream maybe, but I guess we have to start somewhere.
  Everything you say though, especially in this economy, is true. Yet how can we turn things around if we do what we've always done - even in regard to education?
  Thanks so much! And you are right about 25 vs 35! LOL I myself have never minded getting older - but will say, I do at times miss the days when "ignorance" was bliss! ;)

• A comment on Conversation: What's your favorite word?

  Dec 15 2011: murmur ;)

• A comment on Conversation: Attending College IS a Right. Enrich the person & the future (theirs & ours) via Mandatory 4 yr Higher Ed in the US or Compulsory K - 16

  Dec 10 2011: Hi Chad ~
  Thank you - and great comments. Yes - my proposal is intended to support the individual in their educational pursuits beyond the age of 17. (you hit the nail on the head!) What wonder about regarding current statistics, for all levels of education really - and especially pertaining to student apathy, is: WHY?
  I think to believe that all students are apathetic and unappreciative speaks to the survey, not the reality. Like you, I agree that to base education on grading systems and outdated methodology is ridiculous. But I think we need to dig deeper. Remember a time in your life when learning was about discovery, curiosity - to be really engaged in the pursuit of learning is quite different that being forced to learn. II see an immense amount of pressure in kids from age 13 yrs on about the rest of their lives, and I think in part - we can't judge outcomes by measuring faulty present day criteria. I think you are right about Mr. Robinson - in fact, one of his critical points in terms of what education can and should be, s all about removing any/all barriers that prevent young people from learning. I think stress, home, financial, environment - play a huge part in this. To assess an already burdened and even immature audience (immature meaning young and age appropriately so) by metrics pertaining to how they managed to make their way through the current system via outcomes is what I don't quite understand about how we look at enacting change. We impose undo rigor on students, and then ask them why they haven't learned. Weird. So in my mind, (and I LOVE your analogy) Lifting the barriers to going to college is about what students need to be viable in todays world. It isn't a reward. College shouldn't be thought of as a privilege. I certainly think my idea may be way too extreme. But sometimes the idea in the extreme is a great place to start conversation. I think your comments are just excellent. Much appreciated!
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Attending College IS a Right. Enrich the person & the future (theirs & ours) via Mandatory 4 yr Higher Ed in the US or Compulsory K - 16

  Dec 7 2011: Let me add this - initially - if compulsory seems too crazy for most of us - then, what about just Free? Much like education now - but at the College level. There are schools of excellence - true excellence - that are public. And pretty lousy schools that are private. And vice versa. Would accountability improve if secondary and primary schools were EXPECTED to turn out students who were actually prepared, by measurable means for college? Not measurable only thru testing - but by realtime observation.
  Funding is certainly a gigantic issue - but it's not a deal breaker. Or is it? There are colleges now that offer free tuition - but not to everyone. That said - if not via enhanced education opportunity that is equitably available - recognizing we might need more than is offered right now - what might be another answer?
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  A reply on Conversation: Attending College IS a Right. Enrich the person & the future (theirs & ours) via Mandatory 4 yr Higher Ed in the US or Compulsory K - 16

  Dec 7 2011: Hi Doug - When we look at why kids drop out, much of it has to do with with socio-economic factors that require change. In order to be a catalyst for change - where do we start? The country remains so divided among political lines for instance. To be without an education that allows you to compete - one that teaches language, real world skills, aesthetics, global diversity, just as an example. I know it's Utopian at best - and unrealistic - for now. But if Vocational schools and Colleges were merged - if value and merit was given to (just as an example) workforce and labor development, farming and agriculture, in the same manner it is to liberal arts and fine arts - I think we might actually give our young people more hope for the future. I think there is much for everyone to learn - and to be quite honest - the amount of young people who graduate college without a real skill - is astounding. And out of balance. That we view each other still as Blue Collar, White Collar, etc - speaks to the fact that as a society - we with-hold education, the beauty of it, the fun of it, from so many. Some education at a higher level really is about maintaining wonder, curiosity and a healthy respect for how much there s to learn. Further - maybe much of the problems we see in 20 - 21 yr olds is due to what we give them - way too soon. For all the kids who turn away from furthering their education, how many would actually jump at the chance? Would the vision of life beyond high school become less unrealistic if there was still a path to direct them? Would more time to teach and learn make a difference in the quality of education?
  It wouldn't be easy - for sure. And it might not be a good idea. But once we become to used to the way things ARE, it's harder to imagine what COULD BE. How would this be funded, hopefully with money. ;) JK Like I said - this is about suspending disbelief - and bringing up the pro's and cons. (and yes - there are many hurdles)

• A reply on Conversation: Attending College IS a Right. Enrich the person & the future (theirs & ours) via Mandatory 4 yr Higher Ed in the US or Compulsory K - 16

  Dec 7 2011: Hi Seth ~
  It's a weird concept right? I agree. My thinking was, this is a total paradigm shift. But if we look at learning, and the way the world has changed, I think we should assume that "College" as we know it today would have to change if we took this proposal - just for sake of argument - and really thought about it.
  That said - yes - I am asking you to suspend your disbelief here. And I agree - if this was met with the feeling that it was forced upon young people - well, that would NOT be the goal.
  Starting with the institutions themselves... I can imagine most Colleges would be totally against this. But I wonder what the benefits of publically funded college would be? Would athletics find better balance with academics? Would the decrease in borrowed money from banks be replaced with people investing earned income and actually using credit (if at all) in the way it was intended?
  As for who would pay for this. Yes. Publically funded. But what if College was actually more directed toward the future and still put everyone on a level playing field? What if it afforded you a chance to really take stock of yourself and your interests, helped you direct those things into a career you'd actually enjoy - or help you make informed choices about your future. When I say "education" I mean - somewhere along the lines, the love of learning is lost to rigorous and often ineffective method. If education is to change - then it should change in a manner that addresses things like you are talking about - I don't mean people who don't currently have a college education are less than - not in any way. In fact - the smartest people I know personally didn't go to or finish college. The way we view learning can be drastically different. I see this as a chance to give a chance - to kids. 17 year olds are just that - kids. What I hate to see, is wonderful minds and ambition, shot down. That's all. I guess what I mean is: Everyone has a right to the opportunity. Regardless of means.
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  A comment on Conversation: What is your favorite poem and why?

  Nov 27 2011: Whitman loved life and found such soulful inspiration in every corner of it.
  His poetry has a cadence that puts the reader deeply in touch with the subject matter.
  For me, "A Clear Midnight" is that space in between awake and asleep. It describes a winding down of thought and has always felt like a personal lullaby, the gift of a clear conscious and the promise of a good nights sleep.
  There is a gentleness to Whitman that I have always loved.
  
  A Clear Midnight
  
  THIS is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
  Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,
  Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the themes thou
  lovest best.
  Night, sleep, and the stars.
  
  Walt Whitman
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  A comment on Conversation: What is your favorite poem and why?

  Nov 27 2011: This remains one of my most favorite poems because of the million ways
  to interpret it's meaning & for it's accessibility to any age group.
  
  But mostly, because I'm still not sure if I'm the Bagpipe, or the Turtle ;P
  
  "The Bagpipe Who Didn't Say No" by Shel Silverstein
  
  It was nine o'clock at midnight at a quarter after three
  When a turtle met a bagpipe on the shoreside by the sea,
  And the turtle said, "My dearie,
  May I sit with you? I'm weary."
  And the bagpipe didn't say no.
  Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "I have walked this lonely shore,
  I have talked to waves and pebbles--but I've never loved before.
  Will you marry me today, dear?
  Is it 'No' you're going to say dear?"
  But the bagpipe didn't say no.
  
  Said the turtle to his darling, "Please excuse me if I stare,
  But you have the plaidest skin, dear,
  And you have the strangest hair.
  If I begged you pretty please, love,
  Could I give you just one squeeze, love?"
  And the bagpipe didn't say no.
  
  Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Ah, you love me. Then confess!
  Let me whisper in your dainty ear and hold you to my chest."
  And he cuddled her and teased her
  And so lovingly he squeezed her.
  And the bagpipe said, "Aaooga."
  
  Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Did you honk or bray or neigh?
  For 'Aaooga' when your kissed is such a heartless thing to say.
  Is it that I have offended?
  Is it that our love is ended?"
  And the bagpipe didn't say no.
  
  Said the turtle to the bagpipe, "Shall i leave you, darling wife?
  Shall i waddle off to Woedom? Shall i crawl out of your life?
  Shall I move, depart and go, dear--
  Oh, I beg you tell me 'No' dear!"
  But the bagpipe didn't say no.
  
  So the turtle crept off crying and he ne'er came back no more,
  And he left the bagpipe lying on that smooth and sandy shore.
  And some night when tide is low there,
  Just walk up and say, "Hello, there,"
  And politely ask the bagpipe if this story's really so.
  I assure you, darling children, the bagpipe won't say "No.
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  A reply on Conversation: What is in a label? Should we change the way we use them?

  Nov 26 2011: whoops! OMG! so sorry - i just accidentally submitted and deleted my comment.
  label me: Clumsy.
  LOL