TED Community » Gina Clifford

More About Me

I'm passionate about

emerging technologies (but not for the sake of technology), creativity, writing, interdisciplinary learning strategies, child-led, project-based learning, social entrepreneurship, communities

An idea worth spreading

People don't experience the world as separate subjects. So why do schools insist on presenting information as such? Technology is changing our world. So why are mobile devices banned in 70% of U.S. schools? Humans are hard-wired to learn. So why do we need people with degrees in education to teach us? REIMAGINE LEARNING BY EMBRACING HUMAN POTENTIAL.

Talk to me about

TEDxTampabay

People don't know that I'm good at

Putting the pieces together -- the big picture

Comments

• TEDCred score: +4346.60 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• +1

  A comment on Conversation: How can SOLEs be implemented without causing students to shun necessary but "boring" skills?

  Mar 13 2013: It has been my experience (and Mr. Mitra's) that children compelled through curiosity, will find a way to learn. In fact, they'll probably learn more meaningfully and deeply. I believe we underestimate children's ability to learn. Therefore, we cram boring fact-based learning into their heads and endlessly quiz them. Ultimately, we judge their intelligence based on their success with regurgitating facts.
  
  So, I say trust that they will learn. Take a look at William Kamkwamba's TED talks (http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_on_building_a_windmill.html) -he taught himself physics and electronic circuitry from a book written in English even though he didn't speak English. That's all the evidence I need to know that children can and will learn everything they need to know if they're interested. Let's not squelch that passion for learning and we won't need to worry about whether or not they're 'learning'.

• A reply on Talk: Mitch Resnick: Let's teach kids to code

  Feb 1 2013: I am not attacking Mitch or Scratch. I was expecting a bigger talk with a bigger what if ... Scratch is actually more than a way to participate in digital media, it might well be a core part of communications in the future. It is a stepping stone to digital media literacy. But to what end? Yes, it does democratize programming so that non-programmers can participate, but these folks might contribute more than a fun birthday card.

• A reply on Talk: Mitch Resnick: Let's teach kids to code

  Feb 1 2013: Leonel,
  
  I do realize that Scratch is an important tool for learning to code. I am a huge fan of constuctivism, the MIT Media lab and Mitch Resnick. I guess what I'm saying is that the it is just one tool and not the only tool. With scientists now able to store data in DNA, coding is more important than ever. I don't disagree that Scratch is fun for younger kids and non-technical adults. Simply, the implications are much larger than simply making fun animations. Bur what about all those kids who are gifted and want something more sophisticated? Yes, I saw the sensor attached to a computer to control a Scratch program--pretty cool, but you can't walk around with it in your pocket, and that's where the world is heading.
• +3

  A comment on Talk: Mitch Resnick: Let's teach kids to code

  Jan 31 2013: Great topic. I was a bit disappointed that Mitch spent so much time pitching Scratch. The idea of helping kids learn coding is profound and shouldn't necessarily be coupled with a specific tool. Yes, younger kids will appreciate drag and drop interfaces, but with the Maker culture in full swing, youngsters want to control Arduino-based devices that do more than make cute animations on a computer screen. I'd even argue that computers are no longer the main platform for running programs. Tablets and mobile smart devices run apps, which even some 12 year-olds are learning to code.

• A comment on Talk: Maajid Nawaz: A global culture to fight extremism

  Jul 14 2011: Thanks, Maajad, for presenting a viewpoint not often heard in the Western world. The "Arab Spring" movement across the Mideast is an inspiring example of how people connect, inspire, and communicate using social media tools. Perhaps they will move beyond politics to truly change their futures. It's inspiring to all of humanity! Is there anything the average citizen living in the U.S. can do to help?
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: Having passion in your work is trainable. Being deeply passionate and driven is not. How does one pursue a deep desire to be doing more?

  Jul 7 2011: Kevin,
  I truly believe that you can earn a living doing whatever it is you are truly passionate about pursuing. However, it takes hard work and doesn't happen immediately. As for how to help others find passion in what they do, apply for a TEDx Salon license and host monthly gatherings of people to watch TED videos and foster deep discussions about things that matter!

• A reply on Conversation: What if the TED Community worked together to build the model 21st century learning environment? What would it look like?

  Jun 9 2011: Yes, parents rightfully do fear (in many cases) that non-traditional forms of education will be inadequate -- even compared to the current system. However, Gever Tully's SF Brightworks school is helping to solve that issue. The Brightworks school is working to build relationships with universities to ensure graduates have plenty of higher ed access (http://sfbrightworks.org/questions/).
• +1

  A comment on Conversation: What if the TED Community worked together to build the model 21st century learning environment? What would it look like?

  Jun 6 2011: Al,
  The words pedagogy, teacher, curriculum and evaluation may be inappropriate terms to use in the same paragraph as "disruptive innovator in education". True disruptive innovation will lay waste to these terms in their traditional sense (in my opinion).
  
  I agree with you about harnessing the diverse TED community as active participants in a disruptive innovation project. Diversity from outside traditional education models will inspire new ideas, perspectives, and collaborations.
  
  Incremental changes in education won't produce the kind of learners the world needs. So, employing current education lingo to a new model risks creating a new system that isn't fundamentally different from our current system.

• A reply on Conversation: What if the TED Community worked together to build the model 21st century learning environment? What would it look like?

  Jun 6 2011: Albert,
  
  Thanks for sharing so much information about such great learning initiatives. Are there any real barriers to creating initiatives like these in other parts of the U.S. and the world? I think the success of each of these ideas shows that there is a business model that can support "out of the box" learning initiatives.
• +2

  A comment on Conversation: As a TEDx organizer please share a best practices, an innovation, something incredible or something useful from your TEDx event.

  May 20 2011: The key to a successful TEDx event is passion. This may sound like an over simplification, but it really is the key. Find truly passionate presenters (not just subject matter experts or friends who want stage time to self-promote) who can deliver a TED-style talk and are willing to commit to giving the talk of their lives. Next, carefully curate a diverse audience of engaged people who are already contributing to big ideas in the community. The result will be a buzz of energy you're not likely to encounter anywhere else. Finally, don't let the buzz die. Continue to engage attendees and the community through social media and through monthly community conversations, if possible.