“Rather than ignoring the incredible access to the world’s most innovative and dynamic speakers, teacher educators can integrate them into class lectures, discussions, and activities [with TED Talks].” ⁵

Learning Intention

Open up student worlds using TED Talks to expose students to new experts, new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of learning. Using TED Talks helps construct knowledge through the lens of seeing teachers as facilitators rather than as holders or transmitters of knowledge.² “In-class time can then be spent exploring the content, asking questions, applying the material to real situations, or developing methods to extend the content.”⁵

Overview

Using a TED Talk allows the educator to bring a different expert into their classroom or curriculum, virtually exposing students to new information they often find to be engaging and encouraging deeper understandings of student interests.

Considerations

Flipping the classroom

TED allows for educators to flip the classroom experience so new content is introduced outside of class, “allowing for deeper and meaningful explorations of the content.”⁵

• Develop lifelong learners: Students are introduced to a powerful tool for continuing to discover new information or update old information, on course content and beyond.

• Broaden perspectives:^{1, 3} Students gain exposure to a wider number of issues and a greater variety of experts, which can help them develop greater cognitive complexity about issues and ideas.

• Curate personal learning environments (PLE):^{1, 3} “Students reported that the personal nature of many of the talks interested them in the subject, therefore making them more likely to read other assigned materials or research on their own.” ³

Activities⁴

• Use a TED Talk as an introduction to a new concept or idea.

• Have students critique a TED Talk using course concepts as evidence.

• Engage students in creating their own TED Talk.

• Use TED Talks to develop instructor lecture skills.

References

1. Banker, C., & Gourmelos, T. (2013). TED Talks and the Need for a Changing Education System. Florida Communication Journal, XLI Fall, 39-56.

2. Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. New York, NY: Continuum International Publishing Group Inc.

3. Loya, M. A. & Klemm, T. (2016). Teaching Note--Using TED Talks in the Social Work Classroom: Encouraging Student Engagement and Discourse, Journal of Social Work Education, 52(4), 518-523. http://doi.org/10/1080/10437797.2016.1198291

4. Romanelli, F., Cain, J., & McNamara, P. J. (2014). Should TED Talks Be Teaching Us Something? American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 78(6).

5. Rubenstein, L. D. (2012). Using TED Talks to Inspire Thoughtful Practice. The Teacher Educator, 47(4), 261-267. https://doi.org/10.1080/08878730.2012.713303