Building Better
Classrooms

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TED Radio Prompts
 
Related Essay Topics
Solving the World's Problems...John Hunter,
  • What would you have thought if your fourth grade teacher began each lesson with "I'm sorry boys and girls but I'm afraid we're going to have to have fun today." Would that have been the same or very different from your experience?
  • Would it surprise you that fourth graders could simulate solving and managing the world's problems?
  • Hunter claims that it's okay for the classroom to be chaotic, with confusion and complexity, in fact that it's a good thing. To what extent do you agree or disagree? 
  • Hunter claims that its okay for teachers to be in the 'unknown' sometimes. Teachers are often expected to know everything so this is perhaps different than many people's expectation. Do you agree or disagree that it can be a positive thing for a teacher not to know everything that is being learned in their classroom?
  • Did it surprise you when Hunter described the differences between students playing now and playing 40 years ago. That students are less likely to choose warfare and combat and more likely to resolve situations peacefully? What do you think accounts for this change? Is it positive? Is it negative? Be specific and detailed in your description.  
  • Do you agree or disagree with this statement: Education in my country is worse than it was 20 years ago. Use specific details ands and explanations to support your answer
  • Ken Robison says that "A person's education runs deep meaning it's experiences that are profoundly impactful." To what extent do you agree. If you do agree why is it that our educational past is so significant. If you don't agree, why do you think its not as significant as Robinson claims?
  • Describe what the relationship between literacy and creativity that Robison promotes. Do you agree with his argument and reason?
  • In what ways has your past education encouraged creativity? In what ways do you think your past education inhibited creativity?
  • Robison says that "Human communities depend upon our diversity of talent, not a singular conception of ability." What does he mean and to what extent do you agree or disagree?
  • Robison expresses doubt that 'Everyone should go to College". To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  • What are ways that your school or the school of your childhood could have better encouraged creativity in its students?
Do Schools Suffocate Creativity...?
... Sir Ken Robinson, 
  • Do you think you would like your teachers better if they were videos?
  • Khan suggests that perhaps students shouldn't be grouped by age and instead by ability or performance. How would this change the education system positively and negatively? Be specific and detailed in your description.
  • Khan says that if you can 'empower a life for nothing (meaning no costs) you should'. What is something t hat you could do to 'empower' a life for no financial cost? Be specific and detailed in your description. 
  • Khan suggests that to get poorer people to use a product or service it needs to be good enough for the rich people to use it. Can you think of an example or application for this opinion from your experience? Be specific and detailed in your description.  
  • Khan claims that technology can be used to humanize the classroom. That is different than many people who claim that technology use dehumanizes interactions. What could support Khan's opinion?