Why teachers teach but kids don’t learn | Ben Richards | TEDxYouth@Haileybury
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- čas přidán 13. 07. 2015
- Ben Richards is both an award winning playwright and an experienced teacher of Drama, Philosophy and Mathematics. He has spent the last ten years bringing together his different areas of expertise at a number of top UK schools, honing his unique approach to education. Haileybury Habits: Inquisitive, Reflective
Teacher at Haileybury
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
I. Agree. So hard 😂
Here’s my story if anyone is interested. I’m a high school student who really wants to be a teacher. And I’ve thought my whole life, “why do kids have such a negative view toward learning?” I’ve had a few theories and things but it seems so complicated and different for every individual.
One thing I’ve always understood and loved is math. It’s so applicable, it’s predictable, it’s formulated. It’s easy to process in my brain. And i like learning it. It’s fun and interesting and i get that feeling of ‘I’m learning something new.’ I might even call it exhilarating.
But something that i am continually struggling with is history. It makes no sense to me, i don’t get the story, and it’s just so monotone to my brain as I’m learning it. One day i was talking with a friend who loves history and is really good at it. I asked her why she likes it and she says it’s because she makes up stories to go along with it. She puts herself in the events and sees it in a completely different light than i did. I realized how much history teachers (and other teachers in their own subjects) can make it seem like the purpose of being in that classroom is to get the work done, get an essay done, do well on the test. They speed through it and jump immediately into the confusing details without giving us the chance to see the story.
I know that there are great teachers out there... but in my experience, I’ve seen this method in almost every classroom. It makes everything monotonous, boring, confusing, and unenjoyable.
I want to teach. I want to inspire a love for learning like what i have for math. I want to make school less of a task and more of an adventure. And i think it’s so important to use stories, creativity, and art to do that.
I know a lot of what I’m saying seems ~excuse my French~ cringey or cliche... and it seems that way, but this is truly something I’m passionate about.
Thank you for this. I think that school is one of the most mindset-forming experiences for young people and it’s important to change and alter education based on what actually works and what doesnt. I’m praying and hoping that teachers will listen to this, and also that i can make a difference if i ever find myself at the front of a classroom when I’m older.
I hope so too
Omg I loved your point of view!! That's what im trying to do to make education fun and make it relate to real life rather than rote learning. I loved your comment!!
This is relatable! And most definitely not cringe, good luck my friend!
You will be a good teacher because you care...
Puppets in the classroom! Much more fun than an exercise book.
Arum Flower Surname both might be great
You're comment it's so superficial!!!Oviously you've missed the point\the essence of this ted talk! He was trying to express a great idea through that little play with puppets! Hoping you are not a teacher!
Yes, I am and a good one.
If you are a good teacher as you said then give a TED TALK on methods of theaching!
Because human brain works in small patterns and have to constantly shift attention. Imagination and emotions work perfectly fine in this rather than hard-working logics that consumes many energy.
I can only hope my daughter's future Maths Teachers watch and absorb this inspirational talk.
I'm a math teacher and I approve this.
Show this to your daughter's math teachers.
The intrinsic attraction of math is what we need to turn students on to, not hijack a narrative. Math is a compelling field. Look at the Russian mathematician who worked in obscurity for years, out of the sheer joy of it, to solve one of the Millennium Problems, turning down a million dollar prize for his solution.
Kaninma how will they get anywhere if they’re not interested in math in the first place?
Don't rely on any teachers, you can teach your kids.
I thought this was extremely interesting. sure, this specific example of puppets might not work on teens and high schoolers, but i don't think that was his point. his point was to make students care about learning, to make it seem worth their while. giving students dry grammar rules or math equations to memorize seems pointless- and a lot of the times it is. we can hardly recall these things because we needed them for the exams and it was a one time only thing. but let's say it is applicable in real life situations, doesn't it make it more reasonable to learn something? let's take ourselves for example. sometimes we go on the net and search up things never talked about in the classroom simply because we're curious and we want to know more. imagine we give our students some liberty to choose the topics they want to learn, and then we incorporate the "rules" into that. it would make learning a less daunting task. it may seem like a stretch now, but it makes to learn something that will stick with you forever, rather than learning something that will be forgotten in a short amount of time.
Thank you for this insightful talk! I think I'll want to work with it and see where it takes me!
That's a tough crowd to get a laugh from, my god
Ikr
Not a tough crowd, an unfunny presenter.
I'm not sure when you heard a funny joke, but I know I sure as heck didn't.
Also, the whole idea that there's such a thing as a *tough crowd* is just wrong.
Yes, people in the crowd might have a different sense of what is funny to the presenter, or the presenter might just not have made any jokes, but neither of those mean the crowd is *tough*.
@@DanielDavies-StellularNebulla Why are you taking my comment so seriously? You have your opinions and I have mine. To me, there is such a thing as a tough crowd and to you, there isn't. Get over it
@@DanielDavies-StellularNebulla shut up karen
@@DanielDavies-StellularNebulla That's my husband! It was very funny and people did laugh but we got told after everyone had left that the microphone hadn't recorded it, so we had to refilm with no audience! The only shots with the audience in are silent and have been cut in from the first go.
Teachers don't teach...they just give us homework
And then if u are doing bad in exams and class work they tell u to drop
Students have to have homework. That's why my friends send their children to private schools. Two hours of homework a night!
Ya probably wouldn't have much homework (if any) if you used your time wisely in class. Unfortunately, the students with poor attitudes would rather blame the teacher.
I have worked in dozens of schools, and actually "homework" is rare- just occasional paragraph or essay to write or some reading. 99% of the "homework" is just the teacher saying "if you don't finish this simple one-page worksheet in the 80 minute class period, you have to do it at home."
rose give us real home work
If you need one on one tutoring, or group tutoring you have to ask.
Loved this, thank you! I'm a primary school teacher and I often use stories to teach the youngest children! Using story telling in this way is an excellent idea to teach/ help children to grasp tricky concepts! X
If I had had such a forward thinking, inspirational teacher I definitely would have been better at maths! Clearly a way forward in teaching today
His hand gestures are great.
I can't explain how wonderful of a speaker and an overall person he is. It warmed my heart to hear him talk about what he loves. It makes me question what I loved most doing as a kid. And when I think about it... it was teaching as well. ❤ I hope we all find our passions and inspire others to be just as CARE-ing as we are.
This man deserves much more credit than he got
Fascinating insight into why we learn the way we do and how to engage children in education.
Telling a story can really grab people's attention. That's how people have most of their conversations.
I'm I the only one who saw a abusive household when seeing this circle and triangle story?
That was sneaky. You were actually talking to adults at a childish level, without making them feel childish.
He's brilliant!! If all my math teachers had been like him when I was in elementary and junior high school, my school life would've been easier.
When I search why is my teacher so boring this comes up 😂
I had a teacher who broke the mold for me. She said and I quote, if you don't understand something I failed at my job. Its not the fault of the student but the teacher. She was the only one to admit it, her math class had the highest average for our highschool. She took time and actually gave a damn. We was from mostly lower middle class areas so tutoring wasnt a option and alot of kids had to get jobs to support their families, this is in USA not some 3rd country. Out of the 12 years of going to school, I can only remember 2 teachers that had an impact the rest was punching the clock.
I totally agree, eventhough grade 2 me would try to solve a difficult math puzzle just because I liked the challenge.
Regarding storytelling, I still remember a story in my grade 6th Biology class book. In it, the readers are on an imaginary trip visiting the factory inside a leaf. I loved it so much that I tried to memorize and retell it to myself.
When I was in kindergarten, my mom often read storybooks to me. When I wanted to read them for myself bad enough, I self-learned how to read before teachers began teaching letters at daycare.
Ben Richards, thank you for the great talk! Keep up the good work 🖖
One of the better ted talks I've seen
So brilliant, the world needs to hear this
In my experience as a pupil many years ago and as a "teacher" (not my profession) who taught my two sons and my friend's daughter enough to get them all into a very good grammar school ... (my son also winning a scholarship to the local private school at the same time ... we chose the grammar school) ... teachers may know their subject well but the majority of them seem to not understand the psychology aspect of kids and that the key to success with teaching kids is to give them confidence and to recognise when a kid hasn't got confidence.
As soon as a kid starts to feel that he or she isn't understanding what is being taught, they lose any bit of confidence they perhaps once had ... and that lack of confidence very quickly grows into a huge negative for them ... a negative which can sit with them for years.
I distinctly remember, with all three of those I've mentioned, particularly with my friend's daughter as I knew my own kids better of course, the moment when they became instantly confident. ... it was like seeing a light bulb come on.
It came about after them being asked one question and the subsequent explanation of how to address it. The question was, "12 is 5 more than half this number." What is the number? As 10 year olds at the time this question perhaps seems a bit difficult to be able to answer quickly.
I taught them to break this, and other questions down ... to simplify them ... I asked them if it was a good idea to box yourself into answering a question without first simplifying it as much as possible? With this question, all they had to do is say to themselves, "Well, if part of the question is, 12 is 5 more than what I'm looking for ... then 7 should be used instead of the long, "12 is 5 more than half this number." .... so ... re word the question ... "7 is half this number" ... the answer is then immediately clear. This one thing ... about simplifying a question taught them so much and so very quickly.
Many adults and not just kids, seem to find percentages difficult. I taught them to, for example, work out percentages in their heads. It has to be said that their multiplication tables needed to be known for this. An example. ... "What is 6% of 18?" ... To work out 6x18, first, simplify it ... 6x10 is 60 ... that 60 goes "into the bank" (memory) .... then, 6x8 is 48 ... add to the memory ... = 108 .... hop back 2 places with the decimal point (having already explained that every number has one of these ... e.g ten is 10.0) ... and the answer is 1.08 .... It is amazing how confidence can help so much in kids ... once they lose it, you have lost them! .... It isn't difficult to give it back to them!
You'd probably have a better understanding if you volunteered in a school for a while, than by calling yourself a teacher when you're not. Teaching your two sons is not the same as a classroom of 35 kids with a variety of different abilities, attitudes, backgrounds, and some disabilities.
I felt this video on a deep emotional level
So emotional connection is what we need, got it~
I wish he was my teacher in elementary school! That would’ve been awesome 👏🏻👏🏻
This guy talks a lot of sense. Wonderful
First math teacher on the planet who is a philosopher, an actor and mentor. Usually the best math teacher won't be anything else.
thank you so much for this - was feeling daunted by the fact I have to teach maths next year - this is so inspirational! I really appreciate it! and I did chuckle quite a bit xD
Very informative. It's nice to have some theory to back up good practice
Very good idea! But what about middle and high schoolers? I think creating an interesting narrative (that doesn't get eye rolls) would be a bit more difficult. Although, puppets in the classroom would definitely be memorable.
breezter I mean, you could personify certain things, like functions in mathematics, for example. Give them over the top anime kind of personalities 😂 and let them fight for their place in the coordinate system 😤! For example, they might encounter magic walls they cannot touch (asymptotes) or need to share their place with other functions, which doesn’t always end harmonically, so that they sometimes cut each other (intersections) because they‘ve clearly crossed the line!
Gosh, that would be hilarious XD
(Memes might help more than some teachers’ acting skills though)
@@shayleenmeyer3175 anime 😄I wish
Ben Richards (and his partner) actually has a puppetry company, The Big Tiny, who have gone on to produce hugely successful pantomimes, edutainment mystery puzzles that have been a Guardian #1.
Nice teachers = learn mean teacher = non learn
Sad thing is a lot of teachers in my area especially are the biggest assholes I've ever seen
@@sophielei8494 kern county
You should be a teacher you’re Harry Potter
I am learning so much from watching your videos. Thank you so much for sharing this amazing source of information. This one is quite helpful.
I personally don't think we should make kids want to do math, but instead, just let that interest for math to grow in them, and then as teachers help them improve their skills, 'cus otherwise I think it's like kids are forced to learn math without any reason. Nice video👍
Brilliant! Ben's speech has reminded me about 3 things:
1) why I originally fell in love with cognitive semantics (with all the spacial and temporal image schemas, force arrangements, etc.),
2) why I enjoy listening to rappers who are awesome story-tellers (and play their tunes to my students), and
3) why I still love using puppets during my classes. :-)
I went to a Waldorf School all my life, and have always had trouble describing exactly what a Waldorf education is, but this guy explained it perfectly. I kid you not, in grade school we learned math through stories. The operations were characters, and their stories logically informed the nature of what they did to the numbers. Really, everything was taught through stories. This novel approach to education he's talking about... I've experienced it. I've lived it. It exists.
So good to hear
This guy is downright brilliant.
The aesthetics of maths are key for teaching (architecture, and graphics made by the sine and cosino)
His voice sounds a bit like James Corden
Ikr
or perhaps, his accent
@@newheights4782 nah defo the tone of his voice as well
Looking back, I find the teachers that produced the best results were often complete opposites - either very strict, or more down to earth on the students level, but with the personality traits to make learning interesting and memorable. Their passion for a subject could definitely be passed on. No puppets necessary, but then again, that was high school (age 12-18). I suspect some of those teachers with the more comedic or 'unique personalities' will still never be accepted widely by schools that would rather stick to more traditional standards, regardless of how good their teaching skills are
The intrinsic attraction of math is what we need to turn students on to, not hijack a narrative. Math is a compelling field. Look at the Russian mathematician who worked in obscurity for years, out of the sheer joy of it, to solve one of the Millennium Problems, turning down a million dollar prize for his solution.
Ted x if you are in need of a translator from English to Arabic I can be one ❤
And when you are a history teacher, you have so many good scandals, fun facts, and more to weave into your lessons...there should never be a boring lesson.
Love it from Philippines
Excellent
Awesome
Great Video
This is why "the life of Fred" is a successful math book, it tells a story with the math problem.
I'm from 3 years into the future and I want to tell you that School has not changed and the school system has become even more broken
We must avoid simplifications but it´s something true, if a bad teacher explains something that is easy it may be that some students do not catcht it, let alone if the issue is a difficult one. We, as teachers, must have two necessary qualities, explain as much clear as possible and second, to be able to develop thinking strategies in our kids and teens and youngs. So, when a teacher, talks and talks and during the explanation does not use the chalk and drawings and doesn´t introduce some "emotional" anecdote if possible, something is going wrong.
The tragic consequence of mediocre teachers using poor methodologies results in mediocre teaching and poor formation.
We measured an aquarium and a few days later I was told "I don't know algebra, I don't think you ever get use of it." ....We just did! You definitely know! Puppets like this would help kids see where you would apply what you learn. When I answered that the person did know and I explained it I got "Oh so that's what that is? Then I use it all the time!" Same with fractions. People often don't know that they use fractions from what I have observed. My teachers were super bad at teaching me because when I didn't understand I was told to try again, try harder, or I can if I want to. Myeah. Not helpful.
Drama is needed everywhere
Never thought the dog could be bullied by the cat
really interesting
Why, long ago, education's administrators thought, (?) but in any way decided that there must be 15 week terms, for example, (semesters) during which students will be taught about 5 courses. DO STUDENTS LEARN BETTER THIS WAY. How about studying a single course for 3 weeks, 3 hours teaching ped day, for a total of 5 courses in 15 weeks, off course. Has this scheme been tried. It is very possible that this 'concentration' in one subject may be proved advantageous for learning, most all, when they go to work, they do one thing, anyway.
Great talk and very valuable indeed.
It may just be me, but how would you make kids sympathise with subjects that are commonly viewed as vague? Logarithms or integral calculus for example.
The purpose of education is to understand the world, others, and our place in the world. Education to get a job should be secondary.
No desire, just obstacles and defeat
The secret to getting people to calculate the volumes of composite solids: with a puppet show.
Sounds great, then enter the Principal who wonders openly and derisively what any of this has to do with the upcoming standardized test before pointing oy to the released test items and asks if that play is on that test or in the text book maybe? How about you pacing guide, do you have time for this in the pacing guide? And don't forget the kids who are saying, but I like cats and the one who argues that if it doesn't fit he can just send it back. Its a great idea, if you are allowed to do it.
I feel like this is attempted in some math questions. "Bob needs (blaaaaaaaaah)" as for the blah, leave that to the imagination. Even with the background info which is usually just kind of a super boring story, it doesn't make it any more interesting. It doesn't give any motivation whatsoever because it's still seen as a math problem
It's actually somewhat interesting. It would get more students engaged than textbook problems.
Bob has 70 watermelons
Im a volunteer at the primary school, god is teaching hard 😭
Nothing better than being failure in high school in 2014’s till this year failures are everywhere till the failure turns out to be is not an option anymore at the time being
That was good wait for it
I TEACH M A T H *S*
It's over? But i wanted to help Julius!
This is all true. I love teachers with passion. However, the problem is that schools keep pushing kids to solve problems they do not care about, and it would be extremely costly to have a story for each problem to solve, esp. that some kids will never care about a crying dog. The ultimate solution is to let kids find their own problems and solve them with interest. Many will never get to the volume of solids, but those who leaves school have no clue anyway. The net result is the same. By letting kids free, we would solve dozens of school problems. The presented strategy is great as long as kids are forced to stay at school with no option to freely explore on their own.
The only thing i remember from school is the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell
Same, and how it is ironic that I won't never forget this...
Instead of teaching me at school ( only the history teachers does that for me) they make me learn at home instead at school....
Because were tired to death and dont remember the things we learned. We need more sleeeeep!
Isn't that just what we call "word problems"? Sally has two lollipops. She wants five. How many does she need to buy from the candy store to have five? Or Snow White is having a party. If she invites the seven dwarves and the three little pigs, how many plates will she need?
Yes.... sort of. A word problem gives you the "obstacles" that the protagonist has to overcome, the issue however is that they do not set up the exposition that allows you to empathize with said protagonist. It's like if some stranger on the street started telling you about their rude coworkers, you wouldn't care. But you would care if your best friend was complaining about the same exact situation, because you care about as a person, you empathize with them.
Forte Fermata
Sally needs to buy five because Snow stole her lollis to give to Dopey since she and Dopey are secretly an item and the lollis were actually drugs.
1:00-2:00
Dropping a like for the puppets. I love me a good story.
um.... isn't this basically a word problem with puppets??? Don't we already do this?
Nobody gives a shit about the stories in word problems. My kindergarten teacher taught us to scribble out everything except for the vital information.
@@brenner5147 that's a good teacher
There always comes a time in my life when I've taken on something to learn and at least one teacher among them will just blow my mind. Because I can't understand a word they're saying🙂🗡️✨ And now, thanks to my amazing teacher yet again I must self study the whole bloody thing🥲👍🏻✨
But anyways that's just the story of my life.
I wish I had a math teacher who taught as well as him🥹
Wait I wanted to know if the kettle fit in the house :( ! Lol
kennel not kettle
@@1000grigori it was a joke but thank u for grammer lesson.
*school* BE DIFFERENT, CHANGE YOUR WORLD!
*also school* you'll also need to get a 65 or higher on the test tomorrow, and the homework was brought up a day
THIS MAN IS A GENIUS
Altyazilara turkce gelirse daha memnun kaliriz
Was not expecting puppets aha that is beautiful
0:56
The thing about video games though is they are designed to have obstacles everyone knows this going in. The flip side that is only true in a game or videogame is the game cannot exist without those obstacles whatever form they may take. There is no point to a game without obstacles. Overcoming then and moving forward it the whole point the whole reason we are there to play. The story could be about triangles or a blade of grass that doesn't entirely matter if the game is good. We can overlook a story that does not fit this agenda for gameplay that does. But in any other form of story telling you can not do that. There is nothing else to fall back on if your story sucks. Ya there could be an actor everyone enjoyed or though was amazing but it's does not make up for the bad story.
It's simple, nobody finds interest in most topics and nobody really cares.
Why the most brilliant people are in the universities and research centers only while there should be a lot of them working in a kindergarten?
Do nost deceive yourself; being brilliant in researching and mastering a subject does not mean being brilliant at the time of transmitting that knowledge to others.
my teachers make me wring papers and books... no project. just blank pieces of paper.
2+2=4-1=3 quick mafs
Charley Hibschweiler
2+2=5-1=4
Ok class were ready to take a test
Kids-about what
Super hard math you don’t know
Kids-why a test
I get paid if kids fail
Oh man the high school teachers at my school have literally just did this in one of my classes
"Ok this is our first lesson"
-makes us write down the study name
"Time to take a test!"
We haven't even studied. She was mad because the principal said we were bad. Even worse she liked the rude kids. 😵💫
I've learned that teachers just need a certain amount of students to pass to get money. The rest of us suffer.
Lack of parents and parenting! Most parents use public schools as babysitters. Watered down curriculum. Coarsening of America:(
Hes not wrong. Ps the skit was actually hilariouse. Almost wanted to help the dog too.
Everyday: Read this textbook I won't actually teach you
Very interesting but i feel like that example can not be implemented in math, anything school related (maybe reading)
BUT he’s on to something that ties with a different topic but i cant lay a finger on it
Yes it can. This was a set up to eventually get measurements to see if the item fits. In other words a word problem acted out.
Michael Stevens of the VSauce channel knows EXACTLY how to do this.
Almost every country has the same problem. Lessons are not made interesting or rarely provided to focus on their interests. I'm in ninth grade, and I realize I haven't learned anything I'm not interested in. Somebody's got to fix this. I hope that person will be me in my own country because I'm not happy with the current system and frankly I'm desperate for someone decent to come up with a proper system. That's why I want to come.
OOFFEENNDEEDD
I LIKE CATZ-
those people stopped listening the moment he introduces himself as a maths teacher. That's why it's impossible to get a laugh from them.
people need a real problem to solve to encourage them to learn what is needed to know to solve it then they should be helped to solve it. they shouldn't be given fake problems to solve that is just a waste of time.
B vegan Now The problem is, though, that school is meant to be a safe environment to learn HOW to solve those problems without a real fear of failure. It's like young animals playing, they are learning basic survival techniques without the danger of dieing so when that threat comes at them they can execute. I do think that the modern schooling environment has become toxic to some extent thanks to the ever increasing pressure put on kids, but that is not a problem with schooling itself but rather an issue with the people in charge.
Forte Fermata there should be job training programs that only teach how to do the job they want out of a selection of jobs like build houses, become Drs, be a piolet... and tax money would pay for it for people who can't afford it.
no one size fits all Education.
then there can be Drs under 18.
they are almost never learning basic survival techniques in school, they r regeritating useless info. they should also be taught basic survival techniques if they want like how to build basic shelter, start a fire...
the modern schooling technique is toxic because it coerces kids to learn useless info that they forget after the tests and teaches them to use force to get what they want. no wonder why so many teens commit suicide. the people in charge of the circulum and making school mandatory are the problem.
Sometimes the teacher don't know what they are teaching about
Sleep vs school school: 0.00000002% sleep: 99.9999998
The only thing why people are struggling is cause of Modern stuff like i learn 99.9% in the internet rather than school if im honest ..I'm saying they keep staying in the past not the future...
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