TEDx speakers’ favourite TED talks of all time (The Sydney Morning Herald)
TEDx Sydney takes place on Saturday at the Sydney Opera House. We asked some of the speakers involved to nominate their favourite TED talks of all time.
Nicole Vincent, neuroethicist Favourite TED: The Art of Memory, by Daniel Kilov
I write lists to remember stuff. Yellow post-it notes, whiteboards and gadgets that go “bling” are my enhancers of choice for a memory like Swiss cheese.
Daniel Kilov’s talk has similarly profound effects on memory, but it’s more portable than my whiteboard, and safer than Ritalin, Modafinil, or tDCS (look them up).
Australian memory athlete Kilov not only demonstrates one of his techniques by teaching viewers the names and order of our Solar system’s planets, but he also skillfully explains how teaching school children the art of memory would transform education. And unlike pills, gadgets, and whiteboards, Kilov’s talk is free.
post Ensemble, a collaborative performance ensemble Favourite TED: Being Silly, by Sam Simmons
We like this talk firstly because of the baffled laughter as you can hear the TED audience attempt to contextualise the talk. “Is this man crazy?” they ask. “Why is he yelling at us?” “Does he have a point?” “Is he really concerned about someone’s view being obscured by a rake?” You can hear the questions in the upward inflection of their laughter.
And by the end, he’s actually got a bloody good point. We take being silly very seriously. Silly doesn’t get enough airplay, and a pair of bread shoes can do no wrong in our book.
Barry Traill, zoologist and conservation advocate Favourite TED: Underwater astonishments, by David Gallo
I’ve loved the bush and its wildlife since I was a kid and that’s been both a great joy for me and my life’s work. Initially I tended to focus less on marine life, but more recently I’ve been doing work to conserve our seas. It’s been a revelation to me how exquisite and extraordinary marine life can be. This TED talk by David Gallo is a delightful romp showing sea creatures in love, in conflict and making a living.
Jihad Dib, school principal Favourite TED: Every Kid Needs a Champion, by Rita Pierson
In any walk of life, building relationships is the key to any successful interaction. In relation to school, the importance of high quality relationships cannot ever be underestimated. It’s the relationship that forms building blocks for success in life.
Once I had seen it, I showed our staff Pieterson’s talk in order to affirm to them, the great work they do in building relationships with students and the importance of being their champions on a daily basis. They saw that teachers who believe in kids and never give up on them is an internationally recognised trait of outstanding practice. In inspiring one another, educators always look to the best practice and what I love about this talk is the fact that Pieterson acknowledges that it is not always the policy but the delivery and human connection that makes the greatest difference in a school; after all, we are in the people business first and foremost.
Listening to Pieterson’s talk is the shot in the arm all teachers need whenever they question the value of their work and the impact they can have on students others do not believe in. This is best highlighted through Pieterson’s mother, a great teacher who understood that teaching is so much more than just standing in front of a class delivering an academic lesson. Teaching is all about valuing individuals and giving to others what you would want for your own children.
The most viewed TEDx talk of all time Tom Thum at TEDx Sydney, 2013
The most viewed Australian TEDx talk of all time Well, Tom Thum. But the biggest “talk” was Modern Warrior: Damien Mander at TEDxSydney, 2013
The most viewed UK TEDx talk From Glasgow, The Great Porn Experiment: Gary Wilson
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