Lo que me enseñó el VHS | Jorge Crowe | TEDxMontevideoED

Summary

The speaker reflects on how a VHS player and childhood films shaped their view of technology and creativity, particularly in small towns before the internet. They discuss the importance of hands-on learning, using everyday objects to create something new, and breaking boundaries in education. Through personal anecdotes, such as teaching and creative workshops, they emphasize how art, technology, and imagination can intersect in meaningful ways, empowering students to explore new possibilities. The speaker advocates for a shift from rigid, traditional education to a more flexible, hands-on approach, inspiring creativity and confidence in students.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on the impact of a VCR during childhood and how it opened up new worlds of imagination and technology.
• 😀 Living in Tunuyán, Mendoza, in a pre-internet and cable TV era, the VCR served as a window into new realms of entertainment and creativity.
• 😀 The speaker recalls how the VCR fascinated him with its inner workings, such as cleaning the heads and understanding the mechanics behind playing a tape.
• 😀 Movies, particularly *Explorers*, inspired the speaker by showing the power of imagination and how ordinary objects could be transformed into extraordinary creations.
• 😀 The concept of reimagining everyday objects, such as turning household items into spaceships, was a pivotal revelation in the speaker's understanding of creativity and technology.
• 😀 The speaker highlights how films like *E.T.* and *Back to the Future* showcased technology as both a tool for communication and a symbol of potential, despite being made with 'junk'.
• 😀 Through his own educational journey, the speaker emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity in children, allowing them to explore and innovate without rigid constraints.
• 😀 A key moment in teaching involved a student creating a unique 'monster' from scrap materials and coming to the realization that 'weird and beautiful' are not contradictory concepts.
• 😀 The speaker stresses the importance of allowing students to experience hands-on learning, empowering them to explore and find meaning in their own way.
• 😀 Two educational projects the speaker is involved in—*Flexible* and *Laboratory of Toys*—focus on art, technology, and open-source creativity, fostering hands-on learning and encouraging unique creations.

Q & A

What is the speaker's first significant memory related to technology?

The speaker's first significant memory related to technology is their experience with a video cassette player (videocasetera), which opened up a new world for them, especially as someone who didn't fit in with typical interests like sports or horseback riding.

How did the speaker view their childhood town of Tunuyán, Mendoza, in terms of technology?

Tunuyán, Mendoza, where the speaker grew up, was a small town with limited access to modern technology. The internet was not available, and even cable television was a promise that kept getting postponed, which made the arrival of the video cassette player a pivotal moment in their life.

How did the speaker describe the role of the video cassette player in their childhood?

The video cassette player was a lifeline for the speaker, offering a gateway to new worlds through movies and technology. It allowed them to explore new ideas and develop an interest in electronics and creativity, giving them a sense of escape from the everyday world.

What is the significance of the movie 'Explorers' in the speaker's life?

'Explorers' was a significant film for the speaker because it portrayed young characters using ordinary objects to create something extraordinary. This idea of repurposing and transforming everyday items inspired the speaker’s own creative thinking and approach to technology.

How did the film 'Explorers' influence the speaker's understanding of technology?

The film 'Explorers' inspired the speaker to view technology not just as tools with specific purposes but as objects that could be reimagined and transformed through creativity. The characters in the movie built a spaceship from everyday items, which resonated with the speaker's own fascination with repurposing things.

What lessons did the speaker draw from the character of Doc Brown from 'Back to the Future'?

The speaker saw Doc Brown as a representation of a peripheral, eccentric inventor who creates revolutionary technology outside of traditional academic institutions. This image of the scientist working in an unconventional setting inspired the speaker's belief that significant technological advances can happen outside mainstream environments.

How did the speaker’s educational journey evolve after childhood?

After growing up, the speaker became involved in education, starting to teach at the age of 23. They shifted from thinking about science and technology in abstract terms to focusing on arts and how technology can be creatively integrated into educational settings.

What was the key revelation the speaker had during the 2009 workshop in Rosario?

During the 2009 workshop, the speaker had a key revelation about the role of teachers: it's important to create spaces where students can learn and express themselves creatively without being constantly fed information. The speaker learned that students can construct their own understanding, as shown when a student created a 'strange but beautiful' monster.

What does the 'Flexible' project involve, and how does it relate to the speaker's philosophy of education?

The 'Flexible' project is a creative workshop involving five people, including the speaker, focused on art, technology, and science for children. It aligns with the speaker’s philosophy of education by allowing children to use their imagination and hands-on experience to build things, often by repurposing ordinary materials, which challenges traditional ways of thinking.

How does the speaker view the relationship between technology and creativity in education?

The speaker believes that technology should not just be taught in a traditional, rigid manner but should be used creatively to allow students to explore and repurpose materials in innovative ways. This approach fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as helping students feel empowered and engaged in their learning process.