What makes a student excited to learn? | Priyam Baruah | TEDxFolsom

Summary

In this insightful script, Priam Bara reflects on the importance of fostering curiosity and human connection in education. Drawing a parallel between learning to ride a bike and the teaching process, Priam emphasizes the significance of creating classrooms that nurture thought expression, relationships, and interactivity. He introduces a three-step formula for reimagining education, which includes redefining productivity, applying lessons to real-world scenarios, and fostering a growth mindset. Through engaging personal anecdotes and examples, Priam urges educators to move beyond rigid structures and inspire learners to embrace growth over perfection.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learning to ride a bike is a metaphor for education, where teachers guide students but ultimately, it's up to the students to make the effort themselves.
• 😀 The most effective classrooms foster expression of thought, personal relationships, and interactivity, which create a dynamic learning environment.
• 😀 A successful education system not only teaches students but also focuses on the ability to teach and mentor others.
• 😀 Redefining productivity in the classroom involves allowing flexibility and adaptability in teaching methods, instead of rigid adherence to pre-planned lessons.
• 😀 Teachers should be open to spontaneous discussions and questions from students, as they can lead to engaging and meaningful learning moments.
• 😀 Real-world applications of classroom lessons make learning more relevant and engaging for students, as seen in the example of writing a thesis statement.
• 😀 Cognitive structures, or the mental processes we use to make connections, are crucial in helping students understand and retain knowledge.
• 😀 Effective teaching allows students to apply classroom lessons to real-life situations, which helps them build deeper connections with the content.
• 😀 The education system needs a shift from performance-based tasks (focused on achievement and perfection) to growth-based tasks (focused on continual improvement and mastery).
• 😀 A growth mindset, which emphasizes improvement over perfection, is more effective than a system that rewards completion and correctness alone in education.
• 😀 Education is a lifelong journey, and as we grow, learning continues beyond formal schooling, shaping us into the individuals we are meant to be.

Q & A

What analogy does the speaker use to explain the role of a teacher?

The speaker compares a teacher to someone who helps you learn how to ride a bike, standing from afar to support you in case you fall, but allowing you to do the work yourself.

What is the speaker's main argument about classroom productivity?

The speaker argues that true productivity in the classroom doesn't always come from sticking rigidly to a set agenda or presentation. Instead, it involves being flexible and allowing for spontaneous, engaging interactions that can deviate from the plan.

What experience led the speaker to reconsider their teaching method?

The speaker recounts teaching a lesson on writing thesis statements, where they veered away from a PowerPoint slide presentation and instead engaged students in a personal, relatable exercise involving their favorite movies.

Why does the speaker emphasize creating lessons with real-world applications?

By connecting lessons to real-life experiences, students are more likely to engage and internalize the material. The speaker highlights that cognitive structures, which are mental frameworks for understanding, are built by making connections between classroom content and real-world scenarios.

How did the warm-up question about prom proposals contribute to the class?

The warm-up question, though seemingly unrelated to the subject of statistics, encouraged students to think critically and justify their answers, helping them develop cognitive structures that linked classroom learning to real-world decision-making.

What does the speaker suggest is missing from the current educational system?

The speaker suggests that the current education system, which focuses on performance-based tasks (like 'if-then' motivational systems), should be reimagined to prioritize growth over perfection, allowing students to learn through continuous improvement.

What does the speaker mean by 'learning to teach'?

The speaker emphasizes that it's not enough to teach students content; educators must also learn how to teach effectively. This involves creating an environment that fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and real-world connections.

What is the role of cognitive structures in education, according to the speaker?

Cognitive structures are mental processes that help individuals find connections and build new patterns of understanding. The speaker advocates for lessons that allow students to build these structures by relating what they learn in class to their personal experiences.

Why is it important for educators to adjust their teaching methods?

Educators should adjust their teaching methods to meet the dynamic nature of students' learning. Flexibility in teaching allows for deeper engagement, fosters curiosity, and responds to students' questions, creating a more interactive and effective learning environment.

How does the speaker view the connection between fear and self-expression in education?

The speaker reflects on their own personal journey, where fear—such as the fear of public speaking—was a barrier to self-expression. They argue that education should create an environment where students are encouraged to overcome such fears, allowing them to voice their true selves.