From zero to infinity, a story of children and math: Yohanes Surya at TEDxJakarta

Summary

This inspiring speech highlights the transformation of students from Papua, Indonesia, who struggled with math and lacked confidence. Through intensive training using the Gasing method, which simplifies learning and makes it fun, these students rapidly progressed, even competing in national and international science competitions. The speaker emphasizes that good teachers and effective methods can unlock potential in every student, regardless of their background. The story serves as a testament to the power of education, demonstrating that no child is hopeless when given the right tools and opportunities.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video shows students from Tolikara who dramatically improved their math skills in just one month.
• 📅 The video was filmed in July 2011, showcasing how students who initially struggled with math became enthusiastic learners.
• 🔢 Before training, students in Papua could not do basic math, such as adding 8 + 7, but later mastered advanced concepts.
• 🏞️ Papua's Tolikara and Wamena regions have some of the lowest education levels and human development indexes in Indonesia.
• 🏅 After training, students from Papua were able to compete in national and international science and math competitions, winning medals.
• 👨‍🏫 The secret to their transformation was having good teachers and a method that made learning math simple and fun.
• 💡 The ‘Gasing method’ focuses on making complex problems easy to understand and enjoyable for students, avoiding complicated formulas.
• 🏆 Papuan students trained under this method achieved impressive results in Science and Mathematics Olympiads, earning gold, silver, and bronze medals.
• 📊 The method allows even the slowest students, considered hopeless by some, to excel and even become world champions.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes that no child is inherently 'stupid,' only lacking a good teacher and effective teaching methods.

Q & A

What was the main change in the students from Tolikara after only one month of studying math?

The students went from being afraid of math with no confidence to becoming enthusiastic and hopeful, mastering basic math in just one month.

Why was the speaker touched by the education situation in Tolikara?

The speaker was moved because the education level was very low, with high school students unable to perform basic addition or multiplication.

How did the speaker help the students in Tolikara improve their math skills?

The speaker brought students from Tolikara to Jakarta, where they were trained intensively for six months and mastered math skills from grades 1 to 6.

What was the speaker’s approach to selecting students from Papua?

The speaker asked local Regents to give him the slowest and most struggling students, intending to help them become world champions.

What surprising results did the Papuan students achieve after being trained?

The students won multiple medals, including gold, silver, and bronze, in the Asian-level Science and Mathematics Olympiad, despite previously being considered hopeless in their academic abilities.

What example does the speaker use to show the effectiveness of his teaching method?

The speaker shared an example of a student who had repeated a grade four times and couldn't perform basic math but later won national-level robot competitions and excelled academically.

What does the speaker believe are the two key components for student success?

The speaker believes that good teachers and good methods are essential to transforming students into successful learners.

How does the speaker define a 'good teacher'?

A good teacher is one who can motivate and inspire students, helping them gain confidence and enjoy learning.

What teaching method does the speaker promote as being simple, fun, and effective?

The speaker promotes the 'Gasing method,' which simplifies complex concepts in a way that is easy and enjoyable for students to understand.

What message does the speaker want to convey to those who feel hopeless?

The speaker emphasizes that there is always hope, and with the right teacher and method, even students who are seen as 'hopeless' can achieve remarkable success.