Xixi Wang

Every educator has a spark.

Every educator has a classroom insight, a new approach to learning, a deeply held belief about what students need most. But great ideas don’t thrive in isolation. They need space to grow, tools to take shape, and audiences ready to listen. That’s where TED-Ed’s Educator Talks comes in.

Educator Talks is a free professional learning experience that helps K–12 educators identify, develop, and share their most meaningful ideas. It’s built on a simple but powerful belief: educators hold powerful insights with the potential to transform classrooms, schools, and communities when they’re given the right platform to share them.

What is Educator Talks?

Educator Talks supports K-12 teachers, school leaders, and education innovators in turning their lived experience into ideas worth sharing. Whether it’s a new way to support student well-being, a strategy for making learning more inclusive, or a classroom practice that’s quietly changing lives, the program helps educators reflect on their careers, identify an idea that can change education and effectively communicate what they believe and why it matters.

The experience begins with a one-hour Idea Workshop, an interactive virtual session where educators explore what makes ideas memorable, learn storytelling frameworks inspired by TED Talks, and receive guidance on shaping their message. This workshop is purpose-built to help ideas emerge and take form.

What comes next

After the Idea Workshop, educators gain access to a set of flexible, high-impact resources that support continued growth:

1. TED’s Official Public Speaking Course, helping educators build confidence and clarity in how they communicate ideas.
2. A global online community of practice, connecting educators worldwide to share peer feedback on Talks and public speaking.
3. Opportunities to organize or speak at TEDx events, bringing educator ideas to wider audiences and multiplying community impact.

Why it matters

When educators develop the skills to share their ideas publicly, the impact goes far beyond a single talk. These skills show up in classrooms, staff meetings, parent conversations, community events, and leadership spaces. Educator Talks helps educators strengthen their voice not just for a stage, but for every place where ideas shape learning.

At a time when education is facing rapid change, elevating educator perspectives matters more than ever. Educator Talks creates space for educators to reflect, articulate what they’ve learned, and ensure broader conversations about teaching and learning are grounded in real experience.

Get started

Curious to learn more?

— If you work in K-12 education, register for the Idea Workshop to take the first step

— Even if you’re not a K-12 educator, share program information with an educator in your life

— Check out our Educator Talks channel to see Talks from educators worldwide

Xixi Wang

What if students and educators could share their best ideas with each other, their communities, and the world?

We’re thrilled to introduce InnovaTED — a new initiative from TED-Ed and TEDx designed to amplify the voices of students and educators around the world! Combining TED-Ed’s public speaking expertise with TEDx’s ability to activate local communities, InnovaTED is a global platform that elevates the voices and ideas of students and educators.

Ongoing support for Student Talks

For over a decade, TED-Ed Student Talks has provided free, customizable activities for educators to support their students in identifying, developing, and sharing their ideas with each other and the world. We will continue and expand our Student Talks efforts as part of this InnovaTED partnership.

A brand new Educator Talks program

As part of InnovaTED, we’re also launching a refreshed Educator Talks program: a free professional development experience that equips educators with the skills, platform, and support to identify, develop, and share their ideas. Educator Talks provides:

— Professional Growth: Educators learn essential presentation and storytelling skills directly from TED’s proven methods, boosting confidence and communication skills.

— Recognition and Impact: By creating pathways for educators to host and speak at TEDx events, educators can establish themselves as thought leaders and inspire others by sharing unique ideas on one of the world’s most recognized platforms.

— Connection and Community: Educators join a global network of peers who are passionate about creating change and sharing knowledge.

It starts with the Idea Workshop

Educators register for a virtual, interactive Idea Workshop to get started. Led by TED-Ed’s founder and executive director Logan Smalley, this one-hour professional learning session has been rated a 5-star experience by hundreds of thousands of educator participants. The workshop offers educators a dynamic opportunity to harness the power of storytelling and effective public speaking and apply it to their most powerful ideas. It guides educators through the initial stages of crafting a TED-style talk, and also provides meaningful professional development that supports enhanced communication and presentation skills to be applied in classrooms, school board and PTO meetings, and more.

Once the workshop is completed, educators are presented with exclusive benefits to continue developing their talk and sharing their ideas. These include free access to TED’s Official Public Speaking Course, a global community of practice, and unique opportunities to create or speak at TEDx events.

Register for the Idea Workshop!

How to get involved

Educator Talks is open to anyone serving K-12 students around the world. If you’re an educator, sign up for the Idea Workshop to access our newest transformative learning journey. And if you know an educator who might be interested, help spread the word by sharing this blog post and website.

Every educator has an idea worth sharing. The Idea Workshop is designed to help uncover it — and to spark a journey, supported by TED-Ed and TEDx, that not only amplifies the best ideas in education, but connects passionate educators to a global network of vital voices, defining the future of education. Make sure your voice is heard.