Hosts Ashley Kolaya and Bobby Nweke at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash

Ashiana Sunderji offers an inside look at what it was like to attend TED-Ed Weekend in February as one of the 120 students invited to come to NYC.

Ashiana attended the event with 4 other student members of the Encounters TED-Ed Club from Vancouver, Canada. Here she describes what it was like to see the students from the TED-Ed Student Talk community come together, listen to ideas from her peers on the TED stage, and participate with other students in activities and workshops:

DAY ONE

The first day consisted of four sessions, in which we were taught so many new ideas. I wanted to share the aspects that resonated with me the most in each session to ensure that it sticks within the realm of Ashiana’s Home!

Session #1

In the first session, we got to hear a bunch of student’s talks from the TED Stage. They were given by students of many ages from all over the world. I would have to say that my favorite part of the entire conference was probably the interactions that I got to have with students and facilitators from all over the world. I talked to at least one person from Greece, Mexico, London, Russia, Columbia and so many other places making all of the topics of the talks super diverse.

I have been a part of my club for almost two years now as I joined in September 2018. While most of the groups in attendance at this conference were based out of their schools, our club uses TED as a vehicle to understand the history of our faith and the intersections that it has in secular contexts. It was so incredible to come to the realization that every single talk intersected with our faith curriculum.

A talk in the first session that hit very close to home was given by Suzu Kitamura . She gave a spoken word on perfectionism. I am someone who strives for achievement and sometimes my strides are not fulfilled and this is why it is important to look at life through the lens that no one is perfect. I thought this talk was super relevant and I feel that every person in the room, no matter where they came from took something from this piece.

Suzu Kitamura speaks at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

The second discussion that I wanted to share was the conversation with the youngest editor of Teen Vogue: Vera Papisova. As someone who runs their own blog, I thought it was super cool to hear about the editors experience working in that industry. They touched on many relevant global issues and topics, and how they had been incorporated into Teen Vogue. I love how they emphasized the importance of including these topics in such an on-trend magazine, and that a space such as Teen Vogue should educate their readers.

Vera Papisova speaks at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Session #2

In the second session, we got to see a whole bunch of cool activations. They all included a means of art, which I found to be very engaging. The activation that really spoke to me amongst all of the ones that I got to participate in, was Movers and Shakers. They made art  that can be scanned to reveal a digital 3D like image and story about a person (usually a minority) in history who is not widely recognized for their revolutionary accomplishments. This, to me, is such an important gap in the media, and public eye, that should be filled. The art was amazing, and the cause even stronger.

We also got a workshop on public speaking  which I took a lot from. I found the way that the presenter shared her points super relatable, and we were all learning so much through her empowering form of teaching.

Raegan Sealy speaks at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Session #3

One aspect that I really enjoyed about the conference was the global audience. People were able to tune in from home and watch in live time, their faces appeared on the sides of the theatre. We got to hear from some amazing young people about the changes that they are making in the world in terms of the environment.

 Xiye Bastida gave a talk about the indigenous practices of taking care of our Earth. This is very similar to what we learn about in our religious classes, as Muslims it is our role to take care of god’s creation. I think hearing another culture’s perspective really emphasized this practice for me.  It was so relevant and informative, that I began reflecting on our purpose in the climate crisis quite a bit after her talk.

Xiye Bastida speaks at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Session #4

My favorite moment from session #4 was the improv group Freestyle Love Supreme. They are from Broadway and were incredible. They improvised an entire show, which I think reminded the audience of the courage that it takes to get on the stage and share something that is so personal. I believe that attending this conference really helped to inspire my confidence so that I will be able to convey my ideas in a way that resonates with the most people.

DAY TWO

This day was more divided in activities as many people had to leave throughout the day to catch flights (including us). These were my two favorite activities:

Chris Anderson’s talk about Climate Crisis

I had no idea we were going to get to hear from Chris Anderson. When I first joined the club, the first talk we had to watch was “How to Make a Talk” by Chris Anderson. His talk was very powerful and really brought forward the change that is being made by TED this year, not just sharing ideas but taking action. We got to help choose graphics for the promotion of the Countdown Event.

Chris Anderson speaks at TED-Ed Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED.

Discussion about Climate Crisis

We then got to divide into groups and have an in-depth discussion about climate change with students from all over the world. This was such a new experience for me, getting to converse with people who came from completely different parts of the world from me, and their own opinions and personal experiences related to our environment. This was definitely a highlight from the entire weekend for me.

Student discussion at TED Weekend. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

• The conference opened so many new perspectives to me. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and hope that I get to experience something like this again! Thank you for reading all about my amazing experience with TED-Ed!

• ABOUT THE AUTHOR

• Ashiana Sunderji is a 12 grade student who gave her own TED-Ed Student Talk on how youth should turn to community service to learn about their own identities. She started and runs the Encounters TED-Ed Club blog, as well as her own fashion and travel blog.
  

At TED-Ed, we’re passionate about sharing vibrant, diverse, and meaningful student voices with the world. Since 2014, thousands of student groups across the globe have been developing and sharing their ideas using our free idea presentation literacy materials. And, in these last few years, we (the TED-Ed team) have learned SO much about what students and educators really need on the journey toward that best possible Talk.

Central to the program of course are the TED-Ed Student Talks materials, designed to help students more fully realize and develop the core ideas they’ll share with the world.

Behold: the wonderfully colorful Guidebook, Idea Journal, and Curriculum Standards packet!

The Guidebook:

The main idea: This is your road map for navigating a group of students through the process of developing and sharing their TED-Ed Student Talks. It has specific guidelines and ideas on how to structure your sessions, but leaves room for creativity so you can adapt meetings to fit your group!

Supporting details: The sessions (or, as we call them, “Explorations”) are broken into 3 phases: Discover, Develop and Share. You can see the basic arc of the program here. The activities in each Exploration offer videos to watch, discussion prompts, partner and group work, and individual reflection time.

Included are activities for identifying and prioritizing good ideas, a model that trains students to effectively give and receive feedback, extra help building throughlines, and “Talk Tools” that teach storyboarding and presentation skills like voice and presence.

The Idea Journal:

The main idea: This journal is a safe and creative space for every speaker to explore and develop; it is a colorful, fun and personal way to track the development of your idea.

Supporting details: Students will use this journal as they complete Explorations in the Guidebook. The sections of the journal correspond to various activities in the Guidebook and offer students a place to brainstorm, draft ideas, take notes, and build on their script.

This should feel like a journal. There are space to draw, to draft, to reflect, to check items off your to-do list, and to keep track of your amazing progress!

The Curriculum Standards Packet:

The main idea: We created this packet to help illustrate the ways in which the TED-Ed Student Talks program aligns with national and international educational standards used by many schools in our global community!

Supporting details: If you are an educator using these materials in your classroom, you can easily track the standards covered by each step in the process. This document also clearly outlines the skills students will develop as they complete the program.

We’ve included Common Core standards, Cambridge Global Perspectives Program standards, ISTE standards for Students, and International Baccalaureate Learner Profile Standards.

So how can you use these materials?

If you aren’t registered with us yet, submit your registration here to access our Resource Library and download the free materials. You have a few options for how to use these materials:

• In a classroom: as a group of students in a class, led by a teacher.

• In a Club: as a group of students in an after-school setting, led by an adult educator.

• As part of another youth/education program: as an addition to an existing program—for groups of students who are part of programs run by our collaborative partners.

If you are currently a registered TED-Ed Student Talk Leader, visit your Resource Library, and please let us know what you think!

Photo: Ryan Lash

Writing a college admissions essay (or any essay for that matter) can be grueling. BUT—did you know that once you’ve written that essay, you’re halfway to giving a TED-style Talk? So why not register with The TED-Ed Student Talks Program to complete the process, and share your ideas with the world!

If you’re a high schooler wrapping up your college admissions essay or a student working on one of many essay assignments for class, writing is probably a regular part of your school workload. Any time you write an essay, you need to discover, develop, and share an idea clearly—and these are actually the building blocks to giving a TED-style Talk. So whether you’re workshopping edits for your admissions essay, finalizing a paper for science class, or browsing through your collected essays from years passed—you’re ready to take that extra step and transform the written word into the spoken.

Here’s what you’ve already accomplished by writing your essay:

1. You identified and explored an idea which will be the focus of your Talk.

2. You developed a throughline: your main point or argument, the magnet to which all your points are drawn (your Talk’s connecting thread).

3. You researched and fact-checked the claims which will support your talking points.

4. You outlined an introduction, a body, and a conclusion that can be mirrored in your Talk arc.

5. You combined the above elements into a cohesive whole which will provide the blueprint for your Talk.

With your essay in hand, you have the essential ingredients needed to actualize your Talk. Remember: you can accomplish things with the spoken word that you can’t with the written. You’ll sense this just by reading your essay out loud. Doesn’t this feel different from reading your essay in silence? Your job now is akin to a script editor turning a silent film into a Talkie, and both the TED-Ed screen and stage are waiting for you.

Here’s why you should turn your essay into a Talk:

1. Your idea will be made available globally on our TED-Ed Student Talks Youtube Channel and can affect those you’ve never even met.

2. You’ll take your idea further by expanding upon it. There are no character limits with Talks so your creativity can run wild.

3. You’ll enhance your idea with visuals: slides, video clips, photos, and animations…images rejoice!

4. You’ll fine-tune your public speaking skills and practice the craft (and joys!) of presenting.

5. You’ll decide who you’re speaking to: your Talk doesn’t have to be addressed to a teacher or an admissions committee, instead you get to choose your audience.

The alchemy of turning writing into speech is at your fingertips—your Talk sits hidden in your essay and it’s awaiting to be unearthed. And while there are many exciting benefits to carving a Talk out of your essay, they all have one thing in common: you get to make the most of your written efforts by enriching, informing, and enlivening them.

So register with the TED-Ed Student Talks Program and do more with what you’ve already done: join us with a group or on your own! And maybe soon you’ll be flipping the script and transforming your TED-style Talk back into a school essay.

BIO

As a child, TED-Ed Innovative Educator Jacqueline Fernandez-Romero used to cross the US/Mexico border daily to attend school. Today, Jackie is the principal of the Latin American Youth Center Career Academy in Washington, D.C., which provides both a rigorous academic model and career preparation in the healthcare and information technology fields. “Teaching students of color is something that I’ve always been passionate about, especially sparking their interest in the sciences and getting them more involved in STEM,” says Jackie. “As a Mexican American woman, I feel that my experiences are valuable to the population I serve.”

IDEA

For her TED-Ed Innovation Project, Jackie set out to create a documentary about the lives of four students who grew up in the US without lawful immigration status. Many of these students, aka DREAMers, were brought to the US as children in order to escape violence in other countries. As young adults, these students have already overcome many obstacles. Today they dream of continuing their studies and starting careers in nursing, engineering, and computer science. “I have always believed in all my student DREAMers,” says Jackie. “I will continue to embrace my students in love, gather strength from their courage and resilience, and let them know they are not alone, now or ever.”

INNOVATION PROJECT

How do students feel about the current political turmoil over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program? Here’s what some young DREAMers told Jackie:

“Why can’t the President see that we are hardworking students who have earned the right to be in this country?” — student, 22 years old

“I want to live my life one day at a time. I do not want to think that I might have to go back to Guatemala.” — student, 17 years old

“I was really sad when I heard the news regarding DACA. What am I supposed to do? My life is in this country.” — student, 18 years old

“I did not have a choice as a child. I was brought to this country by my parents, who were escaping the violence in EL Salvador.” — student, 24 years old

“I’m a DREAMer, and I’m ok with that, because everything I have ever done is with integrity.” — student, 17 years old

“Undocumented students have been and will continue to be an asset to the United States economy.” — student, 21 years old

Below, read one DREAMer’s story about growing up in the US as an undocumented immigrant.

This student’s dream is to become a nurse:

“I moved to the United States when I was 13 years old. When I came here, I didn’t speak English, and my goal was to speak English after two years. I have been in many different struggles — bullying and discrimination and being made to feel that I was nothing in this country. But I learned English in two years! I have had a lot of experiences that make me strong.

When I first came to the US, it was very difficult. Every night I had bad dreams about monsters coming to kill me. Every morning I would wake up to hear a rat going around near my bed. But you just have to keep going, no matter what. I started to go to the church, and after I became Christian everything changed. Whenever I felt sad or lonely, I prayed. Thanks to God, whenever I needed something, He was there.

Sometimes I feel that my life is impossible, but then I realize that I have been working really hard, and that is what makes me keep going.”

This article is part of the TED-Ed Innovation Project series, which highlights 25+ TED-Ed Innovation Projects designed by educators, for educators, with the support and guidance of the TED-Ed Innovative Educator program. You are welcome to share, duplicate and modify projects under this Creative Commons license to meet the needs of students and teachers. Art credit: iStockPhoto.