TEDxKitchenerED @tedxkitchenered-blog - Tumblr Blog

Meet Renu Persaud!

Meet Renu Persaud! Dr. Renu Persaud graduated from the University of Toronto with her BA, MA & PhD. She is a lecturer and professor at the University of Windsor, with her intellectual work being in the area of arts and social sciences, sociology, education, religion, theory, social life and social dynamics. She is an author and poet and is writing her book, The Mastery of You by Waldorf Publishers, which will be realized in 2017.

In order to learn more about Renu, we asked her some questions. She talks about creativity, the importance of human attributes with regards to education, her fridge, and more!

Spoiler? If she had a machine that could produce $100 a day for the rest of her life, she would use the money to educate children across the globe and stop child labour, trafficking and abuse.

Keep reading to learn more about Renu!

Question: Growing up, what was your favourite subject at school and why?

Answer: Art.

I believe that Creativity is manifest intelligence. The greatest scientists, artists, mathematicians, intellectuals, inventors, writers, philosophers of the past and present could only have been successful with an open road to allow their ideas and creative thoughts to freely flow. Our interest in a subject matter is nurtured through our passion to explore the subject from unique creative pathways. Often, there may be hesitation to embrace new modes of thinking, but it is the determined creative geniuses amongst us that provide different ways of thinking about a subject matter. Regardless of academic discipline, the progress of humanity would remain stagnant without creativity.

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: My passion to research, write and become a Professor was nurtured by one, Professor M MacKinnon at University of Toronto. I will never forget his kindness, encouragement and the times he helped me as a student.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: Learning is serendipitous. We cannot plan to learn. Any moment, big or small could stimulate learning: from the glance and awe of a flower growing through cracks of a sidewalk to the professor who lectures passionately about a subject for three hours. Both impart learning in unique ways. Our experiences dictate the intensity by which we learn, certain learning moments touch us deeply, while others do not. For this reason our education system must impart experiences that all students can relate to.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: Technology has enabled great strides in the educational forum. With this however, there is a sense of dependence on technology that is tenuous. Traditional modes of learning (reading a book, hand-written notes, face to face communication) are powerful tools that we should always embrace. I try to remind students that it was not too long ago that email did not exist or papers were hand-written. Technology while it assists learning, could never replace the human attributes of education. Hence, I would change the deepening personal dependence on technology while at the same time appreciating its importance in other realms of education.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: Perhaps a Utopian notion, but despite the ideological expressions of inclusive education and the need for it, the want for it, there are groups of students that persistently lag behind the rest, and for too long. We require a serious momentum to ensure that talk translates to vast action.

Question: What is your favourite quote?

Answer: "There is no greater mastery, than the mastery of Self"

Question: If you had a machine that produced $100 a day for life, what would you do with it?

Answer: If I had a machine to create 100$ bills, I would find a way to transport the bills to every corner of the globe to educate every child, stop child labour, trafficking and abuse of the most precious members of our humanity:

Our children, this is priceless.

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: In my fridge right now are a lot of colours!

Now that you know a little more about Renu, make sure to check out her Twitter!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 3 - 4 a week until May 14th. If you weren’t able to get a ticket, don’t worry - we will be live streaming the entire event on Saturday! Make sure to subscribe to our mailing list to get all the details.

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Kristin Werner!

Meet Kristin Werner! Kristin is the founder and owner of the dance studio Star Performance Academy, where she works as a Dance Educator with recreational and competitive level dancers from preschool to adults. Her competitive dance team at Star Performance Academy has won multiple awards for Top Studio and Sportsmanship! She has also competed all over the world, including New York City, Las Vegas, Disney World and finally to Germany where she earned a gold and silver medal for Canada at the IDO World Tap Dance Championships.

We asked Kristin some questions so we could learn more about her! She talks about the importance of students staying connected to their own uniqueness and staying true to themselves, the dangers of feeling like one has to “fit in”, listening to self-discovery tapes in her mom’s car and more!

Spoiler? If she could have an hour with any individual, alive or deceased, she would choose to be a fly on the wall while Michael Jackson created any part of the Thriller album.

Keep reading to learn more about Kristin!

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: My Grade 7 teacher, Mr. Houston, had a way of expecting the absolute best of everyone in our class, yet making sure he gave us everything we needed to reach our potential. I always felt challenged and yet capable of accepting each challenge along the way. I don't know how he did it, but I know that he had the ability to see our true potential and our strengths and weaknesses. He would teach us these systems for learning, studying and make sure we followed them every day. His persistent faith in our potential inspired me to have the same faith in myself.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: Aside from my dance studio, I also learned a lot in my mom's car. I went to school in the country and we drove to a lot of lessons, and she would play these self-improvement and self-discovery tapes in the car and we would talk about life. I loved these rides especially, because it was there that I really learned that I had an element of control over my life and the power to shape each situation in a way that served my goals and/or the greater good.

Question: Beyond the traditional “skills/subjects” taught at school (Math, English, Science, etc) what skill do you think is most important for students to learn (e.g. collaboration, teamwork, leadership, etc) and why?

Answer: I think students need to be connected to their own uniqueness and understand the true value of what makes them special. Staying true to yourself and expressing it throughout your life is a huge part of feeling successful and happy, and gives students the confidence to make strong choices in their life.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: I feel this need to fit in can really rob students of their power. Looking at others and trying to match them and fit into their reality is distracting to students and pulls them off their path, away from their goals. Students can be aware of others, but need to know and love themselves first. Being connected to who they truly are, know how they work, what makes them tick and what they really want out of life will give them the drive and power to embark on an amazing journey.

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: "The things that make me different are the things that make me." -Pooh. Love the quote, because its truth is so simple yet so empowering, and it's by Winnie the Pooh:)

Question: If you could have an hour with any individual, alive or deceased, who would it be and why?

Answer: Easy. I'd like to watch Michael Jackson create any part of the Thriller album. The few insights into his creative process that he provided in interviews makes me want to be there first hand, fly-on-the-wall style.

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: A lot of whole foods, some probiotics, probably something sketchy hiding in the back corner, and a bottle of wine or two.

Now that you know a little more about Kristin, make sure to check out her dance academy's website and LinkedIn!

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! The countdown is on, we hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Yumi Lee!

Meet Yumi Lee! Yumi is a creative grade 7 student from York Region. She has her own blog, is an entrepreneur who started and runs her own online business called yumisdozen.com, and she makes delicious treats and baked goods. She aspires to be a teacher one day and spends much of her time making things inspired by her favourite YouTube creators.

We asked Yumi some questions to get to know her better. She talks about learning in the kitchen and on the baseball field, empathy, incorporating more hands on learning in schools today and all the delicious desserts in her fridge right now!

Spoiler alert: If she could be any kitchen appliance, she would be a spatula because she would constantly be covered in cookie and cupcake mix!

Keep reading to learn more about Yumi.

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: My mom has taught me so much about cooking and making yummy food. She has given me so many opportunities in life to try out new things and learn about what it really means to be a chef in the kitchen. Because of her, I have been able to open my own baking business and teach others how to cook and bake like me.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: I have learned so much while playing baseball in a league with big strong powerful boys. This has taught me a lot about how equal boys and girls actually are in sports and how they should be treated equally. In that environment I also learned how to talk to people more freely and how to be more of a leader.

Answer: In my opinion one of the most important skills to learn is empathy. Empathy plays a huge role in collaboration with others. Putting yourself in other people’s shoes is a very important skill to understand people’s feelings and opinions.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I definitely want schools to incorporate more hands on learning in today’s education system. Hands on learning allows children to make discoveries, not just learn something from a textbook that is hard to understand. Hands on learning will also bring out the child’s opinion and their creative self because it won’t feel boring to them.

Question: If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

Answer: I would be rubber spatula because there would constantly be cookie and cupcake mix all over me. I love that stuff! So good!

Question: What’s the last gift you gave someone?

Answer: The last gift I gave someone was an under armour T- shirt that I gave to my friend Taylor for her birthday.

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: There is tons of cake and pudding in my fridge right now. My mom made me pudding because I was sick.Then, she brought banana cake home from work. I’m surprised it’s not gone yet.

Now that you know a little more about Yumi, make sure to check out her blog and online business!

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! The countdown is on, we hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Royan Lee!

Meet Royan Lee! Royan is a teacher, parent, consultant, speaker, blogger and professional learning facilitator. In his spare time, he is doing wonderfully mundane things with his three children and beloved wife Janet. He’s a true family man, and in the words of his own children, “very...weird”.

He is obsessed with learning relationships and experiences that cause growth and shifts in thinking. He is also easily swayed by delicious, unpretentious foods, and perfectly pulled shots of espresso.

We asked Royan some questions so we could get to know him better! He speaks about wanting to eliminate the grade and percentage grading system, the dangers of an emotionally unstable environment for students, his new year’s resolution, and all the wonderful foods in his fridge.

Spoiler? If he had to pick any other career, he would drive around North America with in a Mini Cooper and make “street espressos, lattes, and flat whites for some lucky people”!

Keep reading to learn more about Royan!

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: The fondest memory I have of a teacher is of my high school English one, Paul Rose. I had a lot of of difficulty with social and emotional issues at that time, struggling with a lot existential conflicts. He was the teacher that really saw the light inside my darkness and went the extra mile to nurture me in a difficult time. I will never forget the impact he has made on my life.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: I learned so much as a cafe barista:customer service, attention to detail, organization, the importance of creating an environment, and reading people.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: I believe that when our schools are inequitable, exclusive, or socially and emotionally unsafe for our students, we cannot realize their potential.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I would eliminate the letter and percentage grading system for one that is standards and skills based. So much bad pedagogy comes out of needing to produce and be accountable to a ranking grade. It can be destructive on a learning system.

Question: When was the last time you had a big epiphany/“aha” moment, and what was it/what triggered it?

Answer: I’ve been learning a lot about math pedagogy of late. My last big AHA moment occurred this past week when I learned about how crucial early proportional reasoning is for math understanding.

Question: If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

Answer: I would be an espresso machine because then I could provide people with energy, good taste, and a reason to sit down and talk to one another. Oh, and beautiful coffee the way it should be made.

Question: If you could live in any time era, what would it be and why?

Answer: Now. My favourite time is now.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: I would get a used Mini Cooper, paint it, and drive around Canada and the US making street espressos, lattes, and flat whites for some lucky people. My car would be a beacon of rich, creamy caffeine for unsuspecting souls in dire need of a double shot.

Question: What was one of your New Year’s resolutions (and have you kept it so far)?

Answer: To start a routine of yoga. And, yes, I am a badass who realizes his resolutions.

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: Lots of different kinds of Chinese choy (green leaf vegetables)

Vegetables

Keffir

Steak

Eggs

Probiotics

9% Liberte Fruit Yoghurt

Pudding and cake

And some mint chocolate I’m hiding from the kids!

Now that you know a little more about Royan, make sure to check out his blog and Twitter.

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! The countdown is on, we hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Rusul Alrubail!

Meet Rusul Alrubail! She is an education writer, consultant and blogger; she writes about teacher professional development and training, pedagogical practices in and out of the classroom, english language learners and media literacy as a means for professional development. She has also taught College English and literature courses to first year college and undergraduate students, as well as being the Chief Education Officer of The Writing Project! She truly believes that the power of student voice and agency can shift education forward and empower others to create positive change around them.

We asked Rusul some questions to learn more about her. She speaks on entrepreneurship, the power of empathy, her favourite quote and more!

Spoiler: if she had to pick any other career, she would be a theatre stage actress!

Keep reading to learn more about Rusul.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: Another place I learned the most was at Design Cofounders. After leaving the classroom almost two years ago, I joined the Design Cofounders team shortly afterwards as an Educator in Residence. While working on education community organizing and The Writing Project, I learned a great deal about design thinking, solution-based thinking and entrepreneurship in that short timeframe. It was a great opportunity for me to step outside of the box of education, and see education from a design thinking perspective.

Answer: Entrepreneurship and design thinking most definitely. Both skills are not taught as a subject matter yet in most schools at least, but they have core values to help students with problem solving, critical thinking skills, leadership and so many other skills. Students can benefit from learning about entrepreneurship before post-secondary education in order for them to have an opportunity to see if that is something they’d like to explore in the future. Entrepreneurship, like many other career choices, has its own difficulties and benefits and so for students to know that they have an option of not choosing a traditional career route and instead build their business from the ground up can help to empower them on making the right decisions for themselves when it’s the right time.

Question: Growing up, what was your favourite subject at school and why?

Answer: English most definitely. Even though English was my second language when I arrived in Canada in grade 5, I loved reading books and writing about them. English stayed to be my favourite subject until university. So it’s no wonder I love teaching it.

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: I think every great teacher has influenced me in small ways to be the person I am today. I remember my grade 5 teacher gave me my first book to read as a gift for the summer. That was very kind of her. It was a bit harder than what I could read at the time, and she said she thinks I can start reading it by the end of the summer. That was a powerful moment. Ms. Fujimoto, I’ll always remember when she asked me if those boys in my group were bothering me. They had been bullying me for a few weeks and we were in a group together. After I told her they called me names, those boys never bothered me again. There are many other memorable moments that stayed with me and made me the person I am today. They all have one thing in common, empathy. Empathy truly touches the heart of people in many unimaginable ways and makes us see potential and believe in others.

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: There are so many so it’s hard to choose only one. But one of my favourites is this one by Maya Angelou: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” It really does speak to importance of how our actions and our words can have such a lasting impact on people.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: A theater stage actress, most likely. I loved my drama classes in university. In high school I was too shy to join but in university I loved playing out scenes for my shakespeare courses. I think I love the feeling of playing someone else and imagining the world from their perspective. I love getting into their motives, behaviours, actions through lines in a book, because there’s a lot we can understand from analyzing the words of the characters.

Question: What’s the last gift you gave someone?

Answer: My daughter turned 4 on March 22, so my husband and I got her and her sister scooters. They love it!

Now that you know a little more about Rusul, make sure to check out her blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! The countdown is on, we hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Will Gourley!

Meet Will Gourley! Will is an elementary school teacher and digital literacy leader at Beckett Farm Public School with the York Region District School Board. He is also a TED-Ed facilitator and was selected to be part of the first cohort of TED-Ed innovative Educators, one of just 28 teachers selected worldwide.

We asked Will some questions to get to know him better! He talks about fear, failure learning, learning to never say “I’m bored” at home (good call!) and hot sauce.

Spoiler? If he had to pick another career, he would either be a lawyer or go into advertising!

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: My house was where two parents with a combined total of zero post secondary education gave me the best education outside of school any one could ever ask. We were taught respect, hard work, responsibility, and honesty on a daily basis, not that I always liked it. My dad was the master of delivering lasting wisdom in one liners as it would relate to my life. He understood that knowledge was fluid and always within the grasp of s/he who reached for it. He never forced learning on us. Mom was a force majeur in our home who reminded us that education went hand in hand with hard work. To this day I know never to tell my mom "I'm bored". I never cleaned so much than that day. Although they never gave me what-for after I was asked to leave university for under-performing, they sure were glad when I went back in 2007 to finish what I'd started in 1984.

Answer: Cliché WARNING - I am a failure learner. Conversely, because I learn from failure I've enjoyed success and opportunity along the journey too. I think we need to remove the stigma around failure in our society. We are so quick to throw darts at someone without any consideration of their impact.Teaching students that it is ok to make mistakes, and that it is part of the process is crucial to true learning.

Failure allows us to learn from the moment and that things are not always going to go as planned. Letting go of perfection in lieu of what can be gained in the process is what I have been working on with my class this year.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: Four letters - F E A R

Students are coming to the classroom in increasing numbers in anxious states. They are stressed out by a world that is asking them to have it all together and solve the world's problems now while only being offered a seat at the kid’s table of their future. They are terrified of speaking in front of a group or sharing an answer for fear of being wrong. Fear paralyzes students from realizing their potential. Students feel compelled to live out their familial/cultural pressures to choose the doctor, lawyer, or engineer path instead of developing their passions and areas of strength. (End rant in 3, 2, 1)

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: I have been influenced by a tonne of folks who have been rock solid for me on the road to becoming an educator. For the sake of all the trees, virtual or otherwise, I'll be brief...ish

I've never met Nancy White in person, but when I returned to university after my academic exile there were some lingering issues around my confidence. She would not remember me if you asked her either, but I remember. With a lot of Cs on the transcript you could understand why. Nancy was always supportive in the online forum of our English class. She was demanding, witty, and above all a good lecturer. Her feedback was spot on and meant to edify learning not tear us down. Completing and succeeding in her course gave me the confidence to enrol full time at university to complete my BA, to go forward applying to faculties of Ed throughout Southern Ontario ( all rejections) and then successfully to Tyndale University.

At Tyndale, the B Ed team looked at education with a different lens. They saw beyond the marks and looked at what I was able to bring to the party from a life lived over 40+ years. They still got their pounds of flesh from hard work on the way to my degree, but to a person the environment modelled patience and grace that now extends to my classroom. Our Language/Social Studies prof was a lifelong primary educator named Jane McIntyre who spent her days going out of her way to encourage us while we wrestled with planning, pedagogy, and practice teaching.

Honourable mentions: Carla Nelson, Luigi Bianchi, Rick Cunningham, Trevor Brown, Pat Zrihen, Greg Farrell, Rob Foster, Doug Hayhoe, Pat Bucci, Bev Muir, Nikolas Kompridis

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: In 1983 I visited a friend from high school, the actor Enrico Colontoni. He was living in NYC while studying to be an actor. Henry, as was called then, was a bit too thin and struggling with his craft, life away from home, plus the pressure to make it he was placing on himself in such a highly competitive world. As we walked the streets of Manhattan, block after block, he shared something with me that has stuck. "In anxiety comes genius." I liked it so much I put it in my yearbook. When I consider the stress we put ourselves under to make it in this world, we should all be functioning at the genius level already. Perhaps approaching genius from a more relaxed perspective should be my goal going forward so I can say "in serenity comes genius".

Question: When was the last time you had a big epiphany/“aha” moment, and what was it/what triggered it?

Answer: Recently, I was sharing a favourite quote for an upcoming TEDx Talk and I realized that I need to be still rather than embracing my frenetic side in order to evoke genius in the eleventh hour.

Question: If you could have an hour with any individual, alive or deceased, who would it be and why?

Answer: If I could spend an hour with anyone it would probably be with Mr. Joe. He is a teacher I worked with in North Korea in 2013 during a brief visit. He was a bit older than the rest of the teachers, and did not participate in our activities with much enthusiasm. On the last day he walks up to me as we are saying our goodbyes and says,

"Mr William. Thank you for teaching me that I need to love my students." I would love to spend an hour catching up with Mr. Joe and his students in the DPRK.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: Two paths - Advertising (copy, creative, production) or a lawyer who helps people fight against government injustice or corporate bullies just because I can.

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: Several kinds of hot sauce, assorted condiments, fruit, vegetables, butter, eggs, milk, cheese, and leftovers for my lunch at school tomorrow. Yum.

Now that you know a little more about Will, make sure to check out his blog, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! The countdown is on, we hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Bob Kline!

Meet Bob Kline! Bob is a teacher at Huron Heights Secondary School in Kitchener, Ontario. He co-founded his school’s grade nine orientation and mentorship program; since then, not only has his Leadership and Student Council program tripled in size, but they alo won two consecutive ‘Most School Spirit’ awards at the Ontario Student Leadership Conference!

In order to learn more about Bob, we asked him some questions. He talks about his love for English and books, wanting some technology-free classes in the education system, having fun at work in order to survive, and more!

Spoiler alert: every summer, he takes a train across Canada in order to get away and meet some incredible people.

Keep reading to learn more about Bob!

Question: Growing up, what was your favourite subject at school and why?

Answer: I always loved English; I'm a lot like my dad in that way. I used to lay on my bed and read books all day long, so much that my mom used to get worried that I wouldn't have any friends if I kept it up. She used to kick me out of the house to play outside. Books captured my imagination and I always felt like it was the English classes where I could really be creative and talk about ideas. A lot of my love for English also had to do with my teachers; they were all so different. Some of them would banter with us, some would wax philosophical and ask probing questions that seemed impossible to answer, and some were grammarians who hammered us with exercises. They are the people who helped me realize that I wanted my life's work to somehow involve stories.

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: My English professor in university named Judith Miller had a profound impact on me. I met with her during office hours once to ask for advice. I remember the dimness of her office, the shelves filled with books, and the look in her eyes when I told her my situation. She told me that people ask for advice because sometimes it's easier to be told what to do rather than to make our own decisions. Then she gave me these instructions: "Go for a long walk in the woods, and when you come out of the woods, you'll know what you need to do. The answer is already inside of you; sometimes you just need to listen to yourself and have the courage to act upon what you really already want." Well, I went for the walk, and her advice worked. Now I listen to myself a lot more than I used to.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: Every year I ride the train across Canada just to get away, and over the course of the trip there's lots of time to get to know people from all walks of life. I'm blessed to have lifelong friends who I met on the trip, but most of the time people come in and out of my life as they embark and disembark the train at different spots along the way. A magician from Toronto, a singer-songwriter from interior BC, a retired CEO of a very successful company in Guelph, a violinist and poet from Haliburton, a married couple from Texas, a retired radio shock jockey from who-knows-where, a dog trainer from Halifax... I could go on and on. It's the stories they told that I've learned from.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I would designate certain courses as 'technology-free' and require students to take at least one of them each year. Don't get me wrong - I'm not anti-technology. My school is full of excellent, innovative staff who have brought our building to the forefront of classroom technology use and I'm on board with increasing access to technology, but I also believe that students need balance. In my view, the most important skills we can instill in students are the human skills that don't involve a screen, and we need to be intentional about providing opportunities for students to develop them at school. Check out an essay by Alan Lightman called "Progress." The essay is a bit dated now, but Lightman raises some questions that we should still be thinking about. Or watch the opening monologue Glenn Close delivers in the film called 'Heights'. Here's the thing: A lot of people don't understand that we're in a postmodern era of education and that schools are fundamentally different than they were not just in the post-war years, but even 2 years ago. Society can't even keep up with the ethical and moral conundrums that rapid advancements in technology have caused, so people need to realize that it's ok and important to slow down sometimes in schools. I hazard to suggest that someday it will be considered 'innovative' to put away technology entirely - what a paradox.

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: A number of years ago one of my colleagues, Brian Henry, delivered his retirement speech and it transformed my working life. He said, "In this line of work, you have to have fun every day to survive." In staff work areas it's really easy to 'debrief' all the challenges we had throughout our day because let's face it, our colleagues 'get it.' But after Brian's speech I realized that debriefing or rehashing the challenges from my day wasn't helping anything - it was like choosing to swim around in a pool of stinky garbage. I also realized that everyone has their own crap to deal with, so why should I pile more on? I decided to consciously leave negative experiences inside the classroom if they happened. I'd take a moment to reflect before walking out the classroom door, but I would physically leave whatever conflict had happened inside the room. Since then I've noticed a huge difference in the way I feel at work. His words also had an impact on my decision to teach Leadership and that's certainly fun every day!

Question: When was the last time you had a big epiphany/“aha” moment, and what was it/what triggered it?

Answer: I dropped out of a part-time PhD program even though I was loving it. I was commuting to Toronto for classes on top of my own teaching, coaching, and other student activities; it was busy but manageable. At a Christmas dinner party that year I met a man who had suffered brain damage in a workplace accident. He was telling me his story and kept repeating that people should live in the now and enjoy each day. Life is simple, he said. When I left that party I knew that I wasn't going to follow through with the PhD. I realized I had everything in my life that I needed, and that I would still be totally happy even if I didn't achieve my dream of earning a PhD.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: I'd go back to my teenage job lifeguarding at the YMCA. I'm sure nostalgia is a big part of why I say that, but the Y truly is an amazing place. In a single day I could bring joy to seniors in an aquafit class or see the wonder in pre-schoolers' faces when they realize they can swim. Everybody loves swimming, so it's fun to watch people having fun. At the Y there's a noticeable 'hum' in the building as people come and go to participate in fitness classes, lift some weights, or attend a youth group. It's just a great place to be all because of the people who go there, so I think I could handle being there every day.

Now that you know a little more about Bob, make sure to check out his LinkedIn and Twitter!

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! We hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 3-4 a week until May 14th.

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Holly Painter!

Meet Holly Painter! Holly is a spoken word artist, public speaker and certified teacher. She’s spoken to over thirty thousand youth at school and community events in just Ontario alone, not to mention she has performed on stages across the country! She is a three-time Grand Slam Champion, Director of the London Poetry Slam and National Director of Spoken Word Canada.

We asked Holly some questions to learn more about her; she talks about empathy, mental health awareness, overcoming her fear of the stage and more!

Spoiler alert: Apparently, she’s been told that she’s a Slytherin! Hmm… would you call that a compliment?

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: I have learned the most about myself and other people through the poetry slam scene; the stories that people share through spoken word help me learn and relearn, challenge my assumptions, change my perspectives, intrigue and inspire me constantly. And from my own perspective, I learned the most about who I am and who I want to be from overcoming my fear of the stage and putting myself on it.

Answer: Empathy. With more of an ability to step into others' heads and hearts, we can create stronger communities for learning to happen within. For many other skills to be successful (collaboration, teamwork, leadership, to use your examples), empathy has to be at the core.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: Mental health. With any number of stressors and struggles outside the classroom, when we don't give students proper outlets and supports to work through those issues, it is impossible for them to care about what is happening inside the classroom. Seeing students as whole people and acknowledging the ways issues in their lives intersect with their learning is crucial.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I would want to see our education system bring all aspects of learning into modern times, with consistency across boards. More updated curriculums with relevant material, better integration and use of technology, change school schedules & testing methods that are outdated and proven less effective, teach to the reality of changing job markets and post-secondary options for students, better implementation of mental health supports, etc.

Question: Is there a specific book, movie or TV show that has really altered your life and way of thinking? If so, what is it and why?

Answer: Quiet, by Susan Cain. I learned so much about myself reading it, it's about introversion and navigating being an introvert in an extroverted world. I am going to write a poem about it someday called 'Born to be Mild' :)

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: I absolutely love being an artist educator/public speaker, but if I had to choose a new job I'd want to be a full-time teacher. Though I am a certified teacher, I never had the opportunity to teach in a classroom beyond supply work, and I would welcome the chance to have ongoing relationships with students and teach and learn alongside them for a longer period of time. But if you want a fun answer far beyond that realm, I think I'd make a really good Professional Organizer or Interior Designer. Or if I could get paid to watch the Leafs/Jays, sign me up for that.

Question: If the Sorting Hat from Hogwarts (Harry Potter) was placed on your head right now, what house do you think you’d be in?

Answer: I know very little about Harry Potter to be honest, but have been told I am a Slytherin. I think that's a bad thing?

Now that you know a little more about Holly, make sure to check out her website and Twitter.

Don’t forget to save the date- May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! We hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 2-3 a week until May 14th.

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Dina Pestonji!

Meet Dina Pestonji! Dina has a BSc Degree in Psychology from the University of Toronto, has completed the “Bridge to Business” certificate program at the Rotman School of Management and has completed her Masters Degree in Business Studies abroad! She has worked in financial and education sectors as a consultant, manager and sales professional in cities across the globe.

When Dina was 29 years old, she had a massive stroke requiring emergency brain surgery, resulting in her being unable to move the right side of her body or speak. She completed intensive rehabilitation, (re)learning how to talk, walk and regain all brain functionality. After only 7 months of her stroke she completed her very first duathlon and after just 9 months she ran her 7th half marathon. Now, she speaks to various audiences including schools, companies and associations on how to overcome any challenges they face - personal or professional.

We asked Dina some questions to learn more about her. She speaks about students today having low self-esteem and confidence (especially young girls), collaboration and teamwork, and making sure that what one does in life brings them joy and happiness.

Spoiler? If she had to pick any other career, she’d be a Global Michelin Star Restaurant Reviewer due to her love for food (us too Dina, us too).

Keep reading to learn more about Dina!

Question: Growing up, what was your favourite subject at school and why?

Answer: Math was my favorite subject because there was no grey area – the answer to a question was either right or wrong. Math is numbers and I loved applying those numbers to problem solving – it always felt applicable to life.

Answer: I think active listening, collaboration and teamwork are essential for students to learn. Students are consumed with grades, university applications but when they get to university/working world, they need to know how to work with other people. When I did graduate school, most of our work was done in teams - it was essential to be able to listen to the ideas of each member of the group, learn how we would leverage the unique skillset of each team member, and be open to different points of view.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: One key factor is low self-esteem or lack of confidence especially for young girls. We need to show students at an early age that their opinion is valued, how to be heard, encourage them to participate and dedicate time to any student that needs help with self-esteem. The earlier they develop confidence, the faster they will be able to perform in both school work, extra-curricular activities and life in general.

Question: If you could change one thing about the education system today, what would it be and why?

Answer: I’d say it is extremely important to dedicate significantly more time to teaching students about finance, investing, the real cost of living in society today and the long term value of education and job prospects.

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: “When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” (John Lennon)

WHY – I love this quote! My parents always told me that I can achieve fulfillment and success in all aspects of life – be it career, relationships and my own interests as long as I do things that bring me joy and happiness.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: I’d be a Global Michelin Star Restaurant Reviewer - Food is one of my biggest passions and to get to try spectacular quality restaurants around the world would be a dream come true!

Question: What’s the last gift you gave someone?

Answer: Dinner at a great new restaurant in Toronto. To me, I enjoy giving gifts where you can share an experience with someone.

Now that you know a little more about Dina, make sure to check out her blog, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Don’t forget to save the date - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! We hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 3-4 a week until May 14th.

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#tedxkitchenered

Meet Kristin Phillips!

Meet Kristin Phillips! Kristin is a Principal at a grade 7-8 school in Kitchener. She also works closely with teachers and administrators at the school and board to bring about pedagogical change based on current research and practices.

We asked Kristin some questions so we can get to know her more! The spoiler this time? If she had to choose another career, she would be a baker and make delicious bread.

Kristin talks about her love for travelling, risk-taking, always failing to keep her desk tidy by the second day of school, and more. Keep reading to learn more about Kristin!

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: I have travelled extensively all over the world - all the continents except Australia. When you travel you learn not only about other people and other cultures, but also about yourself. How does it feel to be in an environment where you can't speak the language, or, like in China, you can't even make sense of the written language? What does it feel like to be the minority? How do I react to different levels of comfort or hygiene or different foods? So, while travelling lets me learn about others, I think that I have also learned a lot about myself and have developed a tolerance and acceptance for ways of doing things that are not mine. These experiences have helped me to recognize that there are lots of ways in this world from getting from point a to point b - not just mine.

Answer: The most important thing that we can impart to our students is to be willing to take a risk. I'm not endorsing risky behaviour but we need to create opportunities for students to seek out challenges and give them a go. So often young people's lives are so carefully monitored and scripted that they don't grow up with the confidence and skills to make good decisions. We learn to make good decisions by making decisions-both good and bad. So if we protect kids from all the bad decisions by guiding them too closely, they grow up without knowing how to think for themselves. We need to let kids know that sometimes things don't work out but that doesn't mean you don't try them. This type of growth mindset environment needs to be present in all areas of the school curriculum.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: Kids work to their potential when they think they can and when the adults in their lives hold them to a high standard. We think that kids like the work to be easy--but they don't. It's like doing laundry all day long--boring and repetitive. Kids like challenges. When we create learning opportunities that are challenging and support kids in meeting those challenges, they will always stay engaged and work to their potential.

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: My grade 13 (that dates me) English teacher, Miss Dal Garno, had a huge influence on me as a student. She spoke to us like grownups and made us feel that the books we were reading and the writing we were doing actually mattered. I never felt like her class was school. It was the first time that I really understood what it meant to be engaged in learning. There was an excitement of ideas in her classroom. She just assumed we would all work to a high standard, and we did. She also took a real interest in our lives outside of school. I think it was the first time in my life that an adult made me feel like one, too.

Question: If you had to all of a sudden pick a new career/job (even if you love yours now), what would you pick and why?

Answer: I would love to be a baker. Kneading bread is soothing and I'd love to go to work and just be covered in flour - no suits or high heels. Plus, anyone who came into the shop would be so happy to be buying freshly baked bread.

Question: What was one of your New Year’s resolutions, and have you kept it so far?

Answer: I never make new year's resolutions. First of all, the new year for me is always September, not January. Every September I vow to keep a tidy desk. By September 2 I have failed, every year. January just doesn't feel like a new start for me so I don't make resolutions that I probably wouldn't keep anyways.

Question: What’s the last gift you gave someone?

Answer: A poem. Not one I wrote but one I love.

Now that you know a little more about Kristin, make sure to check out her blog and Twitter.

Don’t forget to save the date and apply to attend if you haven’t already - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! We hope you’re as excited for this as we are!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 1-2 a week until May 14th.

The TEDxKitchenerED team :)

#TEDxKitchenerED

Meet Brian Aspinall!

Meet Brian Aspinall, one of the speakers at TEDxKitchenerED! Brian is a grade 7/ 8 teacher and Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems and is currently working on completing his Masters of Professional Education in Match & Computational Strategies.

We asked Brian some questions so that the audience for TEDxKitchenerED could get to know him a little more! (Spoiler: If he could be any kitchen appliance, he would be a Soda Stream).

So what does Brian have to say about education, fear, computational thinking, problem solving and his fridge? Read more below to find out!

Question: Is there a teacher or professor that really made an influence on your life, possibly beyond just school? If so, looking back now, how do you think they did it?

Answer: I am a very visible learner. I love to connect with people through social media and share my own ideas on my blog. Having a PLN has given me an opportunity to ask difficult questions, post random thoughts and engage in some very thought provoking questions. I reflect on my own practice and can seek out advice at the click of a button. I am a better teacher because of it. The push I get from my peers both online and off helps me personally and professionally. Much of what I do is modelled after Doug Peterson (@dougpete), who was my Computer Science Teachable professor when I was in Teacher's College. Looking back, Doug taught us in class to think critically, make predictions about gadgets, explore new ideas and concepts and reflect appropriately about our practice. We were never required to follow him online but I did so from the very beginning. To this day, Doug continues to teach me about personal connections, integrity, wholesomeness and a caring for all teachers and students in Ontario and globally. Doug's ability to think critically, reflect appropriately, ask challenging questions and recognize everyone for their strengths is something I cherish and strive to do myself. Doug is still influencing me as a leader in education.

Question: Education can happen in many different locations and ways, not just through a traditional school system. Where is one other place that you learned the most?

Answer: This is a challenging question to answer and maybe even more challenging to understand! The majority of my learning (beyond school and internet reading) has occurred on an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server. An FTP server allows programmers to upload code from a desktop location and place it on a web server for the world to see. As bizarre as this sounds, writing code, debugging code, implementing hacks, playing with graphics and posting content to the web has taught me so much about math, science and problem solving. I have been an active web designer and app developer for over two decades and the evolution of the internet has taught me to evolve my own skills and abilities. Although isolated on a web server, there is a sense of community watching the web stats rise while tracking data to my apps. I've listened to feedback, considered other people's perspectives and learned about other parts of the world in terms of educational and web standards. Most importantly, I have learned to think critically about possible solutions and perspectives to problems while developing code for other people.

Answer: Independent Problem Solving.

Can I say those three words as one skill? For centuries education has revolved around a numerical point system that has caused students to focus on grades instead of learning goals and outcomes. Independent problem solvers want to get the job done efficiently and will collaborate with others, lead teams, listen to teammates and think critically about solutions. Independent problem solvers are good at making tough decisions, requesting feedback for improvement and allocating resources appropriately.

Question: If you had to pick one major driving factor of what keeps students from performing to the best of their abilities at school, what would you pick and why?

Answer: Fear.

I feel strongly that students fear grades - whether they get good ones or not. When a standard of learning is placed on an activity and students are expected to perform at or above it, there exists much anxiety. Fear makes students vulnerable and less as risk takers. Fear makes students want to be told what to do, so they can then do it in order to get the grade. Students who "play school" are focused on getting the grade, which often makes them perform in ways different than what they are capable of. I'm sure many of you are reading this thinking it's a little bit backwards. Shouldn't "doing your best" intrinsically motivate students? It should, unless your best isn't that standard of learning. These students would rather not try, than try and be told it isn't good enough. If "your best" is not "good enough" how much effort would you put into it?

Question: What is your favourite quote, and why?

Answer: Right now I am stuck on this one for a variety of reasons.

“Computational thinking will be in every aspect of our economy.” – Satya Nadella (Microsoft)

I am a huge advocate for getting kids to code. As I mentioned earlier, programming has made me think about different situations, outcomes, possibilities, problems and solutions. In other words - coding has made me think. There exists a "coding war" today (those for it in schools, against it and governments who don't know where to turn). Along with this debate is the "future jobs narrative" in that coding will be a massive industry in the near future. The biggest rebuttal to coding in education is the notion of kids who don't want to be future programmers. Like Satya says, coding is a way of thinking. That is why I want to see it in schools, regardless of the profession our students choose later on.

Question: If you could be any kitchen appliance, what would you be and why?

Answer: I would definitely be a Soda Stream. This bad boy puts bubbles into any liquid! I feel like the Soda Stream is a nonstop good time where people are dancing, celebrating, laughing and reminiscing. How can anyone be sad with a Soda Stream! Bubbles bubbles bubbles!

Question: What’s in your fridge right now?

Answer: Colour

Now that you know a little more about Brian, make sure to check out his blog, his Twitter, and his LinkedIn.

Don’t forget to save the date and buy your ticket if you haven’t already - May 14th at CIGI in Waterloo! We hope you’re as pumped for this as we are!

Stay posted for more interviews - we will be sharing 1-2 a week until May 14th.

The TEDxKitchenerED Team :)

#tedxkitchenered

TEDxKitchenerED 2016

Hi there!

The team at TEDxKitchenerED could not have me more excited to be back for 2016! We’ve been busy preparing for this year’s event and are excited to say we’ve officially launched! TEDxKitchenerED 2016 will be a full day event on Saturday May 14th at the CIGI Campus :)

We just announced our speakers and could not be anymore excited about our lineup! Our stage will be taken by a phenomenal group of people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, all with a great idea worth sharing about the future of education. To learn more about our speakers, check out our lineup at http://www.tedxkitchenered.com/speakers.html

We’re happy to announce ticket sales are now live as well! Don’t delay to secure your’s, as only a limited number are open to the public on a first-come, first serve basis. After these tickets are gone, the remainder will be sold through an application process. More info about the day and how you can purchase a ticket can be found on our website at http://www.tedxkitchenered.com/tickets.html

TEDxKitchenerED 2016 will undoubtedly be a great day for any and all interested in the educational space. We hope to see you on Saturday May 14 to join in the conversation!

Be sure to check back often as we have a lot more information coming :)

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