Arvind Gupta: Turning trash into toys for learning Blog 8

Underprivileged students do not have any way to advance or expand their way of learning, and since little money is available for textbooks or demonstrations, they must do the best they can. Using trash, which would otherwise be clogging up a seagull's throat, a plethora of science tools can be made. Toys such as geometric shapes made out of toothpicks and slips of rubber can teach the 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional shapes. A steel wire and some bolts can be turned into a toy used to teach kinetic and potential energy. This presentation was mainly shown through the demonstration of these toys and how they can be put to use in schools everywhere for little to no cost. This was really effective because it shows the many science toys, how they are made, and ultimately, how extremely effective they are at teaching. This video matters because everybody should have access to learning tools, and since many schools cannot afford these tools, simple yet effective ones can be made out of household items and trash. Personally, it shows that even the smallest things matter in school. It also shows that these small things which affect learning so greatly can be made out of things people usually neglect or choose to not be creative with. In education, these tools are, in  some ways, more important than textbooks. These tools show as practical use of knowledge being used as well as opening a new doorway to different types of learning. For example, the geometric shapes can be used to help in architecture and math, not just science. With these extra doorways open, there are more opportunities for things to be innovated or invented. This also connects to the world because with these opportunities and innovations, the world would benefit through these advancements.

Blog 6: Dave Eggers' wish

What I took away form this video is that even a few people that take time out of their day to help one on one can make a difference in a students' life. Also, when people do this, more and more volunteers are willing to help students around the country. The speaker's effective speaking styles were the explanation of what these gag stores did and their real purpose behind the scenes, and how each of them made a difference to students around the country. Dave Eggers' presentation style was showing pictures of the places where he worked and spoke really quickly and fast about each slide. This video matters because it shows that even the students that do the worst would be able to improve if people take time out of their day in order to help these kids. This matters to me personally because it shows I can improve if I seek one on one help. In education, it shows that students can do better with one on one help. In the world, as Dave Eggers said, if you do the homework and spend time with your family, then you have a happy family. If there are enough happy families, then there is a happy community. Enough happy communities and it becomes a happy city, which leads to a happy world. In the long run, these tutorin g centers really affect the world in positive ways.

Being Wrong: Kathryn Schulz

What I have taken away form this video is that being wrong is completely different from realizing you're wrong. The speaker used effective techniques at speaking through stories, pictures and examples illustrating her points along with involving the audience in her presentation. Her presentation style is humorous and very connected to examples as well as being connected to the audience. This video matters because it says how being wrong is more important than people might think. Personally, this affects me because it teaches me a valuable life lesson that even though I'm wrong, there's not necessarily something wrong with me. In this video, Kathryn Shulz brought up a picture of a C- test and said that we all thought this person had something wrong with them because they got the questions wrong. This isn't true and even though wrong answers are bad for the grade, they don't reflect personal values. In the world, it would teach people to be more understanding of wrongness and more tolerant and accepting of people with opposing views, people who you think are "wrong" compared to your view.

Dan Pink: Carrot and the Stick; less motivating then ever

The carrot and the stick have been used for quite some time in order to provoke more efficient behavior. But according to Dan Pink's TED talk, things aren't quite what they seem. The traditional ways of incentives have been proven wrong through multiple studies that show that higher rewards lead to poorer results. Dan Pink was able to convey these ideas in an effective way since he used a lot of humor in his talk. Using examples shown on the overhead, he got his audience to connect with the test subjects so they could fully understand both sides of this situation; the tester and test subject. Personally, this affects me because it shows that in order to really excel at something, there needs to be no incentive other than my own driving force to do it. In education, hard work is rewarded by good grades and vice versa. In order to really excel in school, students need to be more self-directed towards subjects they really want to learn. Businesses for too long have been using this carrot stick mentality, and should be progressing on to this new type of self-motivated working. This would improve things financially and production rate and employee hapiness would both be part of the benefits from this.