Is STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) a focus in your school? If so, you'll be excited to know that the TED-Ed library is a free resource filled with engaging, ready to use lessons.
Science
Technology
Engineering
Art
Mathematics
If you don't see what you're looking for in the existing TED-Ed library, create it using the TED-Ed's Lesson Platform.
Dr. Dylan Ferniany, the author of today's post, is a fellow TED-Ed Innovative Educator and the Gifted and Talented Program Specialist in Birmingham Public Schools. Today's blog is reposted from the Birmingham City Schools Gifted and Talented Education Program's blog.
Everyone's always talking about critical and creative thinking- but what is it? How is it different than normal thinking? Did you know that the average adult makes approximately 35,000 decisions per day, and a young child makes 3,000 decisions per day. So most people are making somewhere between 3000 and 35000 decisions each day. That's a lot of decisions! Some of those decisions may be small, like whether to brush your teeth first or wash your face. But other decisions are much bigger and may take more of your mental energy. The way we think through those big decisions is by using critical and creative thinking skills. Here's an example: Your teacher gives you a project with a due date in two weeks. She has given you a rubric so you know the parameters, but she has left some decisions up to you. You may have to think about what supplies to get, what is the next step, where to find your information, how to present the information, and all kinds of other decisions you don't even realize you are making. Sometimes, we have to make decisions that may affect our future. For instance, which courses to take in high school, or where to go to college. These decisions are hard and take higher levels of thinking and planning than smaller decisions. So if we talk so much about it, how do we do it? Today's TED-Ed lesson explains 5 tips for improving your critical thinking skills. Watch the video, and then interact with the lesson on TED-Ed!
Are you on Twitter? Did you know there is a Twitter chat all about the awesomeness that is TED and TED-Ed? Every Tuesday at 6:00 pm EST, follow #TEDEdChat on Twitter and join in the conversation.
The weekly chat is inspired by one of the countless talks or lessons. Each #TEDEdChat is a co-hosted by @TED_Ed and anyone who has an idea worth mulling. The only prerequisite is that you have participated in a past chat.
Today's chat is Linda Liukas' talk, A Delightful Way to Teach Kids About Computers. Watch the talk and join the chat. (Or don't watch the talk and join the chat. Either way, you are welcome!)
Do you have an idea for a #TEDEdChat? Email steph.ng@ted.com for the chance to co-host.
Dr. Dylan Ferniany, the author of today's post, is a fellow TED-Ed Innovative Educator and the Gifted and Talented Program Specialist in Birmingham Public Schools. Today's blog is reposted from the Birmingham City Schools Gifted and Talented Education Program's blog. "Have you ever been told to be more confident? I know I have. Confidence can be a key factor in success and career but it can sometimes be hard to find. The good news is that we can make ourselves more confident! You will learn how in this TED-Ed Lesson. Learn how a fixed and growth mindset may help or hurt your confidence. Confidence also comes from your ability to fail and experience setbacks. If you can accept that you will sometimes make mistakes, you will be more confident going in to the situation. Take the TED-Ed Lesson on 3 Tips to Boost Your Confidence, and then practice it when you have the next opportunity to take on a challenging task!"
