Spreading the word

My friend Kathy posted this video of Sir Ken Robinson on Education at the TED conference a while ago on her blog, and I’m reposting it on mine (she asked me today if I had seen it yet – I admitted I hadn’t – and was so glad she reminded me to actually watch it).  In her intro, Kathy said that Sir Ken is funnier than most comedians – I would concur, except that the way his brain works reminds me very much of an un-profane version of Eddie Izzard (frex, imagining Shakespeare as a kid in someone’s English class):

What he has to say is more than mind-bendingly, gobsmackingly true – as I watched it, I realized that many of the things he has to say relate to the reasons I decided to take my career on a 90-degree bend into libraries.  One of the interesting things about the field (and if you are one of my friends already in the field, please excuse my foray into novice, goggle-eyed optimism and enthusiasm) is that it is well aware of the fact that it needs to change and adapt in order to remain relevant.  Creative solutions are recognized as being necessary, and are being talked about and adopted.  This energizes me to absolutely no end, and it is so wonderful to be able to get excited about what I am doing.

ETA, pulled from the comments, a two-part interview with Sir Ken about his work and new book:

Thanks to Lianne , who alerted me to these!

Comments

  1. So glad you are enthusiastic about it—you know what I think of Sir Robinson ;-)

    I actually came home after our chatfest and stuff to watch it again… I just find it so powerfully inspiring.

    khms last blog post..SNL takes on Sarah Palin

  2. I’m a big fan, too. And coincidentally (or not….do do do do) I just showed this to my Psych class this afternoon. I show it to any captive audience.

    He has a new book coming out called The Element (which is right up my teacher/life coach alley) and has been doing some interviews to promote the book. Here’s one (in two parts):

    part 1:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAt-3Yk2u80

    part 2:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svRV8k-ARkE

  3. Lianne: I just ordered a couple of his earlier books. I’m very excited about Epiphany; have you read that and do you recommend it?

    khms last blog post..SNL takes on Sarah Palin

  4. Kathy, I’m pretty sure Epiphany was the working title for “The Element” which is being released in January. I wasn’t lucky enough to receive an advance copy, so no, I haven’t read it. But I am looking forward to it based on the blurb in the Viking Catalogue – Jill may recognize herself in here:

    The Element: A New View of Human Capacity by Ken Robinson (Viking Adult/Hardcover)

    From one of the world’s leading thinkers and speakers on creativity and self-fulfillment, a breakthrough book about talent, passion and achievement.

    The element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at The Element, they feel most themselves, most inspired, and achieve at their highest levels. The Element draws on the stories of a wide range of people, from ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, to Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, from Meg Ryan, to Gillian Lynne, who choreographed the Broadway productions of Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, and from writer Arianna Huffington to renowned physicist Richard Feynman, and others, including business leaders and athletes. It explores the components of this new paradigm: the diversity of intelligence, the power of imagination and creativity, and the importance of commitment to our own capabilities.

    With a wry sense of humor, Ken Robinson looks at the conditions that enable us to find ourselves in The Element, and those that stifle that possibility. He shows that age and occupation are no barrier, and that once we have found our path we can help others to do so as well. The Element shows the vital need to enhance creativity and innovation by thinking differently about human resources and imagination, and is also an essential strategy for transforming education, business, and communities to meet the challenges of living and succeeding in the 21st century.

  5. Indeed you are correct, Lianne. Thanks for pointing out that two-part interview on Al Jazeera; it was fab. Woo! I just love what this guy is saying; it resonates so powerfully…

    khms last blog post..SNL takes on Sarah Palin

  6. I have a serious crush on Ken Robinson. I watch this video when I feel disheartened about the state of education…my life…. possibilities. One of my life fantasies is to give a TED Talk. There. I said it ;)

    Andreas last blog post..Romancing the Stove