Internal Motivation

In this Ted Talks video, Daniel Pink shares his findings on behavioral science. He explains that people of the 21st century are no longer motivated by rewards and punishments, but by the need to create and show their talents. His video explains how business and the world of the 21st century needs to address these scientific findings.

I've seen this Ted Talks before. I completely agree with Pink. It makes me wonder if we should get rid of grading in school. Why have grades? It's simply a form of educational capitalism. If students would learn, discover, and create based on their internal motivations we would not need grades. Yet here we are still stuck with an outdated performance indicator that sometimes cripples students' ability to be innovative. Can we continue to force creativity? Like Pink said, "the carrot and the stick does not work anymore."

Daniel Pink - The surprising science of motivation

The Exponential World

John Seeley Brown discusses the change of the world from a cognitive perspective. His videoed lecture points out the shift that is taking place today in thinking that he calls, "from the predictable world of equilibrium to the exponential world of disequilibrium." He further explains how exponential human potential, technology, and discovery is changing the world faster and faster. To deal with this exponential world, the transformation or shift in cognitive thinking will divide the world between the old and the new

Fascinating! I feel like an old thinker that is still stuck in the 20th Century. I don't know if I want to be a part of this exponential experience. However, I'm still passionate about teaching and young people. I know their thinking is vastly different from mine, and yet I want to foster their intelligence and creativity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4FPH-Oo1iM

I Am My Connectome

Dr. Sebastian Seung discusses the implications of connectomes and their elusive power to foster creativity and innovation. According to him, we are not predetermined by our genetics, but by connectomes within the brain that neural scientists still have much to learn about. The statement, "I am my connectome," is proposed by Dr. Seung as a hypothesis for the idea that we can create, learn, and innovate beyond our own expectations and the worlds.

This makes me think about the concept that we as a species and civilization have barely chipped the tip of the iceberg for human potential. Dr. Seung's discussion reveals that science and professionals think they have all the answers, but we are nowhere near having even a small percentage. My question is:

If we want creativity from our students, why do we create parameters for their ability to create?

Sebastian Seung - I Am My Connectome