Stop Teaching, Start Learning | Mariappan Jawaharial | TEDxEchoPark

TEDx Talks

21 Jul 201624:51

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe speaker reflects on the societal expectations in Asian cultures that pressure children to become doctors or engineers, recounting their own journey to becoming an engineer and later an educator. They question the true meaning of education, noting that it should be about learning and hope, not just studying. The speaker argues for a shift from traditional teaching to engaging students in learning, using stories and simplified explanations to inspire and facilitate understanding. They emphasize the importance of rekindling the joy of learning and the need for educators to connect with students on a more meaningful level.

Takeaways

🌍 The speaker grew up in South Asia and experienced societal pressure to choose a profession early in life, reflecting the high value placed on education in those cultures.
🔍 Despite not having 'tiger parents,' there was an 'invisible pressure' to conform to societal expectations of becoming a doctor, engineer, or being considered a failure.
🏥 The speaker rejected the path of becoming a doctor due to a personal aversion to blood and the fainting it caused, illustrating personal choice against societal norms.
🏗️ Choosing engineering as a profession was more of a default due to limited perceived options rather than a passionate pursuit, highlighting the impact of early life decisions on career paths.
📚 The educational journey was described as preparing for an unknown exam, suggesting a focus on testing rather than learning for understanding or enjoyment.
🤔 The speaker questioned the true meaning of education, noting the lack of a universal definition and the different perspectives on its purpose.
🎓 Education is universally desired, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, but the speaker suggests that the current system may not be fulfilling its promise of providing hope and better opportunities.
💸 The script mentions the burden of student debt, questioning the return on investment of higher education and its impact on graduates' lives.
👶 Children learn complex skills like walking and language naturally and without formal instruction, contrasting with the structured, often ineffective, methods used in schools.
📉 The speaker points out a paradox where despite years of formal education, students in certain regions perform poorly in standardized tests compared to their Asian peers, indicating a problem with the educational approach.
🛑 The speaker advocates for a shift from teaching to learning, suggesting that current teaching methods may be hindering true learning and engagement.
📈 Engagement in learning can be achieved through stories, which can make complex concepts relatable and memorable, as illustrated by the impact of storytelling on the speaker's own children.
🔑 Simplicity is key to effective teaching; the ability to explain a concept simply is a test of true understanding, and educators should strive to make learning accessible and enjoyable.

Q & A

What was the societal pressure on children in South Asia regarding their career choices?
-In South Asia, there was a significant societal pressure on children to choose specific professions early in life, primarily to become a doctor, an engineer, or else be considered a failure. This pressure was not from the parents but from society at large.
Why did the speaker decide to become an engineer?
-The speaker chose to become an engineer because they were not comfortable with the idea of being a doctor due to fainting at the sight of blood, and they did not want to be a failure. Thus, engineering was the only remaining choice presented by society.
How did the speaker describe their educational journey from grade school to becoming an engineer?
-The speaker described their educational journey as being like a horse with blinkers on, focusing only on the path to become an engineer without considering other possibilities. They felt like they were preparing for an exam their whole life, which was more about teaching to the test than actual learning.
What does the speaker suggest is the main reason people want education?
-The speaker suggests that people want education because it gives them hope for a better job, a chance to change their social status, acquire new skills, meet new people, make their parents proud, and learn something new that brings happiness.
What is the speaker's view on the current state of student learning in schools?
-The speaker believes that students are not truly learning in the way they should be. They suggest that the current educational system is more about teaching to the test and frontloading students with information, which does not facilitate actual learning or satisfaction.
Why does the speaker argue that learning should be an inherently satisfying activity?
-The speaker argues that learning should be satisfying because it involves acquiring new knowledge or skills that can bring a sense of accomplishment and joy. They use the example of children learning to walk or learning a language naturally as evidence of the joy and satisfaction that comes from learning.
What is the speaker's opinion on the effectiveness of teaching through PowerPoint presentations in classrooms?
-The speaker is critical of teaching through PowerPoint presentations, stating that it often results in students not being engaged and the teacher focusing on presenting the material rather than ensuring the students are learning and understanding.
What historical comparison does the speaker make to illustrate the lack of change in teaching methods?
-The speaker compares modern classrooms to a 14th-century classroom depicted in a slide, pointing out that despite the change in technology, the fundamental teaching method of a teacher presenting information to students has remained largely the same.
What role does the speaker believe stories can play in education?
-The speaker believes that stories can be a powerful tool in education to engage students and make learning more interesting and memorable. They argue that every concept or equation has a story behind it that can be used to inspire and motivate students.
What advice does the speaker give to students when they don't understand something in class?
-The speaker advises students to ask their professors to explain the concept in a different or simpler way if they don't understand it. If the professor is unable to do so, it may indicate a lack of understanding on their part, not the student's.
What is the speaker's view on the importance of simplicity in teaching?
-The speaker emphasizes the importance of simplicity in teaching, stating that if a teacher cannot explain a concept simply, they may not fully understand it themselves. They suggest using the ability to explain to a fifth grader as a test of understanding.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Cultural Expectations and Personal Choices

The speaker reflects on their educational journey, starting in Sri Lanka and continuing in India, where societal and parental pressures often dictate career paths. Despite these expectations, the speaker's parents allowed them freedom in choosing their interests. The societal pressure to conform to traditional successful professions like doctor or engineer is highlighted, with the speaker ultimately choosing engineering due to a fear of blood and the unattractiveness of being labeled a failure. The narrative emphasizes a narrow focus on academic success and the feeling of being confined to a predetermined path, which the speaker likens to a horse with blinkers, suggesting a lack of broader perspective and exploration.

05:02

🎓 The Paradox of Education and Learning

The speaker delves into the concept of education, noting the lack of a precise definition and the universal desire for it. They contrast the joy of learning with the often joyless experience of schooling, which is frequently equated with studying and exam preparation. The speaker questions why education is pursued if it's not enjoyable, suggesting that it's driven by hope for a better job, social status, and parental pride. They also touch on the high cost of education and the debt burden faced by graduates, which seems at odds with the inherent satisfaction of learning. The comparison of children's natural learning processes, such as walking and language acquisition, with the structured and often stifling nature of formal education is used to highlight the disconnect between true learning and the educational system.

10:04

👶 Natural Learning vs. Traditional Teaching

The speaker contrasts the organic and error-tolerant process of children learning to speak with the rigid and punitive approach often found in schools. They point out that children master language through immersion and interaction without formal instruction, yet students in educational settings can struggle with the same language skills in standardized tests. The speaker argues that the shift from learning to teaching has detrimental effects, with teaching becoming about the teacher's presentation rather than the student's understanding. They suggest that the educational system has not evolved significantly in centuries, as evidenced by a historical illustration, and that the current model of front-loading information and relying on lectures is ineffective and disengaging for students.

15:04

📚 The Need for Student Engagement in Learning

The speaker emphasizes the importance of student engagement in the learning process, suggesting that traditional teaching methods fail to capture students' interest. They argue for a return to a more interactive and student-centered approach, where learning is driven by curiosity and involvement rather than by lectures and PowerPoint presentations. The speaker proposes using stories as a tool to engage students, sharing a personal anecdote about telling stories to their children and the lasting impact those stories had. They also advocate for simplifying complex concepts to make them accessible and understandable, using the example of renowned physicist Richard Feynman's approach to explaining ideas.

20:08

🔍 Rethinking Education to Reignite the Magic of Learning

In the concluding paragraph, the speaker calls for a transformation in educational practices, urging educators to move away from traditional teaching methods that fail to engage students. They stress the importance of making learning personal, relatable, and simple, and highlight the power of storytelling in making complex subjects accessible. The speaker also encourages students to challenge their professors for clearer explanations, suggesting that an educator's inability to simplify a concept indicates a lack of deep understanding. The message is one of hope for a more engaging and effective educational system that prioritizes the joy of learning over rote instruction.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Education

Education in the video is portrayed as a societal expectation and a source of pressure for children in Asian cultures. It's defined by the speaker as a complex and multifaceted concept that everyone desires but lacks a precise definition. The speaker uses the term to explore the difference between teaching and learning, and how societal and parental expectations shape children's educational paths, often leading to a focus on exam preparation rather than genuine learning.

💡Social Pressure

Social pressure in the context of the video refers to the invisible force that influences individuals, particularly children, to conform to societal norms and expectations. The speaker mentions it in relation to choosing a career path early in life, such as becoming a doctor or an engineer, which are seen as successful professions in Asian societies. This pressure can overshadow a child's natural curiosity and learning process.

💡Tiger Parent

The term 'Tiger Parent' is used to describe parents who are strict and demanding when it comes to their children's education and achievements. Although the speaker mentions that their own parents were not 'tiger parents,' the concept is discussed to highlight the intense focus on academic success in some cultures, which can limit a child's freedom to explore their interests.

💡Engineer

In the video, 'Engineer' is presented as one of the limited career choices offered by society to the speaker during their childhood. It symbolizes a profession that is valued for its practicality and potential for financial success. The speaker's journey to become an engineer illustrates the societal influence on career choices and the impact on personal fulfillment and learning.

💡Exam-Oriented Education

Exam-oriented education is a system where learning is primarily focused on preparing for and passing exams. The speaker criticizes this approach, stating that it reduces learning to a process of memorization and test-taking, rather than fostering a love for learning and understanding of concepts. This is exemplified by the speaker's own experience of feeling like they were 'teaching to the test.'

💡Learning

Learning, as discussed in the video, is an inherently satisfying activity that should be distinct from teaching. The speaker contrasts learning with teaching, emphasizing that true learning occurs when students are engaged and interested, not just when they are being taught. The concept is used to argue for a shift in educational focus from teaching to facilitating learning.

💡Hope

Hope is presented as a driving force behind the desire for education. It is described as the expectation that education will lead to a better job, social status, new skills, and personal fulfillment. The speaker uses the term to explore the emotional and motivational aspects of education, questioning whether current educational practices truly inspire hope in students.

💡Student Debt

Student debt is mentioned in the video as a significant issue facing college graduates, with the speaker citing an average debt of $30,000 upon graduation. This term is used to highlight the financial burden and potential disillusionment that can accompany the pursuit of higher education, challenging the traditional narrative of education as a guaranteed path to success.

💡Engagement

Engagement in the video is discussed as a critical component of effective learning. The speaker suggests that true learning happens when students are actively involved and interested in the material, rather than passively receiving information. Examples given include the use of stories and hands-on activities to capture students' attention and motivate them to learn.

💡Language Learning

Language learning is used in the video as an example of a complex process that children can master naturally through immersion and interaction, without formal instruction. The speaker contrasts this with the often less successful language learning experiences of students in school, suggesting that the structured teaching environment may hinder rather than help the learning process.

💡Teaching

Teaching, as discussed by the speaker, is often associated with traditional methods of instruction that may not be as effective in promoting learning as they could be. The term is used to describe the act of imparting knowledge, but the speaker argues that teaching should be rethought to focus more on student engagement and less on the transmission of information.

💡Stories

Stories are presented as a powerful tool for engaging students and making learning more meaningful. The speaker shares personal anecdotes about the impact of storytelling on their children and argues that every concept or equation can be contextualized through a story. This approach is suggested as a way to reignite the joy of learning and make education more memorable and impactful.

💡Simplicity

Simplicity is emphasized in the video as an important aspect of effective teaching. The speaker suggests that complex concepts should be broken down and explained in a way that is accessible to everyone, including fifth graders. This approach is linked to the idea that if a teacher cannot simplify an idea, they may not fully understand it themselves.

Highlights

The speaker's educational journey from Sri Lanka to India and the societal pressure to choose a career path early in life.

The societal expectation in Asian countries for children to become doctors or engineers, with the third option being perceived as failure.

The speaker's personal aversion to the medical profession due to a fear of blood and the decision to pursue engineering instead.

The concept of 'teaching to the test' and its potential drawbacks on genuine learning and understanding.

The speaker's transition from being an engineer to a professor, driven by a passion for teaching.

The difficulty in defining 'education' and the universal desire for it among different socioeconomic groups.

The paradox that while everyone desires education, it is often not seen as an enjoyable activity by students.

The high average debt of $30,000 faced by college graduates and its implications on the value of education.

The inherent satisfaction in learning something new and how it contrasts with the current educational system.

The natural learning process observed in children when they learn to walk and the lack of formal teaching involved.

The comparison between children's natural language acquisition and the decline in language test scores despite formal education.

The speaker's argument that learning should be re-prioritized over teaching in educational settings.

The historical continuity of teaching methods, with a PowerPoint from the 14th century illustrating the lack of change.

The importance of student engagement in the learning process and the role of stories in capturing attention.

The power of storytelling in education, as illustrated by the impact of the story about Andy Grove on the speaker's daughter.

The idea that every equation or concept has a story behind it, which can be used to engage students.

The principle of simplifying complex concepts to ensure understanding, as demonstrated by Richard Feynman's approach.

The final advice to students to seek simplified explanations from educators as a test of their understanding.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences

What we’ve got wrong about learning mathematics | Alf Coles | TEDxBath

Howard Gardner of The Multiple Intelligence Theory

Why is algebra so hard? | Emmanuel Schanzer | TEDxBeaconStreet

How to Get Students to LOVE Learning: The Voluntary Classroom

♥♥♥ Thank you Calc Students♥♥♥ Some final thoughts.

Related Tags

Education Insights Cultural Pressure Personal Growth Learning Journey Storytelling Childhood Learning Asian Education Engineer's View Engagement Strategies Simplicity in Teaching