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WATCH: Build a School In the Cloud Ted Talk

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WATCH: Build a School In the Cloud Ted Talk

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Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud

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Onstage at TED2013, Sugata Mitra makes his bold TED Prize wish: Help me design the School in the Cloud, a learning lab in India, where children can explore and learn from each other -- using resources and mentoring from the cloud. Hear his inspiring vision for Self Organized Learning Environments.

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What basic assumptions about learning and teaching would seem to underlay the ideas that Sugata Mitra shares in his talk? How are these assumptions similar or different from your own ideas about teaching and learning?

Make a brief post. You are also encouraged to respond to one or more ideas posted by your peers!

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In Sugata Mitra's Ted Talk, he discusses on how we can help improve students and the way they can improve. One thing he mentioned that I already knew as one f my previous teachers have mentioned it is encouragement. When you encourage a student they feel motivated to try and try. Sugata calls this the grandmother method. I believe this is true as I was always most successful when I believed my teacher had faith in me and encouraged me.

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I believe that many points that the presenter discussed throughout their ted talk is relevant in the education system. The quote "Schools as we know them are obsolete" assumes that schools are obsolete because the follow a similar instructional pattern that teaches children to achieve the basic practices of reading, writing and mathematics. Even though I believe that these fundamentals of teaching should still be provided to students, Sugata makes a strong argument that the educational system may not be flawed but just outdated. Through their research they discovered that children who have never been exposed to computers can eventually come to understand them through the process of experimentation. This questions the belief of what jobs in the future will look like and how should learning occur. Another view that Sugata discusses is the definition of a teacher. From my understanding through their Ted talk is that students may not need someone who is qualified as a teacher to provide them knowledge. This is demonstrated through the use of the SOLE program and the Granny Cloud. This aligns with my own belief that a teacher does not have to be someone who works in the educational system.

Trevor Calman

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I think it is a fair reaction for any student working towards becoming a teacher to want to reject the idea of this Ted Talk instantly. However the more I sit with Sugata Mitra's ideas the more I agree. Schools have become synonymous with learning and higher knowledge. In the past as Sugata Mitra said students were taught specific skills. Those specific skills lead to specific jobs. However, now things are rapidly changing and there is no way to know what the future may look like and if the skills being taught in schools will translate. Because of this, I believe that teachers need to take on a role more similar to the "grannies" Sugata Mitra described. To facilitate learning and give children the opportunity to try and fail and try again. Letting children work freely and learn the skills to create creative problem-solving skills will allow them to adjust to the future, no matter how uncertain it is.

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Mitra's question of why schools are still attempting to produce identical people despite the initial purpose for that design no longer existing really stood out to me because growing up I wondered that same thing for the longest time, especially because I knew that not everyone could do things in the same way or using the same methods as someone else.

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In Mitra's Ted Talk he raises many valid points. He brings up the "Grandmother method" which is where you sit back and let children learn and explore on their own and when they do things you ask them how they did it. I believe this method needs to be implemented more because it allows children how learn on their own and figure out ways to overcome obstacles by trial and error. Mitra also states that our eduaction system is not "broken" its "outdated". This is interesting because he explains how children were able to learn ways around a computer through experimenting which most people go to school to be taught how to do.

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This TED talk was very interesting and eye-opening for me. I have a tendency to view education as instructors directly teaching students ideas and facts that they need to study, as this is how I was mostly taught in school. However, Sugata Mitra's experiment showed that it is not always necessary for teachers to teach in the way they did in the past (and for many, currently). Rather than telling the students what to do and how to do it, allowing them to explore in their own way was just as beneficial for their learning. Many students do not thrive in the "outdated" learning environment, and I think it is very important to implement more and different ways of learning and teaching, including Sugata Mitra's method.

-Anna Whitney

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Build a School In the Cloud - Rosanna Chamberlain

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Build a School In the Cloud - Rosanna Chamberlain

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Sugata Mitra says that earlier forms of education focused on students all being able to do the same things such as have neat handwriting, the ability to read, and to do simple math in their heads so that they could contribute to society. However, with the number of jobs in the world, not everyone needs to be able to do the exact same things. I like this point because it draws out the fact that different people are good at different things. Sometimes more importantly, different people are interested in different things. In trying to create identical people, the education system is ripping society of creativity and talents or skills that some individuals may have or want to pursue. Even the music and drama programs are being taken away from schools in some places due to lack of funding. What if someone doesn't know that they're going to love the clarinet or the flute? Or to act? This TED Talk certainly made me think more critically about what is going on in schools not only in my school board or country, but around the world.

Also, in this video, the children learning to use computer software, about DNA, and to properly pronounce English words did not give up. It took them months. I feel as though sometimes in the education system as well as in pop culture in a lot of North America, if we can't figure something out in two minutes we just google it because it's easy access. It's all about instant satisfaction. It makes me wonder what we really could learn or figure out if we put our minds to the test. I think it would be really interesting to see what Self Organized Learning Environments could do in Canadian schools and how these students answer the same questions posed to them.

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I found it really eye opening the way that he connected schools and machines. Creating machines to run the bigger machines. It's crazy to look at the education system now and see how it really hasn't changed. We know now that students have different academic needs but yet are still being conditioned to learn specific ways. Take writing with your right hand and not your left for example. 

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I found it really eye opening the way that he connected schools and machines. Creating machines to run the bigger machines. It's crazy to look at the education system now and see how it really hasn't changed. We know now that students have different academic needs but yet are still being conditioned to learn specific ways. Take writing with your right hand and not your left for example. 

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Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud - Reflection

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Sugata Mitra: Build a School in the Cloud - Reflection

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Something that really stood out to me was the statement "It's not about making learning happen, it's about letting it happen." To me, this statement spoke volumes pertaining to the research and experiments Mitra conducted. Also, I believe this statement should receive more recognition within teaching in todays day and age. The Grandmother method in which Mitra explained in his one experiment as standing back and observing the children, then proposing questions to them, which allows the children to explain what they are doing and what knowledge they are getting from participating in it. I think that by implementing a method like this into a classroom will not only result in encouragement from the teacher to the students, but also encouragement shared between the students working together on these questions/lessons collaboratively.

Kayleigh Luke

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Sugata Mitra discusses many eye-opening concepts that are completely valid when discussing education today. Two key points that I wanted to expand on are the grandmother method and school systems as we know them are obsolete. These two ideas are completely different from one other but are both significantly important.

The idea that school systems as we know them are obsolete is not an idea that the school system and how education is delivered today needs to go, but it means that education is executed in a way that may be outdated as it doesn't prepare students fully for skills needed for current and modernized jobs. Skills like writing in cursive and mental mathematics (to an extent) that Sugata discusses in his talk are no longer the key focus that education should be driven by; they should still be taught as they are important skills to have and know, but more focus needs to be on skills that prepare students for their future. Education needs to involve the modern tools of technology as many career paths depend on technology and utilize this skill to be successful.

The grandmother strategy is a concept completely different concept that was utilized for students to be successful but encouraging students with positive reinforcement was able to give the students the right motivation to continue to strive for personal success. Which, as Sugata discusses, worked in favour of many of the students as they were able to achieve ideas that were way beyond their years, knowledge, and resources available. This method is key to education as it makes all the difference when you feel that you have someone in your corner who truly believes you are capable and can achieve your goals.

- Hannah Aston

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Sugata Mitra - "Build a School in the Cloud"

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Sugata Mitra - "Build a School in the Cloud"

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In Sugata Mitra's Ted Talk, he brings up the idea of student-led learning. He shares the fascinating proof that he has discovered by simply giving a child a computer and letting them learn and explore. I was blown away by the learning that can take place with just the curiosity of a child's mind. There was no one making/forcing these children to learn and study for hours each day, yet they were learning and gaining knowledge while enjoying it. Unlike the education system that we have in place today, these children were not limited to the strict dates and deadlines that often come with schooling in North America. They were given unlimited time, without any outside pressures.

I know that in the Kindergarten classes, I have been in recently, there is a lot of open play time that allows the children to play with, and explore whatever they find interesting. I think this is a great start, however, this type of open learning needs to continue throughout the entire education system.

I would also like to add that while learning on the "cloud" or computers is very beneficial, we can not leave out the importance of the socialization practices that occur in a classroom. Whether that be, communication, reading body language, or learning to share, it is all important and needs to be considered.

Overall, I loved listening to this Ted Talk and felt a spark of excitement to add more student-led learning activities into my classroom!

~Jocelyn Stanat

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I think that a big theme from this topic is that kids are more capable than they are given credit for. The traditional idea of school does not facilitate learning in a way that fosters creativity and joy. I totally agree that, for the most part, school is designed to pump out carbon copies with more or less the same knowledge and ability. Sugata Mitra's idea of a "school in the cloud" is really interesting to me. I do think that students should be given more opportunities to facilitate their own learning, especially in the younger age group. But I don't fully agree with the idea that teachers should be removed to the point where the just encourage via video call. I understand that this is an attempt to remove socio-economic barriers which prevent children in many areas from accessing education. And in a lot of areas I think this would be incredible beneficial to be able to access cloud school if there is computer access. Within Canada, I think that education should stay within a traditional school building. I think kids benefit from the routine of going to a physical school everyday, especially for those that do not consider their home a safe space. However, I do think the idea of "letting learning happen" should be implemented. I think that if learning can be seen as an adventure in the way it is proposed in this talk at the elementary level, it would set kids up for greater success in further education.

-Hillary Taylor

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Sugatra Mitra delivered a dynamic, amusing, and fascinating speech that made one thing abundantly clear: our education system is functioning exactly as designed, and that is a big problem, because there are three hundred years of difference between the designing and now. So long as we focus on the 'brokenness' of the education system and not the root issue, which is a changing student and teacher body, we will never solve the problem. Millions of children a year will continue to fall behind. Millions more will not have a chance at education (at least not in the formal understanding of it) at all. Mitra's quick outline of the history of the Western-standardised education system, which is practiced in all nations colonised by the British Empire, outlined a sit-and-listen method of teaching. One system needed to churn out thousands of identical people to maintain the system, so the classroom structure has students sit quietly, set aside their own ideas and needs, and adopt the information lectured by the teacher. This information was always good handwriting, literacy, and math. These were the things needed to keep the system running. So much of that is unnessecary in a modern age -- the system has been running for so many years, now, that it is largely self-sufficient or automated. Mitra's experiment highlighted a truth many top critics of the school system have been trying to explain or prove for a long time: it is time to revert to self-led discovery. Children are intelligent. If given time and space, they are able -- and willing! -- to learn with their own wits and abilities. This happens with a Hole in the Wall computer, a regular computer, a video game, a text book, art, even outdoor play.

While I do struggle to let go of some of the traditional aspects of the classroom, I agree that modern children have too much supervision and not enough learning freedom, and this is detrimental to them. When I was my brother's age and even younger, our teachers released us into the school's computer lab with a vague assignment prompt and at least an hour a day to learn. This was unconventional, from what I've heard from peers, but ulimately what I attribute to my ease in navigating the both the online world and any computerized device. Because I had the time and space to poke around and explore, I am familiar with pathways and methodology that lead to computer literacy. My younger siblings, who had no time in computer labs and only teacher-guided, parental-locked iPads or Chromebooks to use in their schooling, do not share my same ease. They are often easily frustrated when trying to use any device that is less intuitive than an iPad.

In my future classroom I plan to spend a lot of time employing self-led learning with all subjects, but especially computer science. I agree with Mitra in thinking it is the best way to teach in a modern environment.

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This TedTalk by Sugata Mitra was extremely interesting. Matria made me look at school education in a completely different light, he made me reflect on my schooling of what was and wasn't effective for me as a student. For some reason, I haven't thought too hard about the future of schools and education, which is why I found this Tedtalk very eye-opening. I had no idea the extent of the impact of self-organization until hearing about Mitra’s “Hole in the Wall”. It makes me wonder how I can incorporate these methods into my future classroom.

Lucy Thomas

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I have said many times that the education system is broken. Students get over looked and left behind and resources are not where they used to be. This video changed my perspective to the idea that maybe the education system is outdated. I agree that we can implement much more technology into education, because this will lead to future jobs, however I do not think we can just get rid of schools. Rather, we need to be more open to allowing students to learn in ways that best fit them. I like this idea of self-organized learning environments, and it reminds me of the importance of play based learning/inquiry. Children can learn from one another and their social interactions. I really enjoyed this Ted Talk and it inspired me to reframe my ideas about how education can function.

- Maya Morose

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I loved this phrase as it allows us to understand the adaptability of schools and educational environments. Machines can be controlled and changed where it is needed, this allows us to see the potential our schools have for equity, as we are able to adapt the curriculum and content to ensure that each of the learners are developing to the best of their capability. An example of this is in Dewey's work where he analyses how important experience is to education and learning. Having an adaptable curriculum ensures equity as some students may learn better during play-based learning. Adaptability of how the content is taught can help this.

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Listening to the TED Talk makes you think about what school was like for you and the change in the education system—especially the part where Sugata talks about student engagement. Nowadays, there is rarely any excitement or desire to learn for students. Many years ago, there was much hands-on learning with fewer devices and more interaction with one another to want to learn and go into that specific job field. When the students' environment is "fun," it will motivate them to learn and want to succeed.

Arane Sivakantha

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I found Sugata Mitra's discussion very insightful. In the past I've heard a lot online about how many things in our world develop very fast completely changing from one thing to another (ex. the evolution of cars or computers). Yet, the education system doesn't really seem to have changed all that much. Yes we have added more subjects as they've discovered them but our overall method of teaching remains the same. Which doesn't make a lot of sense; in our ever changing world, the education system should be changing as well. Why didn't our methods for teaching change drastically with the inventions of computers (shouldn't they have?). This TED talk shows a great first step in beginning to change our teaching methods. In the past the education system was supposedly created to make identical human beings. So that they can perform exactly the way that communists wanted. This method allows creativity to flourish within the classroom. By stepping back and allowing the learners to critically think and come up with explanations to then use their problem solving abilities to identify how something works. I think this is a very valuable method to incorporate into classrooms.

Laura McFadden

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Challenging Traditional Education: Reconnecting with the Wonder of Learning

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Challenging Traditional Education: Reconnecting with the Wonder of Learning

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Through his thought-provoking presentation, Sugata Mitra helped to highlight the power of learning and emphasize the need to stimulate self-organized learning environments in the future. Although Sugata raised many interesting discussion points, the findings that were produced through his ‘Hole in the Wall’ experiment particularly caught my attention. Challenging dominant narratives that view learning and success as a product of socioeconomic status, Sugata’s experiment highlighted children’s incredible ability to learn, regardless of age, status, experience, language barriers, and geographic location.

In addition to helping children in remote communities obtain technical knowledge, computers provided communities with unique opportunities to learn valuable skills, such as building English proficiency, which, in turn, could support new employment opportunities. When reflecting upon our current education system, it is clear that learning in schools remains primarily instruction-based, ultimately reinforcing power imbalances in the classroom that can suppress participation and growth. However, Sugata's findings serve as a powerful tool in challenging the traditional format of our schools to support childhood agency and better equip students for a technologically advancing future.

The longevity of our current education system is often praised, however, after listening to this presentation, I learned that we should not be focusing on preserving our current educational format, but rather aiming to modify it to support student-led learning. Rather than viewing learning as a task that needs to be achieved, educators need to foster opportunities that allow for self-organization and growth to emerge. Self-organized learning environments not only can help to dismantle power imbalances between students and educators, but can ultimately help to support natural learning behaviours and problem-solving skills. By adopting formats similar to the ‘grandmother method,’ I believe that students will be more motivated to learn and, as a result, build strong critical thinking and collaborative skills. Through my experience volunteering in kindergarten classrooms, I have witnessed the value of student-led activities and have watched how child-initiated learning creates opportunities for personal, academic, and social growth. By shifting our traditional pedagogical beliefs about education, I believe that educators can act as powerful agents of change by encouraging students to discover their skills, potential, and sense of self through the wonder of learning.

-Karissa Schatz

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A basic assumption in the speech regarding education is that the system teaches children to all be the same and uniqueness is not the goal. I think that historically, this is very much true and Mitra is fair to acknowledge this perspective. To be in denial of history offers no benefit to future growth in the education system - we must understand the past in order to better create change. Mitra implies that the typical classroom about 300 years ago was made to create people that could read, handwrite, and do mathematics in their heads. According to the speaker, this was to benefit the British Empire and this method of learning has not really changed over the years to adapt to modern society and evolving careers. I think this perspective is appropriate and necessary to consider. He is right in terms of evolution, it is important that schools prepare children for modern-day jobs, rather than the job of a messenger for a historic empire. Although I do personally believe that education must evolve with education to keep up with its progress, I do not agree with getting rid of handwriting in schools. I think it is really important for people to be able to communicate in many different ways, including verbally, electronically, and by handwriting. Mitra mentions the value of children learning new languages and becoming fluent in English in order to be successful in different jobs. Similarly, in my opinion, handwriting is a form of communication and is just as valuable as knowing two languages. If handwriting is removed from our schools, how will people be able to communicate with members of the deaf community without knowing the language? If we can speak a language, such as English, we should feel inclined to know how to write it as well. Therefore, although I agree that education needs to evolve as Mitra mentions and that the assumption of education remaining the same in terms of classroom dynamics is relatively similar, writing is a component of education mentioned in the speech that I will continue to argue will be useful in the future regardless of presence of education. It must also be taken into consideration - in the event of a blackout where all electronics go down, handwritten notes could be the only form of communication to be sent from one location to another through old time messenger-style. Without the ability to handwrite, I would only assume public outrage would be expected. Society can benefit from technology, but it should not solely rely on it, especially within the classroom regardless of the point in time. I do agree that students are capable of learning on their own - they are self-guided learners and it is important to foster an environment where students feel comfortable to be contributors to their learning space. Overall, there are aspects of Mitra’s speech that I resonate with in terms of education, such as SOLE (self-organized learning environment) and also areas of assumption which I believe must remain the same, including the incorporation of handwriting.

Shannon Walker

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Olivia Brown

In the TedTalks video with Sugatra Mitra there are many factors to make you fully understand the flaws in our educational systems. He explains how the systems in play are the same systems that have been established many years ago, which makes it difficult to apply to modern day problems.

I agree with certain old systems in play like learning proper hand writing and math. It's more of how you're teaching them. The struggles that children have in school varies throughout, but I do know how difficult it was for me personally to learn a type of way that my brain never understood. In a perfect world there would be proper updated education systems that accommodate to each and every learner.

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From the beginning of the video my attention was grasped, he brings up so many important points regarding the education system. One that stood out to me was the idea that we are making identical people. I never thought of it like this. Although, all through elementary school my sister and I excelled in different areas, however, we were always being tested the same. Now that we are older it is evident that we became two entirely different people but our education was the same. This also made me reflect on my childhood as my dad would always encourage us to learn the trades, but anytime he would try and teach me something I could never grasp, looking back I believe this may have been because I was never exposed to it in school. We learned the curriculum and nothing more, it wasn't until high school we were allowed electives in which we could explore our interests.

I was also intrigued by the mentions throughout of how our system has not changed very much. Although, there is incorporation of technology the basis of what we learn remains the same. However, the world around us is ever-changing, even from one generation to the next the many changes that impact learning. I wonder if there is a way to incorporate these changes in the education system to allow children to prosper in all areas not just academics.

Kayla Breen

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Mitra's talk was very eye-opening to me and made me realize how broken the school system is, It brought me back to my time in elementary school and how teachers would just assume that you could simply just do things the way they tell you too, and if you couldn't do it then you were considered "Behind". This TED talk shows how different every child is with learning and how important it is for teachers to be there for the child and find ways to help them learn. Just because the child isn't learning the same way the other 5 children are learning doesn't mean they don't listen or are a bad child, but it may mean they need to learn the content differently or need some extra help and support. The school system does not give the children the proper education they need. The Grandmother method helps the children learn in a way that they enjoy, with positive reinforcement and also having fun. Teaching doesn't always have to be pen and paper, you can teach children through play and guidance while they play. Though, as educators you do need to set boundaries there are ways you can make learning more fun and engaging for your students. Looking out and viewing your student's interests will help boost their knowledge and teaching and shifting things around to help them understand and focus more is something educators need to try to realize. You don't always have to do things by the book to enhance your performance, sometimes it means watching and learning from your students so that you can help educate them and make learning more fun and interactive.

Karen Delos Santos

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At the beginning of the TED Talk Sugata Mitra mentions that schools were used to produce people to be identical to each other, this way they could maximize benefit for the future and the rest of society. It was thought that people must be so identical that they could be picked up and moved across the world to a completely different area, and they should be able to function normally. I think this is an interesting thought because especially nowadays our differences, whether those be culturally, religiously, spiritually, etc. are what makes us special. This is what we celebrate now, and I think this is a great change that we have made as people.

Mitra mentions how the school system is outdated, and I couldn't agree more. I think that although there are obviously good aspects of the school system, there are some things that like he said, are outdated and unnecessary, especially with technology becoming so prevalent. Mitra makes a great point when stating that times have changed, and now with access to technology knowing fast mental math, or working in an office for 8 hours a day, are not mandatory or even essential. Technology has made a huge difference in our lives and will continue to not only be super valuable, but will also continue to advance with us as a society. Thus, the school system must follow suit and change and grow alongside us.

Mitra's whole in the wall theory and the story he tells about the young children teaching themselves english to be able to use the computer to its full advantage, has opened my eyes to just how intelligent and capable children and students can be. I knew before that, with the proper resources and support students can achieve amazing things, but this story has truly made me realize just how much children can adapt to their situations and how we as future educators should not go into teaching believing we know everything. We should allow ourselves to remember that there is always room to learn, even from our own students!

Shelby Killin

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This was a very interesting Ted Talk presented by Sugata Mitra who provided a very eye opening speech expressing how our education system is not where it should be. The education system which was developed so long ago does not incorporate modern issues and the ongoing struggles our school boards are currently facing. With a world around us that is changing constantly, we need a education system that can grow and adapt to benefit the needs of all students rather than impact them. Implementing different and updated ways of learning rather than just the traditional ones that are currently being used, can spark new creativity among students and teachers which will promote a more positive learning environment for all.

- Reegan Williamson

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Personally, I found Sugata Mitra’s Ted Talk very interesting and engaging. Beginning his talk with a simple yet broad question about learning was very effective. By doing this, he allowed viewers to think about the answer for themselves, before he got into his own explanation. Throughout his entire talk, a few aspects stood out to me and that I would like to comment on.

First, I really agreed with how Sugata Mitra spoke about the school system as not being broken, but instead as outdated. To me, the education system sometimes struggles to evolve at the same pace as the rest of society. Second, I want to comment on his idea of a SOLE inspired learning system. Listening to Mirta’ speak about his ideas of education being self-organized was intriguing to me as someone who wants to go into teaching. Personally, I believe that there is value in giving students a necessary tool and simply leaving them to learn for themselves and at their own pace. Students and teachers are both crucial to education and can both learn from each other.

Lastly, I am posing a question for thought. What do you think the future of learning looks like?

-Isobel Mackenzie

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“Building a School in the Cloud” by Sugata Mitra was an immensely realistic discussion on modern day education. One of the most influential points in my opinion was when Sugata introduced the “Victorian” ideals of education (handwriting, reading, and mental math). As Sugata explained, these skills are no longer strictly enforced, except for maybe reading. When learning math, children now have access to technology and learning tools to help them divide, multiply, add, etc. without doing it in their head and for handwriting, many students have the option to write exams, tests, and assignments online. Mainly, these points brought into focus the question of what jobs of the future may be. If technology takes over all areas of education, what jobs will become salient versus futile? Another idea that I became aware of was the purpose of school. If children can complete all their school online, just to get a job where they never leave the house and communicate through online platforms only, what will happen to their socialization skills? Initially, I thought that children strongly benefit by going to school in-person as they can broaden their skills of collaboration, teamwork, leadership and more. However, I began to think that perhaps these skills will not become as important in the future, potentially being replaced by technological skills. The question that ultimately dictated my experience of the TED Talk that was prompted by Sugata was if we still need to go to school. My answer of course is yes, but I cannot conclude to what extent the importance of in-person school will hold in the future, especially as it depends on how societal values adapt.

Harper Coulson

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I thought it was really interesting how the ted talk compared students in todays eduction system to machines. How the old curriculum still being used today are educating students and educating each student all the exact same way and expect them to all turn out the same. How is this curriculum suppose to prepare them for the future and the world when they all have individual diverse interest and needs. I liked how he developed the idea of students being like machines in the way they can also adapt and make changes to students learning just like how you can change a machine. how its important we adapt the curriculum to incorporate and include teaching styles for the wide diversity of students who all learn and contain information differently.

Kyla Mitchell

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I feel that the Ted Talk was a real eye opening experience for how the education system functions. how students have taught themselves things rather than having someone teach it to them, it kind of also shows that students will learn if they want to, having something like a computer even though it is all in a language they don't understand they are determined to learn it even if they aren't sure what it is they are learning. Student lead learning was a pretty big concept that is developed in this ted talk which is fascinating on how students can be determined with learning something, they don't know just with the pure curiosity that occurs as the unknown is present and allowing them to explore this unknown object allows them to figure it out at their own leisure, and with what they actually want to know. Some adults often undermine the power and capability of a child's mind, and how they are able to obtain so much information and learn so much when they are actually interested in something, or learning what something is, which is such an important thing by allowing a child to explore a variety of topics and ideas through, creativity or hands on learning to give them the chance to explore without the handholding. The idea of "School in the clouds" is an interesting idea and quite important to allow students to have the ability to explore and learn on their own but having a teacher being present and heavily involved in the classroom is what makes the learning environment possible. Teachers can provide the space and topics for students to learn but allow them the opportunity to explore in whatever way fits the student best and provide the feedback and assistance needed for these students to be successful in their learning. I think having this knowledge will help many future teachers like myself to gain a better understanding of the way we can assist our students and lead a student led classroom while still being there to guide, assist and present the learning path for the student, having this video in the toolbox will assist in my future teaching for sure.

~ Tarynn Jeror

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This TED talk by Sugata Mitra is very insightful when regarding the possibility that our education system may be outdated. Since school was designed to create identical people to operate a bigger global machine centered around knowledge, however, what happens when these identical people are no longer needed? The result is that the passion for learning is slowly dying away within the system itself.

The most interesting point in this video, as well as the point that spoke to me the most, was the example the the diagram of the brain. When threatened, the learning aspect of the brain shuts down, which directly relates to why some students struggle during testing periods. Education should not be viewed as a threat, whether it be consciously or not, which brings me to my second favourite point. I strongly believe that in order to encourage learning, we must make it seem like something worth doing. For example, when talking about learning about tangents, Sugata compares saving the world to finding out the angle of a tangent. By saying this, students (especially younger ones) may feel more motivated to complete this task as it sounds like a grand adventure in which they become a hero. Making knowledge and education seem like a magical experience or adventure is highly effective in allowing a child to grow academically without the loss of childish wonder.

Ashley Pike

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Connor Tidman

Personally, I enjoyed her discussion and found it to be quite insightful. It made me realize how quickly things change in the world, and how quickly things become obsolete. I also realized how the education system is different, as it doesn’t change as much, and neither do the teaching styles. This TED talk shows a great first step in beginning to change our teaching methods. It also demonstrates how every child learns differently and emphasises how crucial it is for teachers to support their students and look for opportunities to help them learn. The students are not receiving the necessary education from the school system. The Grandmother technique provides positive reinforcement while fostering a delightful and enjoyable learning environment for the kids. Children can learn via play and direction; it's not always necessary to teach them with a pen and paper. There are methods to make learning more enjoyable and interesting for your students, even if it is your responsibility as an instructor to set boundaries. Teachers should make an effort to recognise that seeing and observing their students' interests can enhance their learning and that changing the environment might help students concentrate and grasp the material better. It's not always necessary to follow a strict curriculum to improve your performance; sometimes, the best method to help educate others and make studying more engaging and enjoyable is to observe and absorb knowledge from your students.

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This Ted Talk resonated with me quite a bit since it got me thinking about how school systems are. When Sugata Mitra mentioned that students are taught curriculum the same way in most places, it made me think about how I learned. Which was the same way that he mentioned. Over time we have started to understand that this does not work for every, but it is still seen in a lot of school systems with standardized testing. Except now educators are starting to realize that they will not be able to have a student fully learn with just a pen and pencil along with tests. Now educators are starting to adapt to different styles of assignments like creating videos, powerpoints, posters..etc. This allows students who are not as good in writing or testing a chance to show what they are capable of. With the use of technology, this will be further elevated since it allows students to do much more.

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Sugata Mitra's ideas about learning and teaching are rooted in a set of fundamental assumptions that challenge traditional educational models. The underlying assumption is that children, when given the opportunity and the right environment, can teach themselves and each other effectively. Mitra advocates for a shift from a threat-based learning model, characterized by exams and punishment, to a model that prioritizes pleasure and encourages intrinsic motivation. These assumptions challenge traditional notions of a teacher-centered approach and propose a more student-centric, self-directed, and collaborative learning paradigm, which aligns very well with my beliefs. I have always had issues with the current education system and his proposal for self-organized learning environments promotes a learner-centric approach that will be much more effective. This vision for the future of learning is not only progressive but also challenges educators and policymakers to reconsider traditional teaching methodologies.

Maria Moniz

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Build a School in the Cloud - Reflection

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Build a School in the Cloud - Reflection

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After watching Sugata Mitra's thoughts on the education system, one thing that stood out to me was the idea of encouragement being the key of learning to do anything. I think this means a lot to students as they may be discouraged to do certain things that they are not good at. The more that we encourage students or children to do things that they feel they have trouble with, the more they will feel confident and want to experience more in that subject or doing that task. For example, parents are encouraging their children to play and make new friends or experience new hobbies so that they are more involved and learn on their own.

Another thing that stood out to me during Sugata Mitra's speech was educational self-organization where we should let learning just happen instead of forcing it. He had also spoke upon SOLEs which stands for Self Organized Learning Environments. This happens when teachers raise the question and let the students take charge of their learning and knowledge while exploring new concepts and meanings of learning. This stood out to me as in my high school we had a SOLE class but in this case it stood for Students On the Leading Edge. I can see both of these acronyms relating to one another as in my class in high school, it was a place where students were creating activities and events around the school for other students to participate in. The teacher was only there to maintain security and assistance when needed. Relating this back to the video, in my high school class I had learned a lot about myself and how to organize things, it made me understand and explore knowledge I have not had before the class. I think this is one of the best ways to learn as you are finding information yourself and sharing it with your peers. I think that self organized learning environments are a great way for students and children to explore new experiences and to take charge of their learning in a comfortable, respectful, non-threatening environment.

By: Stacey Sturge

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The important problems ailing our educational system are highlighted in Sugata Mitra's engrossing speech, which highlights the necessity of a paradigm change. The main points of contention center on the education system's antiquated, three-century-old design and the disastrous effects of obsessing over its alleged "brokenness" rather than addressing the changing dynamics between students and teachers.

According to Mitra's historical account, the Western-standardized education system that the former colonies of the British Empire adopted emphasizes uniformity over individualized learning. The system relied on adherence to prescribed information, mainly handwriting, literacy, and numeracy, in order to generate standardized persons. But given the state of technology today, a lot of the old curriculum seems out of date.

Mitra's experimental demonstration, which highlights the potential of self-led discovery, is a ground-breaking feature of his discourse. Mitra is an advocate of allowing children the flexibility and space to study using their own creativity and intelligence, as opposed to the traditional classroom paradigm. This is demonstrated in a number of ways, including outdoor play and video games on computers.

Essentially, Mitra's observations encourage educators to adopt a progressive strategy that is in line with the demands of a changing global environment. In the end, the conversation around these ideas prepares students for a future characterized by flexibility and creativity by redesigning education to promote autonomous thought, digital literacy, and supportive motivation.

-Helena Ashbaugh

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Sugata Mitra points out an intriguing statement about the education system and today's day of age. The education system is very outdated and teaches children to learn the same as everyone else with the same strategies implemented with each student. Mitra's experiment called "Hole in the Wall" allowed children to engage and teach themselves to learn how to use technology. The current education system does not serve the purpose of learning, and a lot of students are behind and not preparing students for the skills that they'll need to harbour when they are out of the system. School in the cloud allowed students the privilege to want to learn by engaging with "grannies" who would provide guidance and support for kids learning allowing them to naturally want to learn, engage, and be curious. Children are capable of organizing and challenging themselves on a higher level than today's school implies.

Although the school system is outdated, there are alternative ways to engage students in the classroom and enhance their learning and strategies. Furthermore, attending school adds the benefit of developing social skills and adhering to a routine schedule. Technology has its advantages and disadvantages and I believe that in the 21st century, a lot of individuals depend on technology to learn and navigate through the world. In the future, I aspire to create new strategies and learning outcomes to help students learn on a new level. Allowing new methods and strategies that can cater to each student, and create a healthier learning environment where not every student has to be the same.

Alyssa Kennedy Grant

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I liked that Mitra emphasized the fact that schools today are outdated because I think this speaks to my own experiences in that school/formal education often doesn’t encourage true exploration and curiosity as it was once intended to. Mitra’s explanation of the failures of this system to allow individuals to grow, develop, and learn uniquely and instead enforce a standardized, cookie-cutter method of learning and performance. Additionally, I thought the self-organized learning was interesting because it allows children to learn what they need to, without worrying about what they are “supposed” to learn. For example, new technology may have made learning certain skills less useful than learning others, and only by introducing these bigger questions and tasks to kids without providing structure can we determine what skills they will seek out on their own in order to complete it satisfactorily.

Maggie Hickey

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After listening to the Ted Talk, I was able to really reflect on how outdated and broken the school system is. We are too focused on seeing students that are not succeeding than getting to the root cause of why. The school system has been around for hundreds of years and has not been developing at the same speed as society. Students in the 21st century need more help and guidance within school but are receiving it due to obsolete teaching practices. Sugar Mitra was able to open my eyes to the true problem with education and not simply what we see on the outside. When I was in elementary and high school, I was not personally affected by outdated teaching practices and curriculums however, many of my fellow students were. Living in a small town, the schools were not properly equipped to help students with learning disabilities and special needs. I know numerous people that were failed by our school system as they were not given the proper tools to succeed.

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Build a School in the Clouds- Reflection

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Build a School in the Clouds- Reflection

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In a brief 22 minutes, Sugata Mitra was able to help me imagine an entirely new education system. One that lets learning happen spontaneously and does not force it. This has completely changed my views on how to teach effectively. As a future educator, it's easy to fall into the spiral of memorizing the dos and donts of societies current standards. What has been forgotten in all of this training is the simple fact that human beings are biologically driven to learn. Educators need to simply step back and let the learning happen. This video has really opened my eyes to new possibilities in education. Students have all the tools that they need to teach themselves, the role of the educator as best said by Sugata Mitra should be to act as "the grandmother". Someone who looks over their shoulders occasionally with encouraging comments to keep the ball rolling. I could not agree more with this idea that the current education system is dated and filled with unnecessary stressors/threats. Once we peel back these dated tactics that were helpful thousands of years ago, we will be able to create an education system that benefits every student positively. I can certainly appreciate these ideas and hope to celebrate these concepts in my future classrooms.

Kayla Nixon

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I believe Mitra raises an excellent question about why schools attempt or want students to be the same because that is impossible. Every human is different, we learn differently, we act differently, and we are raised differently therefore giving us different morals and values. No one person especially children is the same and that is important to recognize from a teacher's standpoint. Every student is unique and that is such a wonderful fact of life, so it makes me wonder why anyone would want students to be identical to one another. Mitra expresses a very strong wish at the end of the video and I like the phrase he uses when describing his wish, "to design a future of learning" The way he describes how he wants to impact the future of learning is phrased in a very inspiring way. The education system has changed a lot throughout the years and I think Mitra does a great job of describing that when he says that schools are similar to machines. The style of learning Mitra discusses is very interesting to me because when I think back to my years of schooling I can not think of a time that any of my teachers took an approach like that to teaching. The idea that a teacher asks the questions and the kids work it out together without the help of any teacher is something I would have never thought of. After watching the I think the approach to teaching Mirta talks about is a good way to teach because it allows the students to take different approaches to learning on their own without being told what to do and it gives them the opportunity to work together to find answers to the questions being asked. I found the Ted Talk very eye opening and it changed my perspective on teaching styles a little bit.

-Allie Boyd

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Building a school in the cloud reflection. 

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Building a school in the cloud reflection. 

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Sugata Mitra challenges conventional ideas of education by supporting self-organized learning environments, as I discovered after watching his TED Talk. Mitra's ground-breaking experiments, such as the "Hole in the Wall" project, showed that kids can effectively teach themselves and each other when they have access to technology and are encouraged to follow their curiosities. This recasts educators' roles as learning journey facilitators rather than information distributors. Curiosity-driven inquiry and teamwork are highlighted in the learner-centric approach that is promoted by the School in the Cloud idea. It calls for a reevaluation of learning environments, promoting adaptable settings that encourage individual and group innovation. According to Mitra's perspective, technology should be used to empower students rather than to replace human connection. This TED Talk encourages educators to consider how teaching is changing and if traditional methods of education need to undergo a fundamental change which i found very interesting. It emphasizes the significance of fostering in students a sense of ownership and intrinsic motivation and advocates for a reevaluation of assessment techniques. Mitra's vision pushes us to imagine a time when learning is an autonomous, group-based, and international undertaking. Julia Costantini

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the TED Talk "Build a School in the Cloud" left me intrigued and inspired by Mitra's innovative approach to learning. Mitra's concept of a Self-Organized Learning Environment challenges traditional educational values, emphasizing the power of collaborative and inquiry-based learning. The idea that children can self-direct their education in a digital, interconnected world resonates with the changing landscape of education. It encourages me to explore how technology can be harnessed to foster independent thinking, curiosity, and creativity in future classrooms.

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This was such a cool video! Learning and consuming knowledge is in our blood and it has never been so evident than when I was watching that video. Learning, thousands of years ago led to prolonged survival and advancement and while the situations aren't often as dire, the need and desire remains. - Julia Pare