our next speaker is one of Cambridge very own mr. Ronnie she is one of our
very own mr. Ronnie she is one of our
very own mr. Ronnie she is one of our school’s most beloved teachers and if
school’s most beloved teachers and if
school’s most beloved teachers and if you ask any of her bio students they
you ask any of her bio students they
you ask any of her bio students they will tell you they take the subject just
will tell you they take the subject just
will tell you they take the subject just because of her you can find they’re
because of her you can find they’re
because of her you can find they’re talking about almost anything from gene
talking about almost anything from gene
talking about almost anything from gene technology to neuroplasticity but right
technology to neuroplasticity but right
technology to neuroplasticity but right now she’s here the question to which
now she’s here the question to which
now she’s here the question to which she’s here to question the extent to
she’s here to question the extent to
she’s here to question the extent to which our experiences affect our
which our experiences affect our
which our experiences affect our perception and our intelligence mr.
perception and our intelligence mr.
perception and our intelligence mr. Ronnie it is amazing how my previous two
Ronnie it is amazing how my previous two
Ronnie it is amazing how my previous two speakers talked about believing in
speakers talked about believing in
speakers talked about believing in themselves what I’m going to speak today
themselves what I’m going to speak today
themselves what I’m going to speak today will just reiterate your necessity to
will just reiterate your necessity to
will just reiterate your necessity to believe in yourself I would like to
believe in yourself I would like to
believe in yourself I would like to start this talk by pausing two questions
how many of you seated here can link
how many of you seated here can link your disinterest to a subject to a
your disinterest to a subject to a
your disinterest to a subject to a personal bad experience I can see
personal bad experience I can see
personal bad experience I can see several hands and do you believe that
several hands and do you believe that
several hands and do you believe that bad experiences can limit your learning
bad experiences can limit your learning
bad experiences can limit your learning I get an affirmative to this I’ve been
I get an affirmative to this I’ve been
I get an affirmative to this I’ve been pondering over these two questions on
pondering over these two questions on
pondering over these two questions on and off for some thirty years
and off for some thirty years
and off for some thirty years why thirty years and why specifically
why thirty years and why specifically
why thirty years and why specifically these two questions to better understand
these two questions to better understand
these two questions to better understand this I would like to take you back to
this I would like to take you back to
this I would like to take you back to the year I was in grade six I had this
the year I was in grade six I had this
the year I was in grade six I had this new math teacher who suddenly out of the
new math teacher who suddenly out of the
new math teacher who suddenly out of the blues decided that she was going to
blues decided that she was going to
blues decided that she was going to train our young minds to think fast
train our young minds to think fast
train our young minds to think fast and her strategy for this was testing in
and her strategy for this was testing in
and her strategy for this was testing in mental math and that to mental algebra
mental math and that to mental algebra
mental math and that to mental algebra from my tune you can guess how that test
from my tune you can guess how that test
from my tune you can guess how that test went I flunked I was a student who
went I flunked I was a student who
went I flunked I was a student who always topped her class hooked up my
always topped her class hooked up my
always topped her class hooked up my class
class
class rather and to me failing was a big thing
rather and to me failing was a big thing
rather and to me failing was a big thing but I did not allow it to get me down
but I did not allow it to get me down
but I did not allow it to get me down because that’s typically me I would sulk
because that’s typically me I would sulk
because that’s typically me I would sulk for a few days they’d get up that’s
for a few days they’d get up that’s
for a few days they’d get up that’s myself and say hey enough of self-pity
myself and say hey enough of self-pity
myself and say hey enough of self-pity much forward but in this particular
much forward but in this particular
much forward but in this particular instance I found myself not only being
instance I found myself not only being
instance I found myself not only being down and several years down the lane I
down and several years down the lane I
down and several years down the lane I realized to a certain extent I had
realized to a certain extent I had
realized to a certain extent I had allowed her to get me down
allowed her to get me down
allowed her to get me down what exactly happened I distinctly
what exactly happened I distinctly
what exactly happened I distinctly recall the harsh words to me she said it
recall the harsh words to me she said it
recall the harsh words to me she said it still rings in my ears I do not know
still rings in my ears I do not know
still rings in my ears I do not know what the fuss is all about you being the
what the fuss is all about you being the
what the fuss is all about you being the most promising student of your class
most promising student of your class
most promising student of your class went to me you’re just playing dumb
went to me you’re just playing dumb
went to me you’re just playing dumb because he couldn’t do mental math is it
because he couldn’t do mental math is it
because he couldn’t do mental math is it any wonder years later there are my
any wonder years later there are my
any wonder years later there are my favorite subject is still not mad what
favorite subject is still not mad what
favorite subject is still not mad what have I done I had allowed her disbelief
have I done I had allowed her disbelief
have I done I had allowed her disbelief in me to translate into an effect in my
in me to translate into an effect in my
in me to translate into an effect in my life in other words I had allowed her to
life in other words I had allowed her to
life in other words I had allowed her to define and limit my intelligence did I
define and limit my intelligence did I
define and limit my intelligence did I have a reason for loving her to limit my
have a reason for loving her to limit my
have a reason for loving her to limit my intelligence but then I thought I did I
intelligence but then I thought I did I
intelligence but then I thought I did I belong to that generation that thought
belong to that generation that thought
belong to that generation that thought we
we
we made this way I thought I had a genetic
made this way I thought I had a genetic
made this way I thought I had a genetic predisposition big word to being dumped
predisposition big word to being dumped
predisposition big word to being dumped in math um not being able to do very
in math um not being able to do very
in math um not being able to do very well in math but knowing what I know now
well in math but knowing what I know now
well in math but knowing what I know now I realize it’s not right I might have a
I realize it’s not right I might have a
I realize it’s not right I might have a genetic predisposition but I’m not fated
genetic predisposition but I’m not fated
genetic predisposition but I’m not fated to stay that way and why brings me close
to stay that way and why brings me close
to stay that way and why brings me close to the subject that has always been my
to the subject that has always been my
to the subject that has always been my passion human body and one organ in
passion human body and one organ in
passion human body and one organ in particular that has never failed to
particular that has never failed to
particular that has never failed to fascinate me
fascinate me
fascinate me over the years the brain the brain is a
over the years the brain the brain is a
over the years the brain the brain is a remarkable organ in the past 15 years
remarkable organ in the past 15 years
remarkable organ in the past 15 years we’ve come to know more about the brain
we’ve come to know more about the brain
we’ve come to know more about the brain than we have done in all of previous
than we have done in all of previous
than we have done in all of previous history and much of which can be
history and much of which can be
history and much of which can be attributed to the latest advancements in
attributed to the latest advancements in
attributed to the latest advancements in technology such as MRI scans and what we
technology such as MRI scans and what we
technology such as MRI scans and what we have done is made astounding discoveries
have done is made astounding discoveries
have done is made astounding discoveries and one of them is what I’m going to
and one of them is what I’m going to
and one of them is what I’m going to talk about that your brain is constantly
talk about that your brain is constantly
talk about that your brain is constantly changing your brain is changing changing
changing your brain is changing changing
changing your brain is changing changing in response to what response to the
in response to what response to the
in response to what response to the input that you give it responds to your
input that you give it responds to your
input that you give it responds to your emotions your learning experiences can I
emotions your learning experiences can I
emotions your learning experiences can I have a glass of water and my mouth is
have a glass of water and my mouth is
have a glass of water and my mouth is going dry
[Music]
[Music] your brain is constantly changing
your brain is constantly changing
your brain is constantly changing in response to the input that you give
in response to the input that you give
in response to the input that you give it in response to the experiences your
it in response to the experiences your
it in response to the experiences your emotions your beliefs and most
emotions your beliefs and most
emotions your beliefs and most importantly the learning experience and
importantly the learning experience and
importantly the learning experience and the learning environment that you
the learning environment that you
the learning environment that you provided with neuroscientists have a
provided with neuroscientists have a
provided with neuroscientists have a great word for this it’s a buzz word for
great word for this it’s a buzz word for
great word for this it’s a buzz word for them neuroplasticity neuro obviously
them neuroplasticity neuro obviously
them neuroplasticity neuro obviously means the brain plastic are we talking
means the brain plastic are we talking
means the brain plastic are we talking about plastic brains no what we are
about plastic brains no what we are
about plastic brains no what we are talking about is the malleable brain or
talking about is the malleable brain or
talking about is the malleable brain or the malleable ability of the brain so
the malleable ability of the brain so
the malleable ability of the brain so what is malleability nothing but what I
what is malleability nothing but what I
what is malleability nothing but what I just mentioned changeable nature of the
just mentioned changeable nature of the
just mentioned changeable nature of the brain so what is actually happening when
brain so what is actually happening when
brain so what is actually happening when I say the brain is malleable it is
I say the brain is malleable it is
I say the brain is malleable it is changing it is changing how physically
changing it is changing how physically
changing it is changing how physically chemically and functionable now to
chemically and functionable now to
chemically and functionable now to better illustrate this I would like to
better illustrate this I would like to
better illustrate this I would like to give you an example let us compare two
give you an example let us compare two
give you an example let us compare two brains there are four dancers and a non
brains there are four dancers and a non
brains there are four dancers and a non dancers if you look at the dancers brain
dancers if you look at the dancers brain
dancers if you look at the dancers brain what is happening in hills of her brain
what is happening in hills of her brain
what is happening in hills of her brain is there’s a system being created what
is there’s a system being created what
is there’s a system being created what is a system new nerve cells are being
is a system new nerve cells are being
is a system new nerve cells are being formed these nerve cells are actually
formed these nerve cells are actually
formed these nerve cells are actually actually making connections with other
actually making connections with other
actually making connections with other nerve cells which we call establishing
nerve cells which we call establishing
nerve cells which we call establishing connections and these nerve cells are
connections and these nerve cells are
connections and these nerve cells are also strengthening their connections
also strengthening their connections
also strengthening their connections you don’t find this in a non dancers
you don’t find this in a non dancers
you don’t find this in a non dancers brain so what did this dancer do
brain so what did this dancer do
brain so what did this dancer do differently what he did was then he’d
differently what he did was then he’d
differently what he did was then he’d hadn’t desire to do or quite an ability
hadn’t desire to do or quite an ability
hadn’t desire to do or quite an ability he went forward with focus with the
he went forward with focus with the
he went forward with focus with the determination concentration hard work
determination concentration hard work
determination concentration hard work and constant practice he created that
and constant practice he created that
and constant practice he created that system so what does it say about for us
system so what does it say about for us
system so what does it say about for us what we need to do is the same thing
what we need to do is the same thing
what we need to do is the same thing through wine our nerve cells with the
through wine our nerve cells with the
through wine our nerve cells with the stimulating environment provide our
stimulating environment provide our
stimulating environment provide our brain with a stimulating environment how
brain with a stimulating environment how
brain with a stimulating environment how do we go about doing this provided with
do we go about doing this provided with
do we go about doing this provided with the right learning experience when you
the right learning experience when you
the right learning experience when you strengthen these connections for these
strengthen these connections for these
strengthen these connections for these nerve cells what you have is long-term
nerve cells what you have is long-term
nerve cells what you have is long-term memory when these connections are not
memory when these connections are not
memory when these connections are not strengthened what you have a short-term
strengthened what you have a short-term
strengthened what you have a short-term memory which are going to lose along the
memory which are going to lose along the
memory which are going to lose along the way so what does memory brings me to
way so what does memory brings me to
way so what does memory brings me to what is memory their memory is nothing
what is memory their memory is nothing
what is memory their memory is nothing but your ability to retain and store
but your ability to retain and store
but your ability to retain and store information so what is intelligence
intelligence has anyone got an answer
intelligence has anyone got an answer okay
okay
okay intelligence is the ability to retrieve
intelligence is the ability to retrieve
intelligence is the ability to retrieve that information manipulated and used to
that information manipulated and used to
that information manipulated and used to sort of solve your problems so he’s good
sort of solve your problems so he’s good
sort of solve your problems so he’s good at math need not necessarily be that
at math need not necessarily be that
at math need not necessarily be that he’s more intelligent than you it’s just
he’s more intelligent than you it’s just
he’s more intelligent than you it’s just that he is able to retrieve that
that he is able to retrieve that
that he is able to retrieve that information quickly enough and he’s able
information quickly enough and he’s able
information quickly enough and he’s able to solve his problems quickly enough and
to solve his problems quickly enough and
to solve his problems quickly enough and how does he do that because he has been
how does he do that because he has been
how does he do that because he has been stimulating his brain with the right
stimulating his brain with the right
stimulating his brain with the right kind of environment so memory and
kind of environment so memory and
kind of environment so memory and intelligence actually two sides of the
intelligence actually two sides of the
intelligence actually two sides of the same coin improve your memory improve
same coin improve your memory improve
same coin improve your memory improve your intelligence
so we don’t have an excuse anymore
so we don’t have an excuse anymore saying that we have a genetic
saying that we have a genetic
saying that we have a genetic predisposition for just not doing well
predisposition for just not doing well
predisposition for just not doing well in a particular thing you want it quite
in a particular thing you want it quite
in a particular thing you want it quite an ability go ahead Nick why one so how
an ability go ahead Nick why one so how
an ability go ahead Nick why one so how do I go around improving my memory and
do I go around improving my memory and
do I go around improving my memory and then my intelligence first and foremost
then my intelligence first and foremost
then my intelligence first and foremost what I need to remember is good news is
what I need to remember is good news is
what I need to remember is good news is that our brains make physical changes
that our brains make physical changes
that our brains make physical changes based on the repetative things we do and
based on the repetative things we do and
based on the repetative things we do and the experiences we have so more
the experiences we have so more
the experiences we have so more consistent and repetitive your learning
consistent and repetitive your learning
consistent and repetitive your learning experiences better it is for the brain
experiences better it is for the brain
experiences better it is for the brain so when you decide to acquire an ability
so when you decide to acquire an ability
so when you decide to acquire an ability to all begins with your desire to
to all begins with your desire to
to all begins with your desire to acquire an ability acquire if you want
acquire an ability acquire if you want
acquire an ability acquire if you want acquire go ahead with focus
acquire go ahead with focus
acquire go ahead with focus determination concentration hard work
determination concentration hard work
determination concentration hard work and constant practice acquire it do not
and constant practice acquire it do not
and constant practice acquire it do not ever ever give up bad news is that our
ever ever give up bad news is that our
ever ever give up bad news is that our brains make physical changes based on
brains make physical changes based on
brains make physical changes based on the reputa things that it does so do not
the reputa things that it does so do not
the reputa things that it does so do not allow negative words negative thoughts
allow negative words negative thoughts
allow negative words negative thoughts negative habits rob you of the pleasure
negative habits rob you of the pleasure
negative habits rob you of the pleasure of learning and improving your
of learning and improving your
of learning and improving your intelligence negative words is what I
intelligence negative words is what I
intelligence negative words is what I did years after if I’m still not
did years after if I’m still not
did years after if I’m still not interested in math it was because I
interested in math it was because I
interested in math it was because I allowed these negative words to get to
allowed these negative words to get to
allowed these negative words to get to me do not allow it you know much more
me do not allow it you know much more
me do not allow it you know much more about the brain today than I did back
about the brain today than I did back
about the brain today than I did back then negative thoughts I’m not good at
then negative thoughts I’m not good at
then negative thoughts I’m not good at it I will never be good at it it’s just
it I will never be good at it it’s just
it I will never be good at it it’s just not in me do not allow it to get you
negative habits I’m actually most
negative habits I’m actually most interested in this because what I’ve
interested in this because what I’ve
interested in this because what I’ve seen or my almost 30 years of teaching
seen or my almost 30 years of teaching
seen or my almost 30 years of teaching I’ve seen students go down this way
I’ve seen students go down this way
I’ve seen students go down this way and I was
and I was
and I was them that I’m addressing this more do
them that I’m addressing this more do
them that I’m addressing this more do not spend quality productive time
not spend quality productive time
not spend quality productive time aimlessly texting going to bed very late
aimlessly texting going to bed very late
aimlessly texting going to bed very late your brain needs to rejuvenate just like
your brain needs to rejuvenate just like
your brain needs to rejuvenate just like the rest of you give it the rest that it
the rest of you give it the rest that it
the rest of you give it the rest that it requires do not allow such smoking do
requires do not allow such smoking do
requires do not allow such smoking do not allow these habits to get to you
not allow these habits to get to you
not allow these habits to get to you because they are toxins you’re basically
because they are toxins you’re basically
because they are toxins you’re basically putting into your body into your brain
putting into your body into your brain
putting into your body into your brain and your brain is getting affected by it
and your brain is getting affected by it
and your brain is getting affected by it the next one is stay motivated with
the next one is stay motivated with
the next one is stay motivated with positive action-oriented thoughts till
positive action-oriented thoughts till
positive action-oriented thoughts till they become your mind set your default
they become your mind set your default
they become your mind set your default mindset keep telling yourself you can do
mindset keep telling yourself you can do
mindset keep telling yourself you can do it you will do it and you will achieve
it you will do it and you will achieve
it you will do it and you will achieve it aim high we are the only
it aim high we are the only
it aim high we are the only self-directed organisms on this planet
self-directed organisms on this planet
self-directed organisms on this planet so aim high desire to achieve well and
so aim high desire to achieve well and
so aim high desire to achieve well and do it challenge your brain this is the
do it challenge your brain this is the
do it challenge your brain this is the most important thing challenge your
most important thing challenge your
most important thing challenge your brain by constantly learning new facts
brain by constantly learning new facts
brain by constantly learning new facts your brain works well when it’s
your brain works well when it’s
your brain works well when it’s constantly challenged as one eminent
constantly challenged as one eminent
constantly challenged as one eminent physicist put it do not curse you I’m
physicist put it do not curse you I’m
physicist put it do not curse you I’m just paraphrasing what he said do not
just paraphrasing what he said do not
just paraphrasing what he said do not press you the goals that you can easily
press you the goals that you can easily
press you the goals that you can easily achieve rather work hard at pursuing
achieve rather work hard at pursuing
achieve rather work hard at pursuing those that you can achieve only with the
those that you can achieve only with the
those that you can achieve only with the greatest efforts his brain still evokes
greatest efforts his brain still evokes
greatest efforts his brain still evokes a lot of interest amongst the
a lot of interest amongst the
a lot of interest amongst the neuroscientists Nenana he is none other
neuroscientists Nenana he is none other
neuroscientists Nenana he is none other than Albert Einstein having established
than Albert Einstein having established
than Albert Einstein having established this that your brain and your
this that your brain and your
this that your brain and your intelligence is not hardwired at any age
intelligence is not hardwired at any age
intelligence is not hardwired at any age it is up to you and me to just sit up
it is up to you and me to just sit up
it is up to you and me to just sit up and take responsibility for our brains
and take responsibility for our brains
and take responsibility for our brains it is the new ANDed me to allow this
it is the new ANDed me to allow this
it is the new ANDed me to allow this morphing ability all the changing
morphing ability all the changing
morphing ability all the changing ability of the brain to work for us stop
ability of the brain to work for us stop
ability of the brain to work for us stop giving excuses we don’t have excuses
giving excuses we don’t have excuses
giving excuses we don’t have excuses anymore to conclude I would say we are
anymore to conclude I would say we are
anymore to conclude I would say we are the architect of our own brains
the architect of our own brains
the architect of our own brains so sculpt well thank you
so sculpt well thank you
so sculpt well thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment