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How do a state and a nation favor creativity? The Power of the Liberal Arts | Tom Pleger | TEDxLSSU


my background I’m an anthropologist and

my background I’m an anthropologist and archaeologist by training anthropology

archaeologist by training anthropology

archaeologist by training anthropology is an unusual

is an unusual

is an unusual it is the scientific study of human

it is the scientific study of human

it is the scientific study of human variation across time and space

variation across time and space

variation across time and space so all that makes makes up human biology

so all that makes makes up human biology

so all that makes makes up human biology all that makes up human culture across

all that makes up human culture across

all that makes up human culture across the past present and future

the past present and future

the past present and future it’s an incredibly encompassing field

it’s an incredibly encompassing field

it’s an incredibly encompassing field it’s a field that intersects the Natural

it’s a field that intersects the Natural

it’s a field that intersects the Natural Sciences Social Sciences humanities in

Sciences Social Sciences humanities in

Sciences Social Sciences humanities in the art it is a science that requires a

the art it is a science that requires a

the art it is a science that requires a creative innovative approach to bringing

creative innovative approach to bringing

creative innovative approach to bringing different points of data together to

different points of data together to

different points of data together to interpret human behavior in the past

interpret human behavior in the past

interpret human behavior in the past present and future in my talk this

present and future in my talk this

present and future in my talk this evening is about the importance of

evening is about the importance of

evening is about the importance of creativity our economy today in our

creativity our economy today in our

creativity our economy today in our future economy is a college president I

future economy is a college president I

future economy is a college president I travel around the Midwest and around

travel around the Midwest and around

travel around the Midwest and around Michigan am now on a board planning the

Michigan am now on a board planning the

Michigan am now on a board planning the future economy for the delivering a

future economy for the delivering a

future economy for the delivering a report to the governor for Michigan for

report to the governor for Michigan for

report to the governor for Michigan for the next 20 years it without a doubt the

the next 20 years it without a doubt the

the next 20 years it without a doubt the number one skill you hear from employers

number one skill you hear from employers

number one skill you hear from employers is that they want talent they want

is that they want talent they want

is that they want talent they want people to work with them who are

people to work with them who are

people to work with them who are creative innovative and who can connect

creative innovative and who can connect

creative innovative and who can connect different points of data well how do you

different points of data well how do you

different points of data well how do you become creative how did it I would say

become creative how did it I would say

become creative how did it I would say all creative people are lifelong

all creative people are lifelong

all creative people are lifelong learners but what is the source of

learners but what is the source of

learners but what is the source of creativity and there’s really two ways

creativity and there’s really two ways

creativity and there’s really two ways you can become a creative person an

you can become a creative person an

you can become a creative person an innovative person creativity if you talk

innovative person creativity if you talk

innovative person creativity if you talk to people who study creativity is the

to people who study creativity is the

to people who study creativity is the product of the exposure to diversity

product of the exposure to diversity

product of the exposure to diversity that means diversity of people diversity

that means diversity of people diversity

that means diversity of people diversity of ideas diversity of experiences and

of ideas diversity of experiences and

of ideas diversity of experiences and places it’s the combination of those

places it’s the combination of those

places it’s the combination of those things that allow people to see a

things that allow people to see a

things that allow people to see a perspective from different points of

perspective from different points of

perspective from different points of view and to link different disciplines

view and to link different disciplines

view and to link different disciplines and different experiences together right

and different experiences together right

and different experiences together right how do you get that and how do you

how do you get that and how do you

how do you get that and how do you create an educational pathway that

create an educational pathway that

create an educational pathway that promotes creativity and Janet’s creative

promotes creativity and Janet’s creative

promotes creativity and Janet’s creative innovative people there’s two ways you

innovative people there’s two ways you

innovative people there’s two ways you can get that experience one you could

can get that experience one you could

can get that experience one you could travel around the world you can read the

travel around the world you can read the

travel around the world you can read the great start the great works of

great start the great works of

great start the great works of literature you could study human history

literature you could study human history

literature you could study human history and prehistory you could study math and

and prehistory you could study math and

and prehistory you could study math and science and you could potentially gain

science and you could potentially gain

science and you could potentially gain the skill set that you would get from a

the skill set that you would get from a

the skill set that you would get from a liberal education base before your

liberal education base before your

liberal education base before your degree potentially the other way

degree potentially the other way

degree potentially the other way people get it is through their college

people get it is through their college

people get it is through their college experience of studying abroad curriculum

experience of studying abroad curriculum

experience of studying abroad curriculum in abroad series of perspectives

in abroad series of perspectives

in abroad series of perspectives regardless of the major to link and

regardless of the major to link and

regardless of the major to link and develop skills between different points

develop skills between different points

develop skills between different points of view that’s really what abroad

of view that’s really what abroad

of view that’s really what abroad becoming an educated person is about so

becoming an educated person is about so

becoming an educated person is about so the purpose of higher education is great

the purpose of higher education is great

the purpose of higher education is great greatly debated today more than ever

greatly debated today more than ever

greatly debated today more than ever there are many people who believe higher

there are many people who believe higher

there are many people who believe higher education its primary focus is to

education its primary focus is to

education its primary focus is to develop talent and develop people for a

develop talent and develop people for a

develop talent and develop people for a job that is a relatively new thought

job that is a relatively new thought

job that is a relatively new thought right the traditional perspective of

right the traditional perspective of

right the traditional perspective of higher education particularly

higher education particularly

higher education particularly baccalaureate education is to develop a

baccalaureate education is to develop a

baccalaureate education is to develop a well-rounded person who can adapt to

well-rounded person who can adapt to

well-rounded person who can adapt to different careers who can take a major

different careers who can take a major

different careers who can take a major and apply them to a variety of jobs and

and apply them to a variety of jobs and

and apply them to a variety of jobs and an educated person has a series of

an educated person has a series of

an educated person has a series of skills that are designed to develop

skills that are designed to develop

skills that are designed to develop their human potential to the foot to the

their human potential to the foot to the

their human potential to the foot to the first when I am people ask me what do

first when I am people ask me what do

first when I am people ask me what do you do what do you produce at the

you do what do you produce at the

you do what do you produce at the University want for this opportunity

University want for this opportunity

University want for this opportunity that’s what a public university does we

that’s what a public university does we

that’s what a public university does we don’t produce widgets we don’t produce

don’t produce widgets we don’t produce

don’t produce widgets we don’t produce things we produce opportunity for the

things we produce opportunity for the

things we produce opportunity for the public good

public good

public good through vesting and individuals to make

through vesting and individuals to make

through vesting and individuals to make them creative innovative broadly

them creative innovative broadly

them creative innovative broadly educated and their skills are more

educated and their skills are more

educated and their skills are more important than ever in a knowledge

important than ever in a knowledge

important than ever in a knowledge economy in a changing economy the

economy in a changing economy the

economy in a changing economy the industry and jobs and careers are

industry and jobs and careers are

industry and jobs and careers are changing rapidly at a pace that we’ve

changing rapidly at a pace that we’ve

changing rapidly at a pace that we’ve never seen before you need these skills

never seen before you need these skills

never seen before you need these skills so this is a broad sort of set of the

so this is a broad sort of set of the

so this is a broad sort of set of the purpose of higher education I would

purpose of higher education I would

purpose of higher education I would argue there is a dramatic difference

argue there is a dramatic difference

argue there is a dramatic difference between education and training training

between education and training training

between education and training training is learning a series of skill sets for

is learning a series of skill sets for

is learning a series of skill sets for tasks education is learning how to think

tasks education is learning how to think

tasks education is learning how to think not what to think but how to think in

not what to think but how to think in

not what to think but how to think in one byproduct of that if you have a true

one byproduct of that if you have a true

one byproduct of that if you have a true college education is creativity and

college education is creativity and

college education is creativity and innovation through exposure to a wide

innovation through exposure to a wide

innovation through exposure to a wide range of courses and experiences should

range of courses and experiences should

range of courses and experiences should know who this person is professor moody

know who this person is professor moody

know who this person is professor moody our most senior historian on campus you

our most senior historian on campus you

our most senior historian on campus you walk into his office and this is one of

walk into his office and this is one of

walk into his office and this is one of the first photos I took when I came to

the first photos I took when I came to

the first photos I took when I came to Lake State

Lake State

Lake State and you see your lifelong learning and a

and you see your lifelong learning and a

and you see your lifelong learning and a thirst for knowledge and an interest in

thirst for knowledge and an interest in

thirst for knowledge and an interest in connecting different cultures on this

connecting different cultures on this

connecting different cultures on this planet across time and space to produce

planet across time and space to produce

planet across time and space to produce an educated person you cannot walk into

an educated person you cannot walk into

an educated person you cannot walk into that office and not be inspired and that

that office and not be inspired and that

that office and not be inspired and that be a curious person and ask questions

be a curious person and ask questions

be a curious person and ask questions about what are these artifacts

about what are these artifacts

about what are these artifacts what are these pieces of history what do

what are these pieces of history what do

what are these pieces of history what do they need if I take your course how are

they need if I take your course how are

they need if I take your course how are you gonna be relevant to if I’m going to

you gonna be relevant to if I’m going to

you gonna be relevant to if I’m going to be an engineer or if I’m going to be a

be an engineer or if I’m going to be a

be an engineer or if I’m going to be a theater major whatever it is I’m going

theater major whatever it is I’m going

theater major whatever it is I’m going to do right and I tell people I work at

to do right and I tell people I work at

to do right and I tell people I work at a university those folks aren’t familiar

a university those folks aren’t familiar

a university those folks aren’t familiar with a modern university they think the

with a modern university they think the

with a modern university they think the sort of ivory tower concept of higher ed

sort of ivory tower concept of higher ed

sort of ivory tower concept of higher ed and this image really I think portrays

and this image really I think portrays

and this image really I think portrays that I love this image I took this and

that I love this image I took this and

that I love this image I took this and it is it’s amazing how many people have

it is it’s amazing how many people have

it is it’s amazing how many people have shared this image it’s one of the best

shared this image it’s one of the best

shared this image it’s one of the best portraits I’ve ever taken and all the

portraits I’ve ever taken and all the

portraits I’ve ever taken and all the most interesting conversations I’ve ever

most interesting conversations I’ve ever

most interesting conversations I’ve ever had was that day when I walked into his

had was that day when I walked into his

had was that day when I walked into his office

office

office so I argue that the most important

so I argue that the most important

so I argue that the most important education today and also by what by way

education today and also by what by way

education today and also by what by way the most expensive luxurious education

the most expensive luxurious education

the most expensive luxurious education that was at one time reserved online for

that was at one time reserved online for

that was at one time reserved online for the elite throughout the world is a

the elite throughout the world is a

the elite throughout the world is a liberal arts based education an

liberal arts based education an

liberal arts based education an education that exposes individuals to

education that exposes individuals to

education that exposes individuals to the humanities to the Natural Sciences

the humanities to the Natural Sciences

the humanities to the Natural Sciences to the social sciences to math the

to the social sciences to math the

to the social sciences to math the analytical thinking to the Fine Arts all

analytical thinking to the Fine Arts all

analytical thinking to the Fine Arts all of these things at one time in the

of these things at one time in the

of these things at one time in the United States the only place you could

United States the only place you could

United States the only place you could get this was at a private university and

get this was at a private university and

get this was at a private university and particularly an Ivy League university

particularly an Ivy League university

particularly an Ivy League university that you had to pay or come from a

that you had to pay or come from a

that you had to pay or come from a privileged family the idea of the first

privileged family the idea of the first

privileged family the idea of the first public universities in the country were

public universities in the country were

public universities in the country were to take this concept and expose it to

to take this concept and expose it to

to take this concept and expose it to everyone because it produced the gross

everyone because it produced the gross

everyone because it produced the gross print it produced the most educated

print it produced the most educated

print it produced the most educated citizens well the greatest opportunity

citizens well the greatest opportunity

citizens well the greatest opportunity regardless of the major I’ll tell you so

regardless of the major I’ll tell you so

regardless of the major I’ll tell you so the lights is actually people get this

the lights is actually people get this

the lights is actually people get this confused all the time they think it is

confused all the time they think it is

confused all the time they think it is the humanities in the fine arts may be

the humanities in the fine arts may be

the humanities in the fine arts may be the social sciences all of science in

the social sciences all of science in

the social sciences all of science in all of mathematics as part of the

all of mathematics as part of the

all of mathematics as part of the liberal arts is part of the core

liberal arts is part of the core

liberal arts is part of the core curriculum or a core liberal arts major

curriculum or a core liberal arts major

curriculum or a core liberal arts major that now

that now

that now I am NOT arguing that anyone should be

I am NOT arguing that anyone should be

I am NOT arguing that anyone should be able by its major one of those fields if

able by its major one of those fields if

able by its major one of those fields if you’re a science major you’re a liberal

you’re a science major you’re a liberal

you’re a science major you’re a liberal arts major it’s hard for people

arts major it’s hard for people

arts major it’s hard for people understand that’s true or math or if

understand that’s true or math or if

understand that’s true or math or if you’re in history while I’m arguing is

you’re in history while I’m arguing is

you’re in history while I’m arguing is that the most important education today

that the most important education today

that the most important education today is when regardless of if you’re an

is when regardless of if you’re an

is when regardless of if you’re an engineer regardless of whether you’re

engineer regardless of whether you’re

engineer regardless of whether you’re going to be a nurse regardless of

going to be a nurse regardless of

going to be a nurse regardless of whether you’re going to be a professor

whether you’re going to be a professor

whether you’re going to be a professor regardless are going to be a

regardless are going to be a

regardless are going to be a businessperson is that you have a

businessperson is that you have a

businessperson is that you have a liberal education base which means

liberal education base which means

liberal education base which means you’ve taken courses in all the liberal

you’ve taken courses in all the liberal

you’ve taken courses in all the liberal arts fields that develop these broad

arts fields that develop these broad

arts fields that develop these broad skill sets that apply to the major okay

skill sets that apply to the major okay

skill sets that apply to the major okay and the magic is really the technical

and the magic is really the technical

and the magic is really the technical component the training component of your

component the training component of your

component the training component of your education I majored in anthropology and

education I majored in anthropology and

education I majored in anthropology and archaeology I tell people I’m trained as

archaeology I tell people I’m trained as

archaeology I tell people I’m trained as an archaeologist I’m broadly Riblet

an archaeologist I’m broadly Riblet

an archaeologist I’m broadly Riblet educated and not the political

educated and not the political

educated and not the political definition of liberal liberal means

definition of liberal liberal means

definition of liberal liberal means bright lower educated people have strong

bright lower educated people have strong

bright lower educated people have strong communication skills written and oil

communication skills written and oil

communication skills written and oil have analytical skills an understanding

have analytical skills an understanding

have analytical skills an understanding of science and math empathy one of the

of science and math empathy one of the

of science and math empathy one of the most important qualities to navigate the

most important qualities to navigate the

most important qualities to navigate the modern world to connect with people

modern world to connect with people

modern world to connect with people different people in appreciation of the

different people in appreciation of the

different people in appreciation of the human condition of the Arts the ability

human condition of the Arts the ability

human condition of the Arts the ability connections must experience produces

connections must experience produces

connections must experience produces highly creative people and innovative

highly creative people and innovative

highly creative people and innovative people and it produces a series of

people and it produces a series of

people and it produces a series of skills that can transcend any job as you

skills that can transcend any job as you

skills that can transcend any job as you move forward throughout your career in

move forward throughout your career in

move forward throughout your career in your life experience and generally

your life experience and generally

your life experience and generally produce lifelong learners of people who

produce lifelong learners of people who

produce lifelong learners of people who are thirsty for knowledge in experience

are thirsty for knowledge in experience

are thirsty for knowledge in experience it’s a critical with this experience to

it’s a critical with this experience to

it’s a critical with this experience to see the connection between disciplines

see the connection between disciplines

see the connection between disciplines between for example science and the

between for example science and the

between for example science and the humanities the humanities guide the

humanities the humanities guide the

humanities the humanities guide the application of science what is its

application of science what is its

application of science what is its impact on the human condition what are

impact on the human condition what are

impact on the human condition what are the ethics of applying science what is

the ethics of applying science what is

the ethics of applying science what is the value of applying science absolutely

the value of applying science absolutely

the value of applying science absolutely critical if your scientist the

critical if your scientist the

critical if your scientist the humanities plays a tremendous role in

humanities plays a tremendous role in

humanities plays a tremendous role in sources of information in my field in

sources of information in my field in

sources of information in my field in archaeology and anthropology and I can

archaeology and anthropology and I can

archaeology and anthropology and I can tell you having worked with all kinds of

tell you having worked with all kinds of

tell you having worked with all kinds of Engineers in my career as an

Engineers in my career as an

Engineers in my career as an archaeologist I could I could instantly

archaeologist I could I could instantly

archaeologist I could I could instantly tell working with an engineer where they

tell working with an engineer where they

tell working with an engineer where they went to school in my state because there

went to school in my state because there

went to school in my state because there were schools the best engineering

were schools the best engineering

were schools the best engineering programs that had a liberal education

programs that had a liberal education

programs that had a liberal education base

base

base the engineer working in the field could

the engineer working in the field could

the engineer working in the field could understand the aesthetic importance of

understand the aesthetic importance of

understand the aesthetic importance of their project they could understand the

their project they could understand the

their project they could understand the social dimensions of what it is they’re

social dimensions of what it is they’re

social dimensions of what it is they’re building they could understand the

building they could understand the

building they could understand the environmental dimensions those engineers

environmental dimensions those engineers

environmental dimensions those engineers that didn’t have that broad base could

that didn’t have that broad base could

that didn’t have that broad base could not they could only understand the

not they could only understand the

not they could only understand the practicality of their project so the

practicality of their project so the

practicality of their project so the best engineers had this experience and

best engineers had this experience and

best engineers had this experience and they were tremendous creative we’re

they were tremendous creative we’re

they were tremendous creative we’re tremendously creative in the way they

tremendously creative in the way they

tremendously creative in the way they approached their problems say what

approached their problems say what

approached their problems say what business people say and that’s why

business people say and that’s why

business people say and that’s why businesses today seek these skills out

businesses today seek these skills out

businesses today seek these skills out they often don’t use these terms but

they often don’t use these terms but

they often don’t use these terms but that’s what they’re looking for so what

that’s what they’re looking for so what

that’s what they’re looking for so what I am arguing for creativity in the best

I am arguing for creativity in the best

I am arguing for creativity in the best type of education produces individuals

type of education produces individuals

type of education produces individuals who are having a flowing thirst for

who are having a flowing thirst for

who are having a flowing thirst for knowledge and curiosity and who can

knowledge and curiosity and who can

knowledge and curiosity and who can understand the natural world the social

understand the natural world the social

understand the natural world the social world around them can understand how to

world around them can understand how to

world around them can understand how to apply science and technology to a

apply science and technology to a

apply science and technology to a problem can appreciate the aesthetic

problem can appreciate the aesthetic

problem can appreciate the aesthetic qualities of what it is they are engaged

qualities of what it is they are engaged

qualities of what it is they are engaged in in the pure value of aesthetics and

in in the pure value of aesthetics and

in in the pure value of aesthetics and can also have an appreciation for what

can also have an appreciation for what

can also have an appreciation for what they are doing and how it connects with

they are doing and how it connects with

they are doing and how it connects with other peoples and different cultures on

other peoples and different cultures on

other peoples and different cultures on the planet that is the source for

the planet that is the source for

the planet that is the source for creativity that is a source in what we

creativity that is a source in what we

creativity that is a source in what we aspire at a university produce an

aspire at a university produce an

aspire at a university produce an educated person regardless of what their

educated person regardless of what their

educated person regardless of what their major is thank

”

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