and hi everyone I am Sophie and I’m here to talk to you about the power of
to talk to you about the power of
to talk to you about the power of stories but actually about the power of
stories but actually about the power of
stories but actually about the power of one particular story that I love and you
one particular story that I love and you
one particular story that I love and you all love Sesame Street and everyone
all love Sesame Street and everyone
all love Sesame Street and everyone loves the Cookie Monster and Elmo and
loves the Cookie Monster and Elmo and
loves the Cookie Monster and Elmo and big bird
big bird
big bird we all remember them a lot and but what
we all remember them a lot and but what
we all remember them a lot and but what people don’t know necessarily about
people don’t know necessarily about
people don’t know necessarily about Sesame Street is that it did more for
Sesame Street is that it did more for
Sesame Street is that it did more for the literacy and numeracy of poor
the literacy and numeracy of poor
the literacy and numeracy of poor african-americans in America than any
african-americans in America than any
african-americans in America than any other preschool initiative at that time
other preschool initiative at that time
other preschool initiative at that time and like the fraction of the cost I
and like the fraction of the cost I
and like the fraction of the cost I think it was about $7,000 per year for a
think it was about $7,000 per year for a
think it was about $7,000 per year for a kid to attend preschool and five dollars
kid to attend preschool and five dollars
kid to attend preschool and five dollars a year for a kid to watch Sesame Street
a year for a kid to watch Sesame Street
a year for a kid to watch Sesame Street with the same educational outcomes so I
with the same educational outcomes so I
with the same educational outcomes so I think it’s amazing and it came about
think it’s amazing and it came about
think it’s amazing and it came about because it was like 1969 and there were
because it was like 1969 and there were
because it was like 1969 and there were race riots and the civil rights movement
race riots and the civil rights movement
race riots and the civil rights movement was gaining momentum and it was at a
was gaining momentum and it was at a
was gaining momentum and it was at a time when usually African American
time when usually African American
time when usually African American people were on TV as entertainers or
people were on TV as entertainers or
people were on TV as entertainers or servants and some very smart people got
servants and some very smart people got
servants and some very smart people got together and they were like Oh
together and they were like Oh
together and they were like Oh everyone’s really addicted to you know
everyone’s really addicted to you know
everyone’s really addicted to you know like this TV thing maybe we can harness
like this TV thing maybe we can harness
like this TV thing maybe we can harness that and use that for good and they did
that and use that for good and they did
that and use that for good and they did they were really effective so I love
they were really effective so I love
they were really effective so I love Sesame Street and if this if this story
Sesame Street and if this if this story
Sesame Street and if this if this story is making you feel sexy and you want to
is making you feel sexy and you want to
is making you feel sexy and you want to go home and make a baby just imagine
go home and make a baby just imagine
go home and make a baby just imagine that you did that and then fast-forward
that you did that and then fast-forward
that you did that and then fast-forward and it’s 2050 and now your toilet is 23
and it’s 2050 and now your toilet is 23
and it’s 2050 and now your toilet is 23 years old and she’s just enters the work
years old and she’s just enters the work
years old and she’s just enters the work world and 50% of the jobs that we know
world and 50% of the jobs that we know
world and 50% of the jobs that we know of today are now automated they’re done
of today are now automated they’re done
of today are now automated they’re done by robots maybe she’s got a neuro
by robots maybe she’s got a neuro
by robots maybe she’s got a neuro prosthetic which means that she doesn’t
prosthetic which means that she doesn’t
prosthetic which means that she doesn’t even need to move to direct the devices
even need to move to direct the devices
even need to move to direct the devices in her life and that brings a whole new
in her life and that brings a whole new
in her life and that brings a whole new meaning to sort of cybersecurity so yeah
meaning to sort of cybersecurity so yeah
meaning to sort of cybersecurity so yeah he might need digital skills to stay
he might need digital skills to stay
he might need digital skills to stay ahead um or and I know this makes
ahead um or and I know this makes
ahead um or and I know this makes everyone very uncomfortable but like
everyone very uncomfortable but like
everyone very uncomfortable but like given the state of the world at the
given the state of the world at the
given the state of the world at the moment and their political instability
moment and their political instability
moment and their political instability and the fact that population is growing
and the fact that population is growing
and the fact that population is growing and we don’t have enough like water or
and we don’t have enough like water or
and we don’t have enough like water or food and we like consuming ourselves
food and we like consuming ourselves
food and we like consuming ourselves into the ground like maybe sure just
into the ground like maybe sure just
into the ground like maybe sure just before a drink for food
before a drink for food
before a drink for food so my main point is that like no one
so my main point is that like no one
so my main point is that like no one knows the future is very uncertain and
knows the future is very uncertain and
knows the future is very uncertain and more than ever before so how can we
more than ever before so how can we
more than ever before so how can we prepare our children for the future well
prepare our children for the future well
prepare our children for the future well I believe that kids need digital skills
I believe that kids need digital skills
I believe that kids need digital skills and they are as fundamentally important
and they are as fundamentally important
and they are as fundamentally important as reading or writing is without digital
as reading or writing is without digital
as reading or writing is without digital skills how can you understand a world
skills how can you understand a world
skills how can you understand a world that’s digital and if digital worlds are
that’s digital and if digital worlds are
that’s digital and if digital worlds are built on code you need to understand
built on code you need to understand
built on code you need to understand coding to understand that world and
coding to understand that world and
coding to understand that world and employers think so – that’s why coders
employers think so – that’s why coders
employers think so – that’s why coders now get paid more than you know like
now get paid more than you know like
now get paid more than you know like doctors and you know other world Paige
doctors and you know other world Paige
doctors and you know other world Paige or whoever bankers and it’s the most
or whoever bankers and it’s the most
or whoever bankers and it’s the most sought-after skill in the world by 2020
sought-after skill in the world by 2020
sought-after skill in the world by 2020 we needs 2.3 million digital workers so
we needs 2.3 million digital workers so
we needs 2.3 million digital workers so it’s really important and your kids need
it’s really important and your kids need
it’s really important and your kids need to know it they don’t just need to code
to know it they don’t just need to code
to know it they don’t just need to code they need to be able to think they need
they need to be able to think they need
they need to be able to think they need to be able to think critically and they
to be able to think critically and they
to be able to think critically and they need to be creative and they need to
need to be creative and they need to
need to be creative and they need to have empathy because if we have kids
have empathy because if we have kids
have empathy because if we have kids with skills or tools but they don’t know
with skills or tools but they don’t know
with skills or tools but they don’t know how to think for themselves and they
how to think for themselves and they
how to think for themselves and they can’t create and they don’t care about
can’t create and they don’t care about
can’t create and they don’t care about other people then I think that we’re
other people then I think that we’re
other people then I think that we’re headed for disaster and they’re robots
headed for disaster and they’re robots
headed for disaster and they’re robots anyway it’s just that the other robots
anyway it’s just that the other robots
anyway it’s just that the other robots will be faster than them so like where
will be faster than them so like where
will be faster than them so like where are they going to learn these digital
are they going to learn these digital
are they going to learn these digital skills will they learn it at school like
skills will they learn it at school like
skills will they learn it at school like yeah maybe um in in 2014 in England we
yeah maybe um in in 2014 in England we
yeah maybe um in in 2014 in England we introduced the computer science
introduced the computer science
introduced the computer science curriculum and I hope to do that with
curriculum and I hope to do that with
curriculum and I hope to do that with the Department for Education and code
the Department for Education and code
the Department for Education and code club so it’s compulsory and
club so it’s compulsory and
club so it’s compulsory and five-year-olds are learning to code and
five-year-olds are learning to code and
five-year-olds are learning to code and they’re learning maths and English which
they’re learning maths and English which
they’re learning maths and English which is great but teachers phenomen like it
is great but teachers phenomen like it
is great but teachers phenomen like it takes ages to make big changes in
takes ages to make big changes in
takes ages to make big changes in schools and in systems and I think that
schools and in systems and I think that
schools and in systems and I think that a lot of people feel alienated by coding
a lot of people feel alienated by coding
a lot of people feel alienated by coding they sort of think oh that’s for like a
they sort of think oh that’s for like a
they sort of think oh that’s for like a sporty teenager in a dark room somewhere
sporty teenager in a dark room somewhere
sporty teenager in a dark room somewhere and it doesn’t feel very accessible and
and it doesn’t feel very accessible and
and it doesn’t feel very accessible and the proof of that is that the tech
the proof of that is that the tech
the proof of that is that the tech industry is like got terrible diversity
industry is like got terrible diversity
industry is like got terrible diversity statistics I think 18 percent of the
statistics I think 18 percent of the
statistics I think 18 percent of the workforce are female or comprised of
workforce are female or comprised of
workforce are female or comprised of other underrepresented groups and less
other underrepresented groups and less
other underrepresented groups and less females take computer science now than
females take computer science now than
females take computer science now than they did ten years ago which is crazy so
they did ten years ago which is crazy so
they did ten years ago which is crazy so there’s a real issue if they’re not
there’s a real issue if they’re not
there’s a real issue if they’re not learning at school like where else are
learning at school like where else are
learning at school like where else are they going to learn it
they going to learn it
they going to learn it where else do kids hang out off come
where else do kids hang out off come
where else do kids hang out off come have just released a report to say that
have just released a report to say that
have just released a report to say that kids spend up to six hours each day in
kids spend up to six hours each day in
kids spend up to six hours each day in front of their screens so they are
front of their screens so they are
front of their screens so they are learning a lot from their media which is
learning a lot from their media which is
learning a lot from their media which is great just like Sesame Street are sort
great just like Sesame Street are sort
great just like Sesame Street are sort of addicted and it could be an
of addicted and it could be an
of addicted and it could be an opportunity for a solution but I believe
opportunity for a solution but I believe
opportunity for a solution but I believe that that’s one of the problems is the
that that’s one of the problems is the
that that’s one of the problems is the sort of conditioning that’s going on in
sort of conditioning that’s going on in
sort of conditioning that’s going on in the mainstream media today so they’re
the mainstream media today so they’re
the mainstream media today so they’re spending six hours in front of this
spending six hours in front of this
spending six hours in front of this media and it’s sort of warping their
media and it’s sort of warping their
media and it’s sort of warping their view of the world and the reason why
view of the world and the reason why
view of the world and the reason why girls don’t think or don’t become coders
girls don’t think or don’t become coders
girls don’t think or don’t become coders is because they don’t think that they
is because they don’t think that they
is because they don’t think that they can be coders and they don’t think there
can be coders and they don’t think there
can be coders and they don’t think there can be coders because they never see any
can be coders because they never see any
can be coders because they never see any coders that look like them like in the
coders that look like them like in the
coders that look like them like in the real world or in fictional worlds and so
real world or in fictional worlds and so
real world or in fictional worlds and so if you’re ever bored you can just google
if you’re ever bored you can just google
if you’re ever bored you can just google like any profession and you’ll see what
like any profession and you’ll see what
like any profession and you’ll see what the world thinks of that profession so
the world thinks of that profession so
the world thinks of that profession so this is what a boss looks like this is
this is what a boss looks like this is
this is what a boss looks like this is what an assistant looks like this is
what an assistant looks like this is
what an assistant looks like this is what a scientist looks like and this is
what a scientist looks like and this is
what a scientist looks like and this is what a developer looks like or a coder
what a developer looks like or a coder
what a developer looks like or a coder um and I go into schools and like
um and I go into schools and like
um and I go into schools and like thoughts of kids a lot and I asked them
thoughts of kids a lot and I asked them
thoughts of kids a lot and I asked them what percentage of people in the world
what percentage of people in the world
what percentage of people in the world do you think has white Caucasian skin is
do you think has white Caucasian skin is
do you think has white Caucasian skin is it fifteen percent forty four percent or
it fifteen percent forty four percent or
it fifteen percent forty four percent or seventy three percent and nine times out
seventy three percent and nine times out
seventy three percent and nine times out of ten all kids think it’s either forty
of ten all kids think it’s either forty
of ten all kids think it’s either forty four or seventy three percent and you
four or seventy three percent and you
four or seventy three percent and you know it’s nuts because it’s 15 percent
know it’s nuts because it’s 15 percent
know it’s nuts because it’s 15 percent of people in the world that have white
of people in the world that have white
of people in the world that have white Caucasian skin and actually we’ve done a
Caucasian skin and actually we’ve done a
Caucasian skin and actually we’ve done a survey of a thousand parents across the
survey of a thousand parents across the
survey of a thousand parents across the UK not parents adults and they have the
UK not parents adults and they have the
UK not parents adults and they have the same sort of perception and and then
same sort of perception and and then
same sort of perception and and then when you look at cartoons globally and
when you look at cartoons globally and
when you look at cartoons globally and you think well what percent of course is
you think well what percent of course is
you think well what percent of course is not just in the UK but across the world
not just in the UK but across the world
not just in the UK but across the world have white skin and it’s 72 percent so
have white skin and it’s 72 percent so
have white skin and it’s 72 percent so three courses so we’re sort of showing
three courses so we’re sort of showing
three courses so we’re sort of showing kids that the world is full of white
kids that the world is full of white
kids that the world is full of white people you know men are twice as likely
people you know men are twice as likely
people you know men are twice as likely to take the lead as females in cartoons
to take the lead as females in cartoons
to take the lead as females in cartoons 90% of girls are underweight but like
90% of girls are underweight but like
90% of girls are underweight but like you know like medically under way and
you know like medically under way and
you know like medically under way and Batman never recycles and so like it’s
Batman never recycles and so like it’s
Batman never recycles and so like it’s really bad we were yeah we’re showing
really bad we were yeah we’re showing
really bad we were yeah we’re showing them that if you’re a white male you’re
them that if you’re a white male you’re
them that if you’re a white male you’re visible and you’re more important and
visible and you’re more important and
visible and you’re more important and yeah I got I go into schools quite a bit
yeah I got I go into schools quite a bit
yeah I got I go into schools quite a bit and I see that the impact that this has
and I see that the impact that this has
and I see that the impact that this has on kids
on kids
on kids I was I used to teach in a school in in
I was I used to teach in a school in in
I was I used to teach in a school in in a city London and none of my kids half
a city London and none of my kids half
a city London and none of my kids half of whom were girls and about 80% were
of whom were girls and about 80% were
of whom were girls and about 80% were black or Asian kids they never thought
black or Asian kids they never thought
black or Asian kids they never thought of themselves as the leaders of tomorrow
of themselves as the leaders of tomorrow
of themselves as the leaders of tomorrow were the engineers or the poets because
were the engineers or the poets because
were the engineers or the poets because they never saw themselves in those
they never saw themselves in those
they never saw themselves in those stories and so then I was like oh well
stories and so then I was like oh well
stories and so then I was like oh well there’s an opportunity here technology
there’s an opportunity here technology
there’s an opportunity here technology can be used you know you can make a game
can be used you know you can make a game
can be used you know you can make a game out of everything so let’s make better
out of everything so let’s make better
out of everything so let’s make better stories we need a media revolution and
stories we need a media revolution and
stories we need a media revolution and that is the emoji for revolution who
that is the emoji for revolution who
that is the emoji for revolution who knew that Apple had slipped they in
knew that Apple had slipped they in
knew that Apple had slipped they in black and white one so yeah so I decided
black and white one so yeah so I decided
black and white one so yeah so I decided that we could do something about this
that we could do something about this
that we could do something about this and so I created a character called
and so I created a character called
and so I created a character called detective dot she is a nine year old
detective dot she is a nine year old
detective dot she is a nine year old code she loves minecraft and she used
code she loves minecraft and she used
code she loves minecraft and she used his tech on her big global adventures
his tech on her big global adventures
his tech on her big global adventures and her sidekick is a drone that she
and her sidekick is a drone that she
and her sidekick is a drone that she built herself and she can program the
built herself and she can program the
built herself and she can program the drones her scent sounds and movements
drones her scent sounds and movements
drones her scent sounds and movements and the drain is an excellent spy
and the drain is an excellent spy
and the drain is an excellent spy companion unless it is running out of
companion unless it is running out of
companion unless it is running out of battery or worst of all can’t get a
battery or worst of all can’t get a
battery or worst of all can’t get a signal and then it gets very
signal and then it gets very
signal and then it gets very passive-aggressive her best friends move
passive-aggressive her best friends move
passive-aggressive her best friends move cool tumble and tumble is very vain and
cool tumble and tumble is very vain and
cool tumble and tumble is very vain and take selfies of himself all the time but
take selfies of himself all the time but
take selfies of himself all the time but sometimes in the back of the selfies
sometimes in the back of the selfies
sometimes in the back of the selfies they capture clues
they capture clues
they capture clues do not trust Shelli belly she will try
do not trust Shelli belly she will try
do not trust Shelli belly she will try and sell you stuff but her terms and
and sell you stuff but her terms and
and sell you stuff but her terms and conditions are very onerous and she
conditions are very onerous and she
conditions are very onerous and she actually wants all of your data because
actually wants all of your data because
actually wants all of your data because she’s really off the global mind control
she’s really off the global mind control
she’s really off the global mind control dot is part of a top-secret spy
dot is part of a top-secret spy
dot is part of a top-secret spy organization called the children’s
organization called the children’s
organization called the children’s intelligence agency also known as the
intelligence agency also known as the
intelligence agency also known as the CIA you are all too old to join but the
CIA you are all too old to join but the
CIA you are all too old to join but the CIA investigates really interesting sort
CIA investigates really interesting sort
CIA investigates really interesting sort of mysteries and global injustice is
of mysteries and global injustice is
of mysteries and global injustice is like homework crimes the global I think
like homework crimes the global I think
like homework crimes the global I think yeah the global food crisis which is
yeah the global food crisis which is
yeah the global food crisis which is like why all these adults just wasting
like why all these adults just wasting
like why all these adults just wasting this liquid gold when it could be used
this liquid gold when it could be used
this liquid gold when it could be used as sustainable energy another surfer and
as sustainable energy another surfer and
as sustainable energy another surfer and so through the CIA the CIA has got
so through the CIA the CIA has got
so through the CIA the CIA has got really cool gadgets so they’ve hacked
really cool gadgets so they’ve hacked
really cool gadgets so they’ve hacked her selfie stick and if it gets into
her selfie stick and if it gets into
her selfie stick and if it gets into enemy hands it releases a mega four and
enemy hands it releases a mega four and
enemy hands it releases a mega four and it knocks everyone out for five minutes
it knocks everyone out for five minutes
it knocks everyone out for five minutes and that allows us to show kids that
and that allows us to show kids that
and that allows us to show kids that coding can be really fun and we can show
coding can be really fun and we can show
coding can be really fun and we can show them authentication codes and sort of
them authentication codes and sort of
them authentication codes and sort of debugging and they can tinker about with
debugging and they can tinker about with
debugging and they can tinker about with the features so they might want a
the features so they might want a
the features so they might want a distraction but for like a less
distraction but for like a less
distraction but for like a less dangerous situation the other thing that
dangerous situation the other thing that
dangerous situation the other thing that the CIA is looking into at the moment is
the CIA is looking into at the moment is
the CIA is looking into at the moment is media and representation so we’ve got a
media and representation so we’ve got a
media and representation so we’ve got a study going on across the country where
study going on across the country where
study going on across the country where kids are extracting the data from their
kids are extracting the data from their
kids are extracting the data from their story stories in their classroom or from
story stories in their classroom or from
story stories in their classroom or from the best-selling books last year or from
the best-selling books last year or from
the best-selling books last year or from movies and looking at representation and
movies and looking at representation and
movies and looking at representation and like you get really interesting
like you get really interesting
like you get really interesting discussion coming out of that so I don’t
discussion coming out of that so I don’t
discussion coming out of that so I don’t know if you’ve all had a chance to read
know if you’ve all had a chance to read
know if you’ve all had a chance to read it there are no books about people don’t
it there are no books about people don’t
it there are no books about people don’t my friend Kayla one young girl wondered
my friend Kayla one young girl wondered
my friend Kayla one young girl wondered if everyone who works at Disney was
if everyone who works at Disney was
if everyone who works at Disney was white we had a seven-year-old boy who
white we had a seven-year-old boy who
white we had a seven-year-old boy who said that he didn’t think it was fair
said that he didn’t think it was fair
said that he didn’t think it was fair that men always have to be leaders and
that men always have to be leaders and
that men always have to be leaders and be strong because it puts a lot of
be strong because it puts a lot of
be strong because it puts a lot of pressure on him and he doesn’t always
pressure on him and he doesn’t always
pressure on him and he doesn’t always want to be a strong leader just
want to be a strong leader just
want to be a strong leader just sometimes and so the critical thinking
sometimes and so the critical thinking
sometimes and so the critical thinking piece is so important and actually the
piece is so important and actually the
piece is so important and actually the CIA’s motto is question everything so
CIA’s motto is question everything so
CIA’s motto is question everything so getting kids to sort of question the
getting kids to sort of question the
getting kids to sort of question the world around them and the systems that
world around them and the systems that
world around them and the systems that they’re in and otherwise the robots will
they’re in and otherwise the robots will
they’re in and otherwise the robots will win and yeah it’s going really well we
win and yeah it’s going really well we
win and yeah it’s going really well we you know like kids really engaging with
you know like kids really engaging with
you know like kids really engaging with it we get agents rise again to us all
it we get agents rise again to us all
it we get agents rise again to us all the time they take their identity very
the time they take their identity very
the time they take their identity very seriously as you can see we have no idea
seriously as you can see we have no idea
seriously as you can see we have no idea who this is from
who this is from
who this is from from zero zero one five eight zero and
from zero zero one five eight zero and
from zero zero one five eight zero and agents in thirty countries across the
agents in thirty countries across the
agents in thirty countries across the world and we launched chicken 20,000
world and we launched chicken 20,000
world and we launched chicken 20,000 schools so the story has really engaged
schools so the story has really engaged
schools so the story has really engaged kids across the world so finally I want
kids across the world so finally I want
kids across the world so finally I want everyone to think about we’re just
everyone to think about we’re just
everyone to think about we’re just learning happen you know it doesn’t
learning happen you know it doesn’t
learning happen you know it doesn’t happen between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
happen between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
happen between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and when the bell goes kids are like
and when the bell goes kids are like
and when the bell goes kids are like without serif stop learning and they
without serif stop learning and they
without serif stop learning and they learn all at the time and so we really
learn all at the time and so we really
learn all at the time and so we really need to use the power of our stories
need to use the power of our stories
need to use the power of our stories wisely to train kids to be prepared for
wisely to train kids to be prepared for
wisely to train kids to be prepared for the future in all kids not just some
the future in all kids not just some
the future in all kids not just some kids so like imagine a world where
kids so like imagine a world where
kids so like imagine a world where Superman did recycle in like bottom City
Superman did recycle in like bottom City
Superman did recycle in like bottom City was powered by solar energy and Barbie
was powered by solar energy and Barbie
was powered by solar energy and Barbie was a white hat hacker or like what if
was a white hat hacker or like what if
was a white hat hacker or like what if you got the soul of Sesame Street and
you got the soul of Sesame Street and
you got the soul of Sesame Street and you combined it with the
you combined it with the
you combined it with the minecraft and the sort of interactive
minecraft and the sort of interactive
minecraft and the sort of interactive scalability of Pokemon go what sort of
scalability of Pokemon go what sort of
scalability of Pokemon go what sort of effect would that have on kids and
effect would that have on kids and
effect would that have on kids and finally in the words of the great
finally in the words of the great
finally in the words of the great philosopher Whitney Houston I believe
philosopher Whitney Houston I believe
philosopher Whitney Houston I believe that children in the future teach them
that children in the future teach them
that children in the future teach them well and let them lead the way
well and let them lead the way
well and let them lead the way thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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