every time I walk into a dinner at a family friend’s house I walk in scared
family friend’s house I walk in scared
family friend’s house I walk in scared my parents tell me this one is going to
my parents tell me this one is going to
my parents tell me this one is going to be different but I know better sure
be different but I know better sure
be different but I know better sure they’ll start by talking about politics
they’ll start by talking about politics
they’ll start by talking about politics or sports or some other adult topic but
or sports or some other adult topic but
or sports or some other adult topic but the discussion always comes back to one
the discussion always comes back to one
the discussion always comes back to one thing they’re kids
thing they’re kids
thing they’re kids us and our education there’s always
us and our education there’s always
us and our education there’s always frequent comparisons between the lagging
frequent comparisons between the lagging
frequent comparisons between the lagging us students and those of other countries
us students and those of other countries
us students and those of other countries like China Japan Korea and Finland no
like China Japan Korea and Finland no
like China Japan Korea and Finland no one agrees on anything regarding public
one agrees on anything regarding public
one agrees on anything regarding public education except for one supposed fact
education except for one supposed fact
education except for one supposed fact the American public education system is
the American public education system is
the American public education system is broken but is it really you know it’s an
broken but is it really you know it’s an
broken but is it really you know it’s an interesting phenomenon according to a
interesting phenomenon according to a
interesting phenomenon according to a recent Gallup poll only 29 percent of
recent Gallup poll only 29 percent of
recent Gallup poll only 29 percent of American adults expressed confidence in
American adults expressed confidence in
American adults expressed confidence in the American education system with many
the American education system with many
the American education system with many citing teaching towards testing as a
citing teaching towards testing as a
citing teaching towards testing as a major reason for their concern it was a
major reason for their concern it was a
major reason for their concern it was a record low but surprisingly when
record low but surprisingly when
record low but surprisingly when galloped asked adults to rate their own
galloped asked adults to rate their own
galloped asked adults to rate their own child school an overwhelming 75 percent
child school an overwhelming 75 percent
child school an overwhelming 75 percent said that they positively viewed the
said that they positively viewed the
said that they positively viewed the quality of their own child’s education
quality of their own child’s education
quality of their own child’s education 29 percent for America’s education but
29 percent for America’s education but
29 percent for America’s education but 75 percent for their own child
75 percent for their own child
75 percent for their own child how could this happen this gap suggests
how could this happen this gap suggests
how could this happen this gap suggests that the news media and political
that the news media and political
that the news media and political discourse have played a greater role in
discourse have played a greater role in
discourse have played a greater role in forming our perceptions of public
forming our perceptions of public
forming our perceptions of public education rather than our own
education rather than our own
education rather than our own first-person experiences but you hear it
first-person experiences but you hear it
first-person experiences but you hear it all the time
all the time
all the time year after year American students lag
year after year American students lag
year after year American students lag behind their international counterparts
behind their international counterparts
behind their international counterparts in key academic benchmarks among the 34
in key academic benchmarks among the 34
in key academic benchmarks among the 34 countries in the Organization for
countries in the Organization for
countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development the
Economic Cooperation and Development the
Economic Cooperation and Development the United States
United States
United States 27th in mathematics 20th in science and
27th in mathematics 20th in science and
27th in mathematics 20th in science and 17th in reading not particularly
17th in reading not particularly
17th in reading not particularly inspiring numbers especially when
inspiring numbers especially when
inspiring numbers especially when compared to some of the other countries
compared to some of the other countries
compared to some of the other countries that were measured but you see that
that were measured but you see that
that were measured but you see that itself is the problem numbers we gauge
itself is the problem numbers we gauge
itself is the problem numbers we gauge the health of our education system based
the health of our education system based
the health of our education system based on numbers from testing the program for
on numbers from testing the program for
on numbers from testing the program for international student assessment or Pisa
international student assessment or Pisa
international student assessment or Pisa is the International standardized exam
is the International standardized exam
is the International standardized exam that these rankings are based on and
that these rankings are based on and
that these rankings are based on and it’s known to only focus on specific
it’s known to only focus on specific
it’s known to only focus on specific benchmark tasks but is there a test that
benchmark tasks but is there a test that
benchmark tasks but is there a test that can measure the passion a student brings
can measure the passion a student brings
can measure the passion a student brings to his or her ideas or a score that
to his or her ideas or a score that
to his or her ideas or a score that ranked students based on their
ranked students based on their
ranked students based on their leadership potential or an index that
leadership potential or an index that
leadership potential or an index that can gauge the creativity with which a
can gauge the creativity with which a
can gauge the creativity with which a student approaches a problem these are
student approaches a problem these are
student approaches a problem these are the soft skills that the American
the soft skills that the American
the soft skills that the American education system excels at one that no
education system excels at one that no
education system excels at one that no benchmark can measure the American
benchmark can measure the American
benchmark can measure the American education system isn’t broken it’s
education system isn’t broken it’s
education system isn’t broken it’s actually working pretty well a few years
actually working pretty well a few years
actually working pretty well a few years ago my cousin from India came to visit
ago my cousin from India came to visit
ago my cousin from India came to visit my family in the States
my family in the States
my family in the States now her summer break starts much earlier
now her summer break starts much earlier
now her summer break starts much earlier than mine so she came while I was still
than mine so she came while I was still
than mine so she came while I was still in school now she decided that she
in school now she decided that she
in school now she decided that she wanted to come to my school and sit in
wanted to come to my school and sit in
wanted to come to my school and sit in on my classes rather than just sit
on my classes rather than just sit
on my classes rather than just sit around board all day yeah she was that
around board all day yeah she was that
around board all day yeah she was that much of a nerd now she goes to one of
much of a nerd now she goes to one of
much of a nerd now she goes to one of the most rigorous high schools in the
the most rigorous high schools in the
the most rigorous high schools in the United States ystem but when she came
United States ystem but when she came
United States ystem but when she came home from school that day she just
home from school that day she just
home from school that day she just couldn’t stop gushing about how great
couldn’t stop gushing about how great
couldn’t stop gushing about how great her day had been she loved how involved
her day had been she loved how involved
her day had been she loved how involved the teachers were at making sure
the teachers were at making sure
the teachers were at making sure students understood the concepts they
students understood the concepts they
students understood the concepts they were being taught how interesting the
were being taught how interesting the
were being taught how interesting the textbooks made every subject and all the
textbooks made every subject and all the
textbooks made every subject and all the different activities the school had to
different activities the school had to
different activities the school had to offer
offer
offer she was just dying to go back to school
she was just dying to go back to school
she was just dying to go back to school the next day
the next day
the next day unfortunately she couldn’t but that
unfortunately she couldn’t but that
unfortunately she couldn’t but that experience was so influential that she
experience was so influential that she
experience was so influential that she eventually decided to come to university
eventually decided to come to university
eventually decided to come to university in the United States and she now attends
in the United States and she now attends
in the United States and she now attends Georgia Tech using a standardized test
Georgia Tech using a standardized test
Georgia Tech using a standardized test as a metric for the health of our
as a metric for the health of our
as a metric for the health of our education system in a time where
education system in a time where
education system in a time where education itself is trying to adapt to
education itself is trying to adapt to
education itself is trying to adapt to become more creative and less test
become more creative and less test
become more creative and less test centric seems rather counterproductive
centric seems rather counterproductive
centric seems rather counterproductive and rightfully so Albert Einstein once
and rightfully so Albert Einstein once
and rightfully so Albert Einstein once said if you judge a fish by its ability
said if you judge a fish by its ability
said if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it’ll live its entire
to climb a tree it’ll live its entire
to climb a tree it’ll live its entire life thinking it’s stupid if we judge
life thinking it’s stupid if we judge
life thinking it’s stupid if we judge our education system on its ability to
our education system on its ability to
our education system on its ability to create students who can do well on tests
create students who can do well on tests
create students who can do well on tests will always consider it to be broken
will always consider it to be broken
will always consider it to be broken because our schools and our teachers
because our schools and our teachers
because our schools and our teachers know that there’s a better way to teach
know that there’s a better way to teach
know that there’s a better way to teach our school system is more like this fish
our school system is more like this fish
our school system is more like this fish sure it can climb trees but is that
sure it can climb trees but is that
sure it can climb trees but is that really what we want it to be doing our
really what we want it to be doing our
really what we want it to be doing our schools and teachers are working hard to
schools and teachers are working hard to
schools and teachers are working hard to inspire and empower students because
inspire and empower students because
inspire and empower students because that’s what the future will require not
that’s what the future will require not
that’s what the future will require not just making them memorize random facts
just making them memorize random facts
just making them memorize random facts that could just as easily come from
that could just as easily come from
that could just as easily come from Google I’ve seen three things our
Google I’ve seen three things our
Google I’ve seen three things our schools are working really hard on to
schools are working really hard on to
schools are working really hard on to prepare students for their futures
prepare students for their futures
prepare students for their futures things that that no benchmark can
things that that no benchmark can
things that that no benchmark can measure collaboration application an
measure collaboration application an
measure collaboration application an independent study our schools and
independent study our schools and
independent study our schools and teachers recognize that in the real
teachers recognize that in the real
teachers recognize that in the real world
world
world collaboration often Trump’s competition
collaboration often Trump’s competition
collaboration often Trump’s competition because the real world forces people to
because the real world forces people to
because the real world forces people to work together even if they really don’t
work together even if they really don’t
work together even if they really don’t want to at the real world the only way
want to at the real world the only way
want to at the real world the only way to make true change happen is with
to make true change happen is with
to make true change happen is with people working together in fact group
people working together in fact group
people working together in fact group projects and projects requiring
projects and projects requiring
projects and projects requiring discussion and debate were the two areas
discussion and debate were the two areas
discussion and debate were the two areas where students reported the greatest
where students reported the greatest
where students reported the greatest engagement in their curriculums schools
engagement in their curriculums schools
engagement in their curriculums schools also recognized that to make a topic
also recognized that to make a topic
also recognized that to make a topic interesting and valuable for stood
interesting and valuable for stood
interesting and valuable for stood real-world applications must be taught
real-world applications must be taught
real-world applications must be taught because pure knowledge is most
because pure knowledge is most
because pure knowledge is most beneficial when students understand
beneficial when students understand
beneficial when students understand where it’s used in the real world
where it’s used in the real world
where it’s used in the real world knowing applications inspire students to
knowing applications inspire students to
knowing applications inspire students to think deeper and truly understand the
think deeper and truly understand the
think deeper and truly understand the topics they’re being taught most
topics they’re being taught most
topics they’re being taught most importantly the job of education is to
importantly the job of education is to
importantly the job of education is to teach students how to learn and enabling
teach students how to learn and enabling
teach students how to learn and enabling them to apply that in their own way to
them to apply that in their own way to
them to apply that in their own way to their own projects independent study
their own projects independent study
their own projects independent study allows students to use their creativity
allows students to use their creativity
allows students to use their creativity for the greater good of society on
for the greater good of society on
for the greater good of society on real-world topics and to tie all three
real-world topics and to tie all three
real-world topics and to tie all three of these together students need advice
of these together students need advice
of these together students need advice and guidance in the form of mentorship
and guidance in the form of mentorship
and guidance in the form of mentorship something that teachers provide really
something that teachers provide really
something that teachers provide really really well by dedicating hours after
really well by dedicating hours after
really well by dedicating hours after school before school during lunches and
school before school during lunches and
school before school during lunches and during free periods to make sure that
during free periods to make sure that
during free periods to make sure that students understand what’s being taught
students understand what’s being taught
students understand what’s being taught one of my teachers is here today and I
one of my teachers is here today and I
one of my teachers is here today and I know she’s definitely done that for me
you know but at this point many of my
you know but at this point many of my fellow students in the audience will
fellow students in the audience will
fellow students in the audience will balk and say you know there are all
balk and say you know there are all
balk and say you know there are all these places where schools don’t teach
these places where schools don’t teach
these places where schools don’t teach applications or micromanage instead of
applications or micromanage instead of
applications or micromanage instead of allowing for independent thought or for
allowing for independent thought or for
allowing for independent thought or for students to compete
students to compete
students to compete rather than collaborate but the fact
rather than collaborate but the fact
rather than collaborate but the fact remains that sometimes these are
remains that sometimes these are
remains that sometimes these are important parts of Education as well and
important parts of Education as well and
important parts of Education as well and we have a long way to go before
we have a long way to go before
we have a long way to go before creativity is implemented in every
creativity is implemented in every
creativity is implemented in every aspect of our classroom but if we don’t
aspect of our classroom but if we don’t
aspect of our classroom but if we don’t recognize the positives eventually we’ll
recognize the positives eventually we’ll
recognize the positives eventually we’ll forget them a national policy will
forget them a national policy will
forget them a national policy will eliminate them because no one’s talking
eliminate them because no one’s talking
eliminate them because no one’s talking about what they do and how they help our
about what they do and how they help our
about what they do and how they help our students when we really should be
students when we really should be
students when we really should be strengthening them I’ve seen these
strengthening them I’ve seen these
strengthening them I’ve seen these methods in my own school in my 10th
methods in my own school in my 10th
methods in my own school in my 10th grade human geography class our final
grade human geography class our final
grade human geography class our final project was to note a problem addressed
project was to note a problem addressed
project was to note a problem addressed by the current global order and come up
by the current global order and come up
by the current global order and come up with the practical solution to help
with the practical solution to help
with the practical solution to help address the issue my passion had always
address the issue my passion had always
address the issue my passion had always been to help out in any way that I could
been to help out in any way that I could
been to help out in any way that I could in my country of birth in
in my country of birth in
in my country of birth in yeah after hours and hours of pouring
yeah after hours and hours of pouring
yeah after hours and hours of pouring through UN papers reading government
through UN papers reading government
through UN papers reading government reports and listening to people’s
reports and listening to people’s
reports and listening to people’s stories I decided that health care spoke
stories I decided that health care spoke
stories I decided that health care spoke the most to me especially when people in
the most to me especially when people in
the most to me especially when people in rural areas couldn’t access it I ended
rural areas couldn’t access it I ended
rural areas couldn’t access it I ended up not only presenting my research in
up not only presenting my research in
up not only presenting my research in class but creating a solution that could
class but creating a solution that could
class but creating a solution that could actually be used in the real world I was
actually be used in the real world I was
actually be used in the real world I was able to test my system
able to test my system
able to test my system get to greater in the field and face
get to greater in the field and face
get to greater in the field and face that it faced the challenges it brought
that it faced the challenges it brought
that it faced the challenges it brought up head-on through my school I was able
up head-on through my school I was able
up head-on through my school I was able to reach out to Penn State for funding
to reach out to Penn State for funding
to reach out to Penn State for funding doctors at nonprofits in India and
doctors at nonprofits in India and
doctors at nonprofits in India and developers to help me work on the app
developers to help me work on the app
developers to help me work on the app all examples of collaboration the
all examples of collaboration the
all examples of collaboration the assignment itself encouraged me to think
assignment itself encouraged me to think
assignment itself encouraged me to think of practical applications for the
of practical applications for the
of practical applications for the concepts we had learned in school and it
concepts we had learned in school and it
concepts we had learned in school and it also required me to work on my own
also required me to work on my own
also required me to work on my own tackle problems my own way through my
tackle problems my own way through my
tackle problems my own way through my own creativity through independent study
own creativity through independent study
own creativity through independent study at each level of the process my school
at each level of the process my school
at each level of the process my school enabled me to succeed not by providing
enabled me to succeed not by providing
enabled me to succeed not by providing me with everything I needed but by
me with everything I needed but by
me with everything I needed but by enabling me to seek it out for myself
enabling me to seek it out for myself
enabling me to seek it out for myself and apply it now let me be clear the
and apply it now let me be clear the
and apply it now let me be clear the United States public education system
United States public education system
United States public education system does still face very significant
does still face very significant
does still face very significant problems chief among those being
problems chief among those being
problems chief among those being inequity in levels of schooling
inequity in levels of schooling
inequity in levels of schooling different schools can provide most
different schools can provide most
different schools can provide most schools just don’t have the resources to
schools just don’t have the resources to
schools just don’t have the resources to establish high tech labs or a sponsor
establish high tech labs or a sponsor
establish high tech labs or a sponsor expensive field trips mine certainly
expensive field trips mine certainly
expensive field trips mine certainly didn’t but still schools are doing their
didn’t but still schools are doing their
didn’t but still schools are doing their absolute best to incorporate these soft
absolute best to incorporate these soft
absolute best to incorporate these soft skills where they matter most right in
skills where they matter most right in
skills where they matter most right in the classroom and we should acknowledge
the classroom and we should acknowledge
the classroom and we should acknowledge that they do the biggest consequence of
that they do the biggest consequence of
that they do the biggest consequence of our overwhelmingly negative perception
our overwhelmingly negative perception
our overwhelmingly negative perception of public education is that we try to
of public education is that we try to
of public education is that we try to fix it in ways that get rid of what made
fix it in ways that get rid of what made
fix it in ways that get rid of what made it so great to begin with we try to add
it so great to begin with we try to add
it so great to begin with we try to add more tests to see how the school system
more tests to see how the school system
more tests to see how the school system is doing
is doing
is doing more standardization and we give
more standardization and we give
more standardization and we give teachers more things to cover in a year
teachers more things to cover in a year
teachers more things to cover in a year we try to model our system on those of
we try to model our system on those of
we try to model our system on those of other countries that play to different
other countries that play to different
other countries that play to different strengths than ours moving backwards
strengths than ours moving backwards
strengths than ours moving backwards when we should be moving forward now
when we should be moving forward now
when we should be moving forward now I’ve talked a whole lot about
I’ve talked a whole lot about
I’ve talked a whole lot about theoretical ways education has changed
theoretical ways education has changed
theoretical ways education has changed but let me just make it real I just
but let me just make it real I just
but let me just make it real I just learned to drive and I don’t know about
learned to drive and I don’t know about
learned to drive and I don’t know about all of you but the first time I was
all of you but the first time I was
all of you but the first time I was supposed to drive I sat down in the
supposed to drive I sat down in the
supposed to drive I sat down in the driver’s seat put my hands on the wheel
driver’s seat put my hands on the wheel
driver’s seat put my hands on the wheel adjusted the mirrors a little bit and
adjusted the mirrors a little bit and
adjusted the mirrors a little bit and then immediately got back out cuz I just
then immediately got back out cuz I just
then immediately got back out cuz I just knew I was gonna crash I was terrified
knew I was gonna crash I was terrified
knew I was gonna crash I was terrified now imagine if we went back to teaching
now imagine if we went back to teaching
now imagine if we went back to teaching math science social studies or history
math science social studies or history
math science social studies or history if we started teaching we went back to
if we started teaching we went back to
if we started teaching we went back to teaching driving the way we used to
teaching driving the way we used to
teaching driving the way we used to teach all these core subjects class
teach all these core subjects class
teach all these core subjects class let’s open up to page 45 of the driver’s
let’s open up to page 45 of the driver’s
let’s open up to page 45 of the driver’s manual and begin reading now who can
manual and begin reading now who can
manual and begin reading now who can tell me where the gear shift is located
tell me where the gear shift is located
tell me where the gear shift is located it’s part of benchmark three point three
it’s part of benchmark three point three
it’s part of benchmark three point three so you should really know it good job
so you should really know it good job
so you should really know it good job your final exam is gonna be on Monday
your final exam is gonna be on Monday
your final exam is gonna be on Monday and here’s your study guide if you pass
and here’s your study guide if you pass
and here’s your study guide if you pass with more than a 75% you’ll be free to
with more than a 75% you’ll be free to
with more than a 75% you’ll be free to drive on the road with no restrictions
drive on the road with no restrictions
drive on the road with no restrictions good luck and instantly we’ve just
good luck and instantly we’ve just
good luck and instantly we’ve just doubled the size of the airbag industry
doubled the size of the airbag industry
doubled the size of the airbag industry there’s a reason why students have to
there’s a reason why students have to
there’s a reason why students have to practice driving for 65 hours before
practice driving for 65 hours before
practice driving for 65 hours before they’re even eligible to get their
they’re even eligible to get their
they’re even eligible to get their juniors license after which they
juniors license after which they
juniors license after which they practice for an entire year before they
practice for an entire year before they
practice for an entire year before they get their real license now I’m not
get their real license now I’m not
get their real license now I’m not saying that the theory behind driving
saying that the theory behind driving
saying that the theory behind driving isn’t important that’s why we still have
isn’t important that’s why we still have
isn’t important that’s why we still have Theory tests but with driving we
Theory tests but with driving we
Theory tests but with driving we recognize that just theory isn’t enough
recognize that just theory isn’t enough
recognize that just theory isn’t enough first students work with peers and
first students work with peers and
first students work with peers and instructors and parents to understand
instructors and parents to understand
instructors and parents to understand the ins and outs of driving
the ins and outs of driving
the ins and outs of driving collaboration then they practice with a
collaboration then they practice with a
collaboration then they practice with a parent on the real road for at least 65
parent on the real road for at least 65
parent on the real road for at least 65 hours application
hours application
hours application then finally they have an entire year
then finally they have an entire year
then finally they have an entire year under a juniors license to understand
under a juniors license to understand
under a juniors license to understand their own personal driving style
their own personal driving style
their own personal driving style independent study now we just have to
independent study now we just have to
independent study now we just have to remember that this method works and we
remember that this method works and we
remember that this method works and we should use it in our schools too so
should use it in our schools too so
should use it in our schools too so let’s celebrate this let’s recognize the
let’s celebrate this let’s recognize the
let’s celebrate this let’s recognize the weaknesses of our education system but
weaknesses of our education system but
weaknesses of our education system but let’s also celebrate their strengths the
let’s also celebrate their strengths the
let’s also celebrate their strengths the incredible dedication they inspire in
incredible dedication they inspire in
incredible dedication they inspire in teachers the environment they create for
teachers the environment they create for
teachers the environment they create for students to succeed and the students
students to succeed and the students
students to succeed and the students themselves that they empower to be great
themselves that they empower to be great
themselves that they empower to be great in our world thank you
in our world thank you
in our world thank you [Applause]
”
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