Teaching the next generation to think for themselves | Jasper Rijpma | TEDxEindhoven

thank you wow you’re all quiet and

thank you wow you’re all quiet and paying attention

paying attention

paying attention that never happens to me in class well

that never happens to me in class well

that never happens to me in class well today I would like to start with my TED

today I would like to start with my TED

today I would like to start with my TED talk with a thought experiments and I

talk with a thought experiments and I

talk with a thought experiments and I know you’ve been having fun doing

know you’ve been having fun doing

know you’ve been having fun doing energizes all morning yet I would like

energizes all morning yet I would like

energizes all morning yet I would like to invite you to stand up one last time

to invite you to stand up one last time

to invite you to stand up one last time please only this time only this time

please only this time only this time

please only this time only this time we’re not going to have fun this time

we’re not going to have fun this time

we’re not going to have fun this time it’s serious this time we’re going to do

it’s serious this time we’re going to do

it’s serious this time we’re going to do a thought experiments and in this

a thought experiments and in this

a thought experiments and in this thought experiments imagine yourself

thought experiments imagine yourself

thought experiments imagine yourself standing next to a railway track and

standing next to a railway track and

standing next to a railway track and there’s a train coming down the railway

there’s a train coming down the railway

there’s a train coming down the railway track at great speeds up a heads you can

track at great speeds up a heads you can

track at great speeds up a heads you can see five people tied up to the railway

see five people tied up to the railway

see five people tied up to the railway tracks and there’s also a lever which

tracks and there’s also a lever which

tracks and there’s also a lever which you can pull causing the train to switch

you can pull causing the train to switch

you can pull causing the train to switch to a different track where a single

to a different track where a single

to a different track where a single person is tied up my question of course

person is tied up my question of course

person is tied up my question of course is would you pull the lever which will

is would you pull the lever which will

is would you pull the lever which will result to the death of a single person

result to the death of a single person

result to the death of a single person yet it saves five if you would pull the

yet it saves five if you would pull the

yet it saves five if you would pull the lever please sit down look if you a

lever please sit down look if you a

lever please sit down look if you a moment to think this over

oh wow a lot of people just sit down and

oh wow a lot of people just sit down and which means there’s a lot of presumed

which means there’s a lot of presumed

which means there’s a lot of presumed killers in the audience so please keep a

killers in the audience so please keep a

killers in the audience so please keep a close eye on the person sitting next to

close eye on the person sitting next to

close eye on the person sitting next to you you never know now there was just to

you you never know now there was just to

you you never know now there was just to mess around I get to the point later in

mess around I get to the point later in

mess around I get to the point later in this TED talk just to freshen you up

this TED talk just to freshen you up

this TED talk just to freshen you up because we hear actually – oh yeah you

because we hear actually – oh yeah you

because we hear actually – oh yeah you can all sit down thank you we are here

can all sit down thank you we are here

can all sit down thank you we are here today sharing light bulb moments because

today sharing light bulb moments because

today sharing light bulb moments because we’re in an oven and Hoeven is Philips

we’re in an oven and Hoeven is Philips

we’re in an oven and Hoeven is Philips City sharing light bulb moments my

City sharing light bulb moments my

City sharing light bulb moments my personal light bulb moment came in 2011

personal light bulb moment came in 2011

personal light bulb moment came in 2011 I was working then at a traditional

I was working then at a traditional

I was working then at a traditional school not this one

school not this one

school not this one in Amsterdam north and we were facing

in Amsterdam north and we were facing

in Amsterdam north and we were facing rough weather the exam results declined

rough weather the exam results declined

rough weather the exam results declined and as a consequence the student numbers

and as a consequence the student numbers

and as a consequence the student numbers also dropped so we had to do something

also dropped so we had to do something

also dropped so we had to do something and out of the teaching staff we formed

and out of the teaching staff we formed

and out of the teaching staff we formed the committee to work out the

the committee to work out the

the committee to work out the foundations of a new school and I

foundations of a new school and I

foundations of a new school and I remember very clear the first time we

remember very clear the first time we

remember very clear the first time we sat together and we looked at the task

sat together and we looked at the task

sat together and we looked at the task at hand we realized we had to rethink

at hand we realized we had to rethink

at hand we realized we had to rethink the way we were teaching and we had to

the way we were teaching and we had to

the way we were teaching and we had to rethink what we were teaching the

rethink what we were teaching the

rethink what we were teaching the curriculum and it was a tough job you

curriculum and it was a tough job you

curriculum and it was a tough job you know where to start how do you found the

know where to start how do you found the

know where to start how do you found the school there’s no manual for this sort

school there’s no manual for this sort

school there’s no manual for this sort of thing so we decided to start with the

of thing so we decided to start with the

of thing so we decided to start with the core question meaning what is the

core question meaning what is the

core question meaning what is the purpose of Education and for us the

purpose of Education and for us the

purpose of Education and for us the initial answer to this question was to

initial answer to this question was to

initial answer to this question was to prepare the next generation to a

prepare the next generation to a

prepare the next generation to a changing world and this is of course

changing world and this is of course

changing world and this is of course highly problematic because what

highly problematic because what

highly problematic because what knowledge is still needed in the 21st

knowledge is still needed in the 21st

knowledge is still needed in the 21st century what is urgent what can we get

century what is urgent what can we get

century what is urgent what can we get rid of and what skills are needed which

rid of and what skills are needed which

rid of and what skills are needed which competencies are are needed again highly

competencies are are needed again highly

competencies are are needed again highly problematic because no one can predict

problematic because no one can predict

problematic because no one can predict the future no one can look into the

the future no one can look into the

the future no one can look into the future if you would take 50 years ago

future if you would take 50 years ago

future if you would take 50 years ago the best prediction

the best prediction

the best prediction the future would have us living in the

the future would have us living in the

the future would have us living in the bottom of the ocean you know in his

bottom of the ocean you know in his

bottom of the ocean you know in his fears and I don’t pretend today to do

fears and I don’t pretend today to do

fears and I don’t pretend today to do any better but there are some trends

any better but there are some trends

any better but there are some trends which can we can follow and there are

which can we can follow and there are

which can we can follow and there are certain things I find importance for

certain things I find importance for

certain things I find importance for instance this is a picture I took during

instance this is a picture I took during

instance this is a picture I took during lunch break a couple of weeks ago at my

lunch break a couple of weeks ago at my

lunch break a couple of weeks ago at my school and you can see all the students

school and you can see all the students

school and you can see all the students playing on their phones and their

playing on their phones and their

playing on their phones and their devices sharing photos and videos with

devices sharing photos and videos with

devices sharing photos and videos with each other on social media and as

each other on social media and as

each other on social media and as teachers we are you know busy

teachers we are you know busy

teachers we are you know busy surveilling the courtyards so fairly

surveilling the courtyards so fairly

surveilling the courtyards so fairly inside and the outside in the offline

inside and the outside in the offline

inside and the outside in the offline world while we should be focusing more

world while we should be focusing more

world while we should be focusing more of our attention to what’s happening in

of our attention to what’s happening in

of our attention to what’s happening in the online world where they actually are

the online world where they actually are

the online world where they actually are hanging out during lunch break and after

hanging out during lunch break and after

hanging out during lunch break and after school yet education at this point it’s

school yet education at this point it’s

school yet education at this point it’s still very limited we don’t really teach

still very limited we don’t really teach

still very limited we don’t really teach our kids to deal with online ethical

our kids to deal with online ethical

our kids to deal with online ethical issues such as privacy now what do you

issues such as privacy now what do you

issues such as privacy now what do you share with whom and in this virtual

share with whom and in this virtual

share with whom and in this virtual jungle kids need to be equipped with a

jungle kids need to be equipped with a

jungle kids need to be equipped with a moral compass I’ll share with you a

moral compass I’ll share with you a

moral compass I’ll share with you a second thing I find important a second

second thing I find important a second

second thing I find important a second trend what’s also happening in my view

trend what’s also happening in my view

trend what’s also happening in my view is what’s changing in the world around

is what’s changing in the world around

is what’s changing in the world around us is the information we form our fuel

us is the information we form our fuel

us is the information we form our fuel in the world with some of my kids read

in the world with some of my kids read

in the world with some of my kids read the newspaper back home some of my kids

the newspaper back home some of my kids

the newspaper back home some of my kids some of my students they what’s the

some of my students they what’s the

some of my students they what’s the television most of them they have of

television most of them they have of

television most of them they have of course the devices and they you know

course the devices and they you know

course the devices and they you know social media and most of them they watch

social media and most of them they watch

social media and most of them they watch vloggers on YouTube and they share

vloggers on YouTube and they share

vloggers on YouTube and they share sensational articles with each other

sensational articles with each other

sensational articles with each other through the social media and this is

through the social media and this is

through the social media and this is concerning because in their little

concerning because in their little

concerning because in their little information bubbles it’s very easy for

information bubbles it’s very easy for

information bubbles it’s very easy for fake news items to spread to their

fake news items to spread to their

fake news items to spread to their devices which they reads the articles on

devices which they reads the articles on

devices which they reads the articles on and this is concerning because no one

and this is concerning because no one

and this is concerning because no one really teach them how to check if the

really teach them how to check if the

really teach them how to check if the source is reliable or where the

source is reliable or where the

source is reliable or where the information comes from so what I’m

information comes from so what I’m

information comes from so what I’m saying is

saying is

saying is education on digital literacy it’s still

education on digital literacy it’s still

education on digital literacy it’s still very limited in the Netherlands and

very limited in the Netherlands and

very limited in the Netherlands and outside in other words we don’t teach

outside in other words we don’t teach

outside in other words we don’t teach our kids how to critically deal with the

our kids how to critically deal with the

our kids how to critically deal with the information around them

information around them

information around them my main message here would be that the

my main message here would be that the

my main message here would be that the world around us is changing really fast

world around us is changing really fast

world around us is changing really fast yet our education system is not changing

yet our education system is not changing

yet our education system is not changing at the same pace

at the same pace

at the same pace I think the urgency today to teach kids

I think the urgency today to teach kids

I think the urgency today to teach kids critical thinking skills and ethical

critical thinking skills and ethical

critical thinking skills and ethical awareness it’s now more urgent than ever

awareness it’s now more urgent than ever

awareness it’s now more urgent than ever in other words we need to start teaching

in other words we need to start teaching

in other words we need to start teaching our kids to think for themselves so how

our kids to think for themselves so how

our kids to think for themselves so how do we do that

do we do that

do we do that surprisingly we could do it with ancient

surprisingly we could do it with ancient

surprisingly we could do it with ancient knowledge if you would travel to

knowledge if you would travel to

knowledge if you would travel to Amsterdam you have to have some north

Amsterdam you have to have some north

Amsterdam you have to have some north you have to take the ferry tomorrow

you have to take the ferry tomorrow

you have to take the ferry tomorrow where my school is and on this ferry you

where my school is and on this ferry you

where my school is and on this ferry you might bump into Socrates now we’re not

might bump into Socrates now we’re not

might bump into Socrates now we’re not the ancient philosopher Socrates but a

the ancient philosopher Socrates but a

the ancient philosopher Socrates but a teenage version often one of my students

teenage version often one of my students

teenage version often one of my students and the students has picked up in class

and the students has picked up in class

and the students has picked up in class a technique called Hippocratic any hope

a technique called Hippocratic any hope

a technique called Hippocratic any hope approached you with a philosophical

approached you with a philosophical

approached you with a philosophical question like the likes of thought

question like the likes of thought

question like the likes of thought experiments I started this TED talk with

experiments I started this TED talk with

experiments I started this TED talk with so let’s get back to the railway track

so let’s get back to the railway track

so let’s get back to the railway track because my students has picked up in

because my students has picked up in

because my students has picked up in class that after asking the initial

class that after asking the initial

class that after asking the initial question with the trolley at the lever

question with the trolley at the lever

question with the trolley at the lever you can change or play with these

you can change or play with these

you can change or play with these variables a little bit for instance

variables a little bit for instance

variables a little bit for instance let’s go back to the railway track and

let’s go back to the railway track and

let’s go back to the railway track and there’s the train again there’s the five

there’s the train again there’s the five

there’s the train again there’s the five people again but this time there’s no

people again but this time there’s no

people again but this time there’s no lever this time there’s no next track

lever this time there’s no next track

lever this time there’s no next track with a single person this time there is

with a single person this time there is

with a single person this time there is a very very fat man on a bridge and you

a very very fat man on a bridge and you

a very very fat man on a bridge and you were walking on the bridge of course the

were walking on the bridge of course the

were walking on the bridge of course the people just sat down would it make any

people just sat down would it make any

people just sat down would it make any difference for you pushing this man and

difference for you pushing this man and

difference for you pushing this man and you calculates that if you push this man

you calculates that if you push this man

you calculates that if you push this man and it will it will cause the train to

and it will it will cause the train to

and it will it will cause the train to derail

derail

derail would you push him would it make any

would you push him would it make any

would you push him would it make any difference for you is this an ethical

difference for you is this an ethical

difference for you is this an ethical thing to do or not so this is the type

thing to do or not so this is the type

thing to do or not so this is the type of conversation with will lead to and my

of conversation with will lead to and my

of conversation with will lead to and my student picked up in class that after

student picked up in class that after

student picked up in class that after changing the variables in this Socratic

changing the variables in this Socratic

changing the variables in this Socratic method

method

method he will distill the moral principle at

he will distill the moral principle at

he will distill the moral principle at stake and of course in this situation

stake and of course in this situation

stake and of course in this situation the moral principle is is it morally

the moral principle is is it morally

the moral principle is is it morally just to sacrifice one person for the

just to sacrifice one person for the

just to sacrifice one person for the greater good and the last face of the

greater good and the last face of the

greater good and the last face of the Socratic method he has to us to find a

Socratic method he has to us to find a

Socratic method he has to us to find a mutual ground with a conversation

mutual ground with a conversation

mutual ground with a conversation partner finding a mutual answer to this

partner finding a mutual answer to this

partner finding a mutual answer to this question this is the Socratic method and

question this is the Socratic method and

question this is the Socratic method and I teach this in a class called marvelous

I teach this in a class called marvelous

I teach this in a class called marvelous minds and this technique will help my

minds and this technique will help my

minds and this technique will help my students in dealing with ethical

students in dealing with ethical

students in dealing with ethical dilemmas as it trains their critical

dilemmas as it trains their critical

dilemmas as it trains their critical thinking skills that’s one example I’ll

thinking skills that’s one example I’ll

thinking skills that’s one example I’ll share with you another one I know a guy

share with you another one I know a guy

share with you another one I know a guy called Barry

called Barry

called Barry he was my my colleague two years ago and

he was my my colleague two years ago and

he was my my colleague two years ago and Barry now works at a school court called

Barry now works at a school court called

Barry now works at a school court called Curtis day and there he has these

Curtis day and there he has these

Curtis day and there he has these assignments where he gives his pupils a

assignments where he gives his pupils a

assignments where he gives his pupils a picture this picture of a friend of ours

picture this picture of a friend of ours

picture this picture of a friend of ours and using solely this picture and a and

and using solely this picture and a and

and using solely this picture and a and an Google reverse image search the kids

an Google reverse image search the kids

an Google reverse image search the kids have to find out as much information as

have to find out as much information as

have to find out as much information as they can about this person and Barry

they can about this person and Barry

they can about this person and Barry tells me each year it’s a he gets amazed

tells me each year it’s a he gets amazed

tells me each year it’s a he gets amazed but also a little bit frightened by you

but also a little bit frightened by you

but also a little bit frightened by you know the results because in the end the

know the results because in the end the

know the results because in the end the students they map out her entire

students they map out her entire

students they map out her entire personality with her name where she

personality with her name where she

personality with her name where she works her friends where she goes to and

works her friends where she goes to and

works her friends where she goes to and this technique obviously will help the

this technique obviously will help the

this technique obviously will help the students of bearberry

students of bearberry

students of bearberry in dealing with online ethical issues

in dealing with online ethical issues

in dealing with online ethical issues surrounding privacy who do you share

surrounding privacy who do you share

surrounding privacy who do you share your data with and who not

your data with and who not

your data with and who not and it also trains their critical

and it also trains their critical

and it also trains their critical thinking skills

thinking skills

thinking skills so what are

so what are

so what are some of the results well as in anything

some of the results well as in anything

some of the results well as in anything in education it’s very hard to tell but

in education it’s very hard to tell but

in education it’s very hard to tell but I can’t tell you this it is November and

I can’t tell you this it is November and

I can’t tell you this it is November and in November it’s typically the month

in November it’s typically the month

in November it’s typically the month where I see the parents of my students

where I see the parents of my students

where I see the parents of my students for the first time and each year a

for the first time and each year a

for the first time and each year a father or a mother will approach me

father or a mother will approach me

father or a mother will approach me saying ah you’re yes / you’re a

saying ah you’re yes / you’re a

saying ah you’re yes / you’re a philosophy teacher alright

philosophy teacher alright

philosophy teacher alright ever since my kids entered your class

ever since my kids entered your class

ever since my kids entered your class the conversation at the dinner table at

the conversation at the dinner table at

the conversation at the dinner table at night has changed he’s been asking these

night has changed he’s been asking these

night has changed he’s been asking these weird philosophical questions with you

weird philosophical questions with you

weird philosophical questions with you know people being tied up to real white

know people being tied up to real white

know people being tied up to real white tracks and at this sort of a time what

tracks and at this sort of a time what

tracks and at this sort of a time what is this and also if I tell my kid it’s

is this and also if I tell my kid it’s

is this and also if I tell my kid it’s time to go to bed they all reply saying

time to go to bed they all reply saying

time to go to bed they all reply saying is there another way to look at this

is there another way to look at this

is there another way to look at this problem maybe maybe we can sit down and

problem maybe maybe we can sit down and

problem maybe maybe we can sit down and reach a mutual understanding at this

reach a mutual understanding at this

reach a mutual understanding at this point you know imagine what would happen

point you know imagine what would happen

point you know imagine what would happen to society if we teach our all our kids

to society if we teach our all our kids

to society if we teach our all our kids to think for themselves you know I don’t

to think for themselves you know I don’t

to think for themselves you know I don’t know if we should try that seriously I

know if we should try that seriously I

know if we should try that seriously I want you to think about this what would

want you to think about this what would

want you to think about this what would happen if we would teach all our kids at

happen if we would teach all our kids at

happen if we would teach all our kids at school critical thinking skills and

school critical thinking skills and

school critical thinking skills and ethical awareness to answer this

ethical awareness to answer this

ethical awareness to answer this question I would like to invite you to

question I would like to invite you to

question I would like to invite you to let’s go back in our minds to the

let’s go back in our minds to the

let’s go back in our minds to the railway track one more time and there’s

railway track one more time and there’s

railway track one more time and there’s the train again only this time the train

the train again only this time the train

the train again only this time the train stands for our education system and it’s

stands for our education system and it’s

stands for our education system and it’s barreling down the railway track like

barreling down the railway track like

barreling down the railway track like it’s dead the past 200 years and it can

it’s dead the past 200 years and it can

it’s dead the past 200 years and it can continue to do so for another 100 years

continue to do so for another 100 years

continue to do so for another 100 years and there’s the lever which we can pull

and there’s the lever which we can pull

and there’s the lever which we can pull rethinking the way we are teaching

rethinking the way we are teaching

rethinking the way we are teaching rethinking what we are teaching

rethinking what we are teaching

rethinking what we are teaching educating our kids to think for

educating our kids to think for

educating our kids to think for themselves to deal with the challenges

themselves to deal with the challenges

themselves to deal with the challenges of the 21st century would you do so

of the 21st century would you do so

of the 21st century would you do so which one of you would pull this lever

which one of you would pull this lever

which one of you would pull this lever thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]