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Cultivating an Educated Imagination | Beatrice Bridglall | TEDxBergenCommunityCollege


hi everybody thank you so imagine that

hi everybody thank you so imagine that you’ve abruptly awakened from a

you’ve abruptly awakened from a

you’ve abruptly awakened from a troublesome dream in you in which you

troublesome dream in you in which you

troublesome dream in you in which you were shipwrecked and floundering in the

were shipwrecked and floundering in the

were shipwrecked and floundering in the waves somehow you managed to climb onto

waves somehow you managed to climb onto

waves somehow you managed to climb onto the cliffs of a rocky shore but we’re

the cliffs of a rocky shore but we’re

the cliffs of a rocky shore but we’re not completely safe because at any

not completely safe because at any

not completely safe because at any second

second

second a succession of waves could sweep you

a succession of waves could sweep you

a succession of waves could sweep you off your perch how you managed to hold

off your perch how you managed to hold

off your perch how you managed to hold on to the edges of a large rock and kept

on to the edges of a large rock and kept

on to the edges of a large rock and kept yourself from being washed away you

yourself from being washed away you

yourself from being washed away you cannot see the storm finally passed and

cannot see the storm finally passed and

cannot see the storm finally passed and the initial effort to save yourself gave

the initial effort to save yourself gave

the initial effort to save yourself gave way to a different gradation of fear and

way to a different gradation of fear and

way to a different gradation of fear and doubt as to whether saving yourself only

doubt as to whether saving yourself only

doubt as to whether saving yourself only prolong the inevitability of perishing

prolong the inevitability of perishing

prolong the inevitability of perishing at the paws of menacing animals and

at the paws of menacing animals and

at the paws of menacing animals and snakes heaven forbid that you knew were

snakes heaven forbid that you knew were

snakes heaven forbid that you knew were there but could not see you unplanned

there but could not see you unplanned

there but could not see you unplanned your hands as you realize you’re not

your hands as you realize you’re not

your hands as you realize you’re not lost at sea nor has a hot morning sun

lost at sea nor has a hot morning sun

lost at sea nor has a hot morning sun which awakened you and those rocks aged

which awakened you and those rocks aged

which awakened you and those rocks aged you beyond recognition but you’re still

you beyond recognition but you’re still

you beyond recognition but you’re still a radiant looking college sophomore

a radiant looking college sophomore

a radiant looking college sophomore sitting in a comfortable armchair in

sitting in a comfortable armchair in

sitting in a comfortable armchair in your mother’s study reading Brynjolfsson

your mother’s study reading Brynjolfsson

your mother’s study reading Brynjolfsson and McAfee’s the second Machine Age

and McAfee’s the second Machine Age

and McAfee’s the second Machine Age their 2014 book the second Machine Age

their 2014 book the second Machine Age

their 2014 book the second Machine Age why are you reading instead of whiling

why are you reading instead of whiling

why are you reading instead of whiling away time on social media because you’ve

away time on social media because you’ve

away time on social media because you’ve learned over the course of your short

learned over the course of your short

learned over the course of your short life that your parents have an uncanny

life that your parents have an uncanny

life that your parents have an uncanny ability to be right at the most

ability to be right at the most

ability to be right at the most inopportune time and moreover they

inopportune time and moreover they

inopportune time and moreover they expect a discussion of what you’ve read

expect a discussion of what you’ve read

expect a discussion of what you’ve read sooner rather than later so you silence

sooner rather than later so you silence

sooner rather than later so you silence your phone your phone turn it face down

your phone your phone turn it face down

your phone your phone turn it face down for good measure and continue reading

for good measure and continue reading

for good measure and continue reading you learn that the Industrial Revolution

you learn that the Industrial Revolution

you learn that the Industrial Revolution which included the invention of the

which included the invention of the

which included the invention of the steam engine in the 1700 comprised the

steam engine in the 1700 comprised the

steam engine in the 1700 comprised the first machine age this age championed

first machine age this age championed

first machine age this age championed machines or power systems that amplify

machines or power systems that amplify

machines or power systems that amplify the physical strengths of the labor

the physical strengths of the labor

the physical strengths of the labor force and required them to exercise

force and required them to exercise

force and required them to exercise control and discretion over increasingly

control and discretion over increasingly

control and discretion over increasingly complex inventions at that time labor

complex inventions at that time labor

complex inventions at that time labor and machine

and machine

and machine complemented each other Brynjolfsson and

complemented each other Brynjolfsson and

complemented each other Brynjolfsson and McAfee contend that we’re at an

McAfee contend that we’re at an

McAfee contend that we’re at an inflection point today at the cusp of

inflection point today at the cusp of

inflection point today at the cusp of what they’re calling the second Machine

what they’re calling the second Machine

what they’re calling the second Machine Age which is distinctly different from

Age which is distinctly different from

Age which is distinctly different from the first in that we’re not only

the first in that we’re not only

the first in that we’re not only automating a larger number of cognitive

automating a larger number of cognitive

automating a larger number of cognitive tasks but also automating the

tasks but also automating the

tasks but also automating the decision-making processes in highly

decision-making processes in highly

decision-making processes in highly sophisticated control systems

sophisticated control systems

sophisticated control systems consequently we now have intelligent

consequently we now have intelligent

consequently we now have intelligent technologies that can interpret medical

technologies that can interpret medical

technologies that can interpret medical images advise oncologists conduct legal

images advise oncologists conduct legal

images advise oncologists conduct legal research evaluate vast amounts of data

research evaluate vast amounts of data

research evaluate vast amounts of data and analyze stocks some intelligent

and analyze stocks some intelligent

and analyze stocks some intelligent machines now appear to reduce human

machines now appear to reduce human

machines now appear to reduce human error self-driving cars for instance and

error self-driving cars for instance and

error self-driving cars for instance and newer cars with automatic emergency

newer cars with automatic emergency

newer cars with automatic emergency braking systems while others cannot with

braking systems while others cannot with

braking systems while others cannot with someone in chess jeopardy and even go a

someone in chess jeopardy and even go a

someone in chess jeopardy and even go a 2500 year old board game considered far

2500 year old board game considered far

2500 year old board game considered far more challenging than chess the

more challenging than chess the

more challenging than chess the exponential growth in computing power is

exponential growth in computing power is

exponential growth in computing power is attributed to Moore’s law as one of the

attributed to Moore’s law as one of the

attributed to Moore’s law as one of the forces making the technological

forces making the technological

forces making the technological innovations in the second Machine Age

innovations in the second Machine Age

innovations in the second Machine Age possible Moore’s law advanced by Intel

possible Moore’s law advanced by Intel

possible Moore’s law advanced by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965

co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965

co-founder Gordon Moore in 1965 estimated that the computational

estimated that the computational

estimated that the computational processing power derived from the speed

processing power derived from the speed

processing power derived from the speed and power of microchips would double

and power of microchips would double

and power of microchips would double roughly every year more later updated

roughly every year more later updated

roughly every year more later updated this projection to every 2 years and his

this projection to every 2 years and his

this projection to every 2 years and his estimates which have held up for the

estimates which have held up for the

estimates which have held up for the past five decades has contributed to a

past five decades has contributed to a

past five decades has contributed to a simultaneous increase in the rate of

simultaneous increase in the rate of

simultaneous increase in the rate of technological change and the

technological change and the

technological change and the acceleration of the rate of change so

acceleration of the rate of change so

acceleration of the rate of change so you take a deep breath because as a

you take a deep breath because as a

you take a deep breath because as a young person who has recently plowed

young person who has recently plowed

young person who has recently plowed through a 2017 McKinsey report you

through a 2017 McKinsey report you

through a 2017 McKinsey report you realize that technological change is

realize that technological change is

realize that technological change is only one of several forces acting on

only one of several forces acting on

only one of several forces acting on your world

your world

your world the others are globalization climate

the others are globalization climate

the others are globalization climate change biodiversity loss and population

change biodiversity loss and population

change biodiversity loss and population growth Wow

growth Wow

growth Wow this is heady stuff so you decide to

this is heady stuff so you decide to

this is heady stuff so you decide to take a walk because this warrants some

take a walk because this warrants some

take a walk because this warrants some sorting through after all your parents

sorting through after all your parents

sorting through after all your parents are sure to ask what you think this

are sure to ask what you think this

are sure to ask what you think this might mean for your generation

might mean for your generation

might mean for your generation as you walk you recall reading create

as you walk you recall reading create

as you walk you recall reading create Monday’s thoughts in an interview Tom

Monday’s thoughts in an interview Tom

Monday’s thoughts in an interview Tom Friedman recounts in his 2016 book thank

Friedman recounts in his 2016 book thank

Friedman recounts in his 2016 book thank you for being late mr. Monday a former

you for being late mr. Monday a former

you for being late mr. Monday a former chief of research and strategy at

chief of research and strategy at

chief of research and strategy at Microsoft suggests that the accelerated

Microsoft suggests that the accelerated

Microsoft suggests that the accelerated rate of change in play exceeds our

rate of change in play exceeds our

rate of change in play exceeds our individual and institutional ability to

individual and institutional ability to

individual and institutional ability to adapt

adapt

adapt so this founds a sense of dislocation or

so this founds a sense of dislocation or

so this founds a sense of dislocation or the feeling that we cannot keep up so

the feeling that we cannot keep up so

the feeling that we cannot keep up so this phenomena is different from

this phenomena is different from

this phenomena is different from disruption which happens when a new and

disruption which happens when a new and

disruption which happens when a new and innovation renders something antiquated

innovation renders something antiquated

innovation renders something antiquated or a skill obsolete

or a skill obsolete

or a skill obsolete Friedman also noted an interview with

Friedman also noted an interview with

Friedman also noted an interview with Erik Astro teller CEO of Google X

Erik Astro teller CEO of Google X

Erik Astro teller CEO of Google X research and developmental lab who add

research and developmental lab who add

research and developmental lab who add that while technological innovations can

that while technological innovations can

that while technological innovations can now happen in five to seven years maybe

now happen in five to seven years maybe

now happen in five to seven years maybe less

less

less it actually takes us 10 to 15 years to

it actually takes us 10 to 15 years to

it actually takes us 10 to 15 years to adapt to them labor markets however are

adapt to them labor markets however are

adapt to them labor markets however are not the only areas transformed by

not the only areas transformed by

not the only areas transformed by digital technology our governing

digital technology our governing

digital technology our governing regulatory educational and social

regulatory educational and social

regulatory educational and social systems will also be affected if they’re

systems will also be affected if they’re

systems will also be affected if they’re not already so you suddenly stop in the

not already so you suddenly stop in the

not already so you suddenly stop in the middle of the street

middle of the street

middle of the street intrigued with the thought that if it is

intrigued with the thought that if it is

intrigued with the thought that if it is the case that our learning and training

the case that our learning and training

the case that our learning and training systems are behind the curve given the

systems are behind the curve given the

systems are behind the curve given the rate and acceleration of change and even

rate and acceleration of change and even

rate and acceleration of change and even if the teaching of basic skills are a

if the teaching of basic skills are a

if the teaching of basic skills are a challenge how then do we address these

challenge how then do we address these

challenge how then do we address these dynamics in ways that propel as many of

dynamics in ways that propel as many of

dynamics in ways that propel as many of us forward so do we start with the

us forward so do we start with the

us forward so do we start with the question what are schools for Seth Godin

question what are schools for Seth Godin

question what are schools for Seth Godin suggests that schools are still products

suggests that schools are still products

suggests that schools are still products of the Industrial Age which emphasize

of the Industrial Age which emphasize

of the Industrial Age which emphasize indoctrinating students into obedience

indoctrinating students into obedience

indoctrinating students into obedience and compliance while this strategy has

and compliance while this strategy has

and compliance while this strategy has worked well in the past

worked well in the past

worked well in the past the radiating effect of dislocation and

the radiating effect of dislocation and

the radiating effect of dislocation and disruption together with the challenges

disruption together with the challenges

disruption together with the challenges of adapting to accelerations that really

of adapting to accelerations that really

of adapting to accelerations that really amplify the magnitude and scope of

amplify the magnitude and scope of

amplify the magnitude and scope of chronic social issues such as global

chronic social issues such as global

chronic social issues such as global poverty health epidemics gender

poverty health epidemics gender

poverty health epidemics gender inequality income polarization and human

inequality income polarization and human

inequality income polarization and human mobility both voluntary and involuntary

mobility both voluntary and involuntary

mobility both voluntary and involuntary so it suggests that it no longer makes

so it suggests that it no longer makes

so it suggests that it no longer makes sense for

sense for

sense for you and your peers to be socialized to

you and your peers to be socialized to

you and your peers to be socialized to lives of compliance and conformity the

lives of compliance and conformity the

lives of compliance and conformity the McKinsey report you’ve just read urged

McKinsey report you’ve just read urged

McKinsey report you’ve just read urged education systems to evolve to meet the

education systems to evolve to meet the

education systems to evolve to meet the needs of a changed workplace this means

needs of a changed workplace this means

needs of a changed workplace this means a new emphasis on creativity emotional

a new emphasis on creativity emotional

a new emphasis on creativity emotional intelligence and leading and coaching

intelligence and leading and coaching

intelligence and leading and coaching others Sir Ken Robinson Deborah Meyer

others Sir Ken Robinson Deborah Meyer

others Sir Ken Robinson Deborah Meyer and the late Ted sizer and Maxine green

and the late Ted sizer and Maxine green

and the late Ted sizer and Maxine green and others of their ilk may be onto

and others of their ilk may be onto

and others of their ilk may be onto something when they urge faculty to

something when they urge faculty to

something when they urge faculty to craft course content that encourage

craft course content that encourage

craft course content that encourage greater independence of mind creativity

greater independence of mind creativity

greater independence of mind creativity and critical thinking but achieving

and critical thinking but achieving

and critical thinking but achieving these outcomes will not be easy

these outcomes will not be easy

these outcomes will not be easy particularly as they warrant

particularly as they warrant

particularly as they warrant continual reconceptualization of

continual reconceptualization of

continual reconceptualization of curriculum to emphasize

curriculum to emphasize

curriculum to emphasize interdisciplinary and experiential

interdisciplinary and experiential

interdisciplinary and experiential projects that develop students Minds

projects that develop students Minds

projects that develop students Minds rather than testing them in ways that

rather than testing them in ways that

rather than testing them in ways that provide at best limited information of

provide at best limited information of

provide at best limited information of what they know understand and can do and

what they know understand and can do and

what they know understand and can do and this can lead to deeply misinformed

this can lead to deeply misinformed

this can lead to deeply misinformed views of what of students potentials and

views of what of students potentials and

views of what of students potentials and their abilities so at a systems level

their abilities so at a systems level

their abilities so at a systems level the cost of evolving of not evolving is

the cost of evolving of not evolving is

the cost of evolving of not evolving is enormous

enormous

enormous you remember seeing an hour an older

you remember seeing an hour an older

you remember seeing an hour an older McKinsey report estimating that the US

McKinsey report estimating that the US

McKinsey report estimating that the US gross domestic product could have

gross domestic product could have

gross domestic product could have increased from 1.3 trillion to 2.3

increased from 1.3 trillion to 2.3

increased from 1.3 trillion to 2.3 trillion in 2008 if achievement gaps in

trillion in 2008 if achievement gaps in

trillion in 2008 if achievement gaps in the US and high-achieving countries such

the US and high-achieving countries such

the US and high-achieving countries such as Finland and South Korea were narrowed

as Finland and South Korea were narrowed

as Finland and South Korea were narrowed nationally GDP could have increased from

nationally GDP could have increased from

nationally GDP could have increased from two to four percent or between three

two to four percent or between three

two to four percent or between three hundred and ten billion to five hundred

hundred and ten billion to five hundred

hundred and ten billion to five hundred and twenty five billion in 2008 if there

and twenty five billion in 2008 if there

and twenty five billion in 2008 if there were increases in black and Latino

were increases in black and Latino

were increases in black and Latino student performance so on an income

student performance so on an income

student performance so on an income level GDP would have increased from

level GDP would have increased from

level GDP would have increased from three to five percent

three to five percent

three to five percent or four hundred billion to six hundred

or four hundred billion to six hundred

or four hundred billion to six hundred and seventy billion in 2008 if

and seventy billion in 2008 if

and seventy billion in 2008 if achievement gaps between low-income and

achievement gaps between low-income and

achievement gaps between low-income and more affluent students were smaller and

more affluent students were smaller and

more affluent students were smaller and so the GDP would have increased from

so the GDP would have increased from

so the GDP would have increased from three to five percent our four hundred

three to five percent our four hundred

three to five percent our four hundred and twenty five billion to seven hundred

and twenty five billion to seven hundred

and twenty five billion to seven hundred billion in 2008 if gaps between low and

billion in 2008 if gaps between low and

billion in 2008 if gaps between low and high achieving states in the United

high achieving states in the United

high achieving states in the United States were narrowed so in that report

States were narrowed so in that report

States were narrowed so in that report McKinsey asserted that quote the

McKinsey asserted that quote the

McKinsey asserted that quote the persistence of these educational

persistence of these educational

persistence of these educational achievement gaps imposes on the United

achievement gaps imposes on the United

achievement gaps imposes on the United States the economic equivalent of a

States the economic equivalent of a

States the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession so now with

permanent national recession so now with

permanent national recession so now with the sense that someone in your

the sense that someone in your

the sense that someone in your neighborhood may be puzzled as to why

neighborhood may be puzzled as to why

neighborhood may be puzzled as to why you’re simply standing in the middle of

you’re simply standing in the middle of

you’re simply standing in the middle of the street thinking weighty things and

the street thinking weighty things and

the street thinking weighty things and looking lost you resume your walk

looking lost you resume your walk

looking lost you resume your walk because that someone would surely

because that someone would surely

because that someone would surely understand if you were caught in the

understand if you were caught in the

understand if you were caught in the distracted clutch of your phone but may

distracted clutch of your phone but may

distracted clutch of your phone but may call the authorities if you’re

call the authorities if you’re

call the authorities if you’re exhibiting signs of critically thinking

exhibiting signs of critically thinking

exhibiting signs of critically thinking about issues that will affect not only

about issues that will affect not only

about issues that will affect not only your generation but those that follow so

your generation but those that follow so

your generation but those that follow so Mackenzie’s estimates are really a call

Mackenzie’s estimates are really a call

Mackenzie’s estimates are really a call to action you think as you listen to the

to action you think as you listen to the

to action you think as you listen to the slow crunch of gravel beneath your boots

slow crunch of gravel beneath your boots

slow crunch of gravel beneath your boots and despite the tepid pace of change in

and despite the tepid pace of change in

and despite the tepid pace of change in the dominant culture there are

the dominant culture there are

the dominant culture there are educational institutions that recognize

educational institutions that recognize

educational institutions that recognize the diverse talents of their students

the diverse talents of their students

the diverse talents of their students and encourage their curiosity and

and encourage their curiosity and

and encourage their curiosity and creativity with a curriculum that’s

creativity with a curriculum that’s

creativity with a curriculum that’s interdisciplinary diverse and evolving

interdisciplinary diverse and evolving

interdisciplinary diverse and evolving and focused instructional supports for

and focused instructional supports for

and focused instructional supports for teachers who facilitate deep learning

teachers who facilitate deep learning

teachers who facilitate deep learning and close collaborations with the

and close collaborations with the

and close collaborations with the community at large but it’s more than

community at large but it’s more than

community at large but it’s more than academic for these institutions because

academic for these institutions because

academic for these institutions because they recognize that students acquisition

they recognize that students acquisition

they recognize that students acquisition of certain habits of mind such as the

of certain habits of mind such as the

of certain habits of mind such as the ability to exercise discerning judgment

ability to exercise discerning judgment

ability to exercise discerning judgment and to understand phenomena from

and to understand phenomena from

and to understand phenomena from different and multiple perspectives

different and multiple perspectives

different and multiple perspectives hinge in part on an institution’s

hinge in part on an institution’s

hinge in part on an institution’s ability to provide access to positive

ability to provide access to positive

ability to provide access to positive social networks and learning

social networks and learning

social networks and learning environments in which students can

environments in which students can

environments in which students can develop an agenda perspective or the

develop an agenda perspective or the

develop an agenda perspective or the belief that they’re capable of authoring

belief that they’re capable of authoring

belief that they’re capable of authoring their own futures you lift your head and

their own futures you lift your head and

their own futures you lift your head and smile you’re glad you’re taking a walk

smile you’re glad you’re taking a walk

smile you’re glad you’re taking a walk and thrilled that in this pause to sort

and thrilled that in this pause to sort

and thrilled that in this pause to sort out your thoughts ideas and yes your

out your thoughts ideas and yes your

out your thoughts ideas and yes your feelings which have their own

feelings which have their own

feelings which have their own intelligence you’re realizing how

intelligence you’re realizing how

intelligence you’re realizing how essential it is that you and your peers

essential it is that you and your peers

essential it is that you and your peers not react in ways that exacerbate the

not react in ways that exacerbate the

not react in ways that exacerbate the issues but rather that you take control

issues but rather that you take control

issues but rather that you take control of mediating your world by exploring

of mediating your world by exploring

of mediating your world by exploring insights from past and present ideas

insights from past and present ideas

insights from past and present ideas including including those that makes

including including those that makes

including including those that makes but don’t have currency Jules Poincare a

but don’t have currency Jules Poincare a

but don’t have currency Jules Poincare a the French mathematician theoretical

the French mathematician theoretical

the French mathematician theoretical physicist engineer philosopher of

physicist engineer philosopher of

physicist engineer philosopher of science and Northrop Frye the literary

science and Northrop Frye the literary

science and Northrop Frye the literary theorists would applaud this adventure

theorists would applaud this adventure

theorists would applaud this adventure into deep contemplative reading in

into deep contemplative reading in

into deep contemplative reading in different disciplines including the

different disciplines including the

different disciplines including the sciences and literature you’re beginning

sciences and literature you’re beginning

sciences and literature you’re beginning to appreciate that this sort of deep

to appreciate that this sort of deep

to appreciate that this sort of deep work is crucial and can counteract the

work is crucial and can counteract the

work is crucial and can counteract the Internet’s capacity to reduce our

Internet’s capacity to reduce our

Internet’s capacity to reduce our ability to engage long and complex

ability to engage long and complex

ability to engage long and complex narratives you find that the Nets focus

narratives you find that the Nets focus

narratives you find that the Nets focus on immediacy and efficiency has the

on immediacy and efficiency has the

on immediacy and efficiency has the potential to change your neural

potential to change your neural

potential to change your neural circuitry a dynamic you’d like to avoid

circuitry a dynamic you’d like to avoid

circuitry a dynamic you’d like to avoid because you’d prefer to preserve your

because you’d prefer to preserve your

because you’d prefer to preserve your ability to interpret complex ideas and

ability to interpret complex ideas and

ability to interpret complex ideas and to focus without distraction on

to focus without distraction on

to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks such as

cognitively demanding tasks such as

cognitively demanding tasks such as making your own connections developing

making your own connections developing

making your own connections developing new ideas and drawing your own

new ideas and drawing your own

new ideas and drawing your own conclusions and no doubt these abilities

conclusions and no doubt these abilities

conclusions and no doubt these abilities over time will it become increasingly

over time will it become increasingly

over time will it become increasingly rare and valuable so it’s becoming clear

rare and valuable so it’s becoming clear

rare and valuable so it’s becoming clear to you that if you want to change things

to you that if you want to change things

to you that if you want to change things about the world around you you need to

about the world around you you need to

about the world around you you need to use your imagination and the ability to

use your imagination and the ability to

use your imagination and the ability to read deeply and widely can provide the

read deeply and widely can provide the

read deeply and widely can provide the language you need to gauge the

language you need to gauge the

language you need to gauge the collective of human experience and to

collective of human experience and to

collective of human experience and to apply it to your own world with

apply it to your own world with

apply it to your own world with intention integrity and intelligence

intention integrity and intelligence

intention integrity and intelligence well um use as you decide to extend your

well um use as you decide to extend your

well um use as you decide to extend your walk you may not have been shipwrecked

walk you may not have been shipwrecked

walk you may not have been shipwrecked like Robinson Crusoe

like Robinson Crusoe

like Robinson Crusoe but like Crusoe you’ve chosen to

but like Crusoe you’ve chosen to

but like Crusoe you’ve chosen to exercise your ability to emotionally and

exercise your ability to emotionally and

exercise your ability to emotionally and intellectually anchor yourself Aristotle

intellectually anchor yourself Aristotle

intellectually anchor yourself Aristotle himself would recognize a power of that

himself would recognize a power of that

himself would recognize a power of that choice and as it unfolds in the present

choice and as it unfolds in the present

choice and as it unfolds in the present and future you so thank you

”

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