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‘Teaching the kids of today the learning of tomorrow’ | Farzin Saber | TEDxLundUniversity


hello everyone it’s a great pleasure to

hello everyone it’s a great pleasure to be here and I’m going

be here and I’m going

be here and I’m going children and children education and how

children and children education and how

children and children education and how we as grown-ups can support and help

we as grown-ups can support and help

we as grown-ups can support and help children in their development and

children in their development and

children in their development and hopefully development of their curiosity

hopefully development of their curiosity

hopefully development of their curiosity and creativity as it was mentioned we

and creativity as it was mentioned we

and creativity as it was mentioned we have three children’s home and ages ten

have three children’s home and ages ten

have three children’s home and ages ten thirteen and fifteen all boys and those

thirteen and fifteen all boys and those

thirteen and fifteen all boys and those of you who has who has children or your

of you who has who has children or your

of you who has who has children or your grandparents you probably know the

grandparents you probably know the

grandparents you probably know the problem every time it’s a weekend or

problem every time it’s a weekend or

problem every time it’s a weekend or it’s school holidays or if after school

it’s school holidays or if after school

it’s school holidays or if after school time and you want to do something as a

time and you want to do something as a

time and you want to do something as a family it’s hard to find something to do

family it’s hard to find something to do

family it’s hard to find something to do it’s a challenge basically because most

it’s a challenge basically because most

it’s a challenge basically because most kids today they have seen the whole

kids today they have seen the whole

kids today they have seen the whole world through YouTube so nothing it

world through YouTube so nothing it

world through YouTube so nothing it excites them anymore

excites them anymore

excites them anymore and this was also the problem for us and

and this was also the problem for us and

and this was also the problem for us and my partner Maria and I we have been

my partner Maria and I we have been

my partner Maria and I we have been complaining about this for a very very

complaining about this for a very very

complaining about this for a very very long time so one day the oldest turned

long time so one day the oldest turned

long time so one day the oldest turned around and said you know what we are so

around and said you know what we are so

around and said you know what we are so tired of listening to you guys complain

tired of listening to you guys complain

tired of listening to you guys complain about this so why don’t you do something

about this so why don’t you do something

about this so why don’t you do something about it this was really really annoying

about it this was really really annoying

about it this was really really annoying observation because he was actually

observation because he was actually

observation because he was actually right

right

right we have been the river complaining for

we have been the river complaining for

we have been the river complaining for so many years and pointing at everybody

so many years and pointing at everybody

so many years and pointing at everybody else to fix this problem and maybe we

else to fix this problem and maybe we

else to fix this problem and maybe we should take some lead and responsibility

should take some lead and responsibility

should take some lead and responsibility in this so in November 2014 I left my

in this so in November 2014 I left my

in this so in November 2014 I left my job and I registered a educational

job and I registered a educational

job and I registered a educational center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds

center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds

center in Malmo Sweden called cool minds at this point of time we had absolutely

at this point of time we had absolutely

at this point of time we had absolutely no idea how I mean we we did know on the

no idea how I mean we we did know on the

no idea how I mean we we did know on the highest level that we want to have a

highest level that we want to have a

highest level that we want to have a inspirational educational center but

inspirational educational center but

inspirational educational center but watch how do we reach that point what

watch how do we reach that point what

watch how do we reach that point what are the activities and many other

are the activities and many other

are the activities and many other questions we could we didn’t have an

questions we could we didn’t have an

questions we could we didn’t have an idea so for us the first step was

idea so for us the first step was

idea so for us the first step was actually to ask ourselves several

actually to ask ourselves several

actually to ask ourselves several questions and the first one was what is

questions and the first one was what is

questions and the first one was what is it that we know about these creatures

it that we know about these creatures

it that we know about these creatures that we call children the first thing

that we call children the first thing

that we call children the first thing that popped into our head was that they

that popped into our head was that they

that popped into our head was that they have a amazing capability to soak up

have a amazing capability to soak up

have a amazing capability to soak up knowledge in the early years especially

knowledge in the early years especially

knowledge in the early years especially early years and the second thing was

early years and the second thing was

early years and the second thing was that they loved to play

that they loved to play

that they loved to play this was genius it was a it was a

this was genius it was a it was a

this was genius it was a it was a fantastic revolution for us what if we

fantastic revolution for us what if we

fantastic revolution for us what if we combine playing with learning so that

combine playing with learning so that

combine playing with learning so that was the first thing the second thing

was the first thing the second thing

was the first thing the second thing that we we wanted to do also with this

that we we wanted to do also with this

that we we wanted to do also with this Center was there we didn’t want to have

Center was there we didn’t want to have

Center was there we didn’t want to have another school so we didn’t want

another school so we didn’t want

another school so we didn’t want children to go to school and then they

children to go to school and then they

children to go to school and then they go to another school we wanted to create

go to another school we wanted to create

go to another school we wanted to create a very inspiring environment but it’s

a very inspiring environment but it’s

a very inspiring environment but it’s fun to be part of it

fun to be part of it

fun to be part of it and for that we started to work with

and for that we started to work with

and for that we started to work with colors with the design with the with the

colors with the design with the with the

colors with the design with the with the we opened up the construction so the

we opened up the construction so the

we opened up the construction so the children they can see into the

children they can see into the

children they can see into the construction how how the building is

construction how how the building is

construction how how the building is built a lot of fun colors we put a lot

built a lot of fun colors we put a lot

built a lot of fun colors we put a lot of time in this also for us was another

of time in this also for us was another

of time in this also for us was another thing that was very important and that

thing that was very important and that

thing that was very important and that was to create a environment where

was to create a environment where

was to create a environment where children they can experiment often a lot

children they can experiment often a lot

children they can experiment often a lot of the experiments also at school it’s

of the experiments also at school it’s

of the experiments also at school it’s very much controlled we wanted them to

very much controlled we wanted them to

very much controlled we wanted them to have the possibility to try maybe it

have the possibility to try maybe it

have the possibility to try maybe it doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try

doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try

doesn’t they don’t succeed but they try again and they learn from that process

again and they learn from that process

again and they learn from that process so we didn’t want to control the

so we didn’t want to control the

so we didn’t want to control the experiments with these thoughts we open

experiments with these thoughts we open

experiments with these thoughts we open coal mines in August 2015 and we were

coal mines in August 2015 and we were

coal mines in August 2015 and we were extremely excited but to be honest

extremely excited but to be honest

extremely excited but to be honest extremely terrified as well we had

extremely terrified as well we had

extremely terrified as well we had absolutely no idea what will expect us

absolutely no idea what will expect us

absolutely no idea what will expect us how the families are going to receive us

how the families are going to receive us

how the families are going to receive us how we’re going to meet the expectations

how we’re going to meet the expectations

how we’re going to meet the expectations of children and especially how are we

of children and especially how are we

of children and especially how are we going to kind of deal with the different

going to kind of deal with the different

going to kind of deal with the different maturity levels and etc very quickly

maturity levels and etc very quickly

maturity levels and etc very quickly already in the beginning of the open

already in the beginning of the open

already in the beginning of the open time be it came clear to us that we

time be it came clear to us that we

time be it came clear to us that we couldn’t deal with this on our own we

couldn’t deal with this on our own we

couldn’t deal with this on our own we couldn’t come up with all the great

couldn’t come up with all the great

couldn’t come up with all the great ideas and fun activities for the

ideas and fun activities for the

ideas and fun activities for the children only by ourselves we didn’t

children only by ourselves we didn’t

children only by ourselves we didn’t have the capacity and capability so we

have the capacity and capability so we

have the capacity and capability so we turned around to our suppliers employees

turned around to our suppliers employees

turned around to our suppliers employees different organizations and we try to

different organizations and we try to

different organizations and we try to kind of mobilize everyone around us

kind of mobilize everyone around us

kind of mobilize everyone around us everyone that had something to do with

everyone that had something to do with

everyone that had something to do with cool minds to help us come up with these

cool minds to help us come up with these

cool minds to help us come up with these things and just to give you an idea

things and just to give you an idea

things and just to give you an idea about what we do at coal mines coal

about what we do at coal mines coal

about what we do at coal mines coal mines is basically divided into four

mines is basically divided into four

mines is basically divided into four main areas we have IT we have

main areas we have IT we have

main areas we have IT we have electronics and technology we have

electronics and technology we have

electronics and technology we have biology chemistry in film and media each

biology chemistry in film and media each

biology chemistry in film and media each area then has four to five employees

area then has four to five employees

area then has four to five employees taking care of that area with the team

taking care of that area with the team

taking care of that area with the team lead that is responsible resources and

lead that is responsible resources and

lead that is responsible resources and planning of activities and in pile and

planning of activities and in pile and

planning of activities and in pile and we have for instance we have schools

we have for instance we have schools

we have for instance we have schools visiting us during the day and then

visiting us during the day and then

visiting us during the day and then after the school time its school after

after the school time its school after

after the school time its school after school activities and in the weekends we

school activities and in the weekends we

school activities and in the weekends we have drop in activities and especially

have drop in activities and especially

have drop in activities and especially the weekends were quite important for us

the weekends were quite important for us

the weekends were quite important for us because we felt that children should

because we felt that children should

because we felt that children should have the possibility to come there and

have the possibility to come there and

have the possibility to come there and try out an experiment and in case they

try out an experiment and in case they

try out an experiment and in case they feel that something is really really fun

feel that something is really really fun

feel that something is really really fun they can then join after-school

they can then join after-school

they can then join after-school activities and where we dig into the

activities and where we dig into the

activities and where we dig into the topics over for instance eight weeks

topics over for instance eight weeks

topics over for instance eight weeks time and we get deeper into the topics

time and we get deeper into the topics

time and we get deeper into the topics and especially exposing children to

and especially exposing children to

and especially exposing children to other areas it’s very important so they

other areas it’s very important so they

other areas it’s very important so they can find their talents then get excited

can find their talents then get excited

can find their talents then get excited about these things I mean as it was told

about these things I mean as it was told

about these things I mean as it was told I originally come from Iran and there we

I originally come from Iran and there we

I originally come from Iran and there we had few options to become a very

had few options to become a very

had few options to become a very successful kid either you could become a

successful kid either you could become a

successful kid either you could become a doctor or you could become engineer or a

doctor or you could become engineer or a

doctor or you could become engineer or a dentist

dentist

dentist why dentist I have no idea probably

why dentist I have no idea probably

why dentist I have no idea probably because of the high income but

because of the high income but

because of the high income but nevertheless that was those options and

nevertheless that was those options and

nevertheless that was those options and even though that I moved to Denmark when

even though that I moved to Denmark when

even though that I moved to Denmark when I was 12 years old and lived with a

I was 12 years old and lived with a

I was 12 years old and lived with a foster family which predominantly

foster family which predominantly

foster family which predominantly focused on humanitarian topics and music

focused on humanitarian topics and music

focused on humanitarian topics and music and my options they got expanded but

and my options they got expanded but

and my options they got expanded but still my early years they had phoned me

still my early years they had phoned me

still my early years they had phoned me to one to become an engineer and it was

to one to become an engineer and it was

to one to become an engineer and it was pretty easy for

pretty easy for

pretty easy for me because I couldn’t stand to look into

me because I couldn’t stand to look into

me because I couldn’t stand to look into people’s mouths so engineering seemed

people’s mouths so engineering seemed

people’s mouths so engineering seemed like a good option for me but and that

like a good option for me but and that

like a good option for me but and that was why for us it was also important to

was why for us it was also important to

was why for us it was also important to at least focus on those early years and

at least focus on those early years and

at least focus on those early years and that was why we said okay the center’s

that was why we said okay the center’s

that was why we said okay the center’s are are the activities we offer should

are are the activities we offer should

are are the activities we offer should predominantly at least in the beginning

predominantly at least in the beginning

predominantly at least in the beginning focus on activities for children between

focus on activities for children between

focus on activities for children between ages of five and 15 years we are we

ages of five and 15 years we are we

ages of five and 15 years we are we offer many many different courses for

offer many many different courses for

offer many many different courses for the kids in biology we have solving

the kids in biology we have solving

the kids in biology we have solving crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria

crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria

crimes forensics we do DNA and bacteria courses for children I’m not going to go

courses for children I’m not going to go

courses for children I’m not going to go into detail about DNA I think wolf has

into detail about DNA I think wolf has

into detail about DNA I think wolf has already covered it pretty well but but

already covered it pretty well but but

already covered it pretty well but but we we have our pallets we have a very

we we have our pallets we have a very

we we have our pallets we have a very important so children they can desiccate

important so children they can desiccate

important so children they can desiccate those and and see what is it that the

those and and see what is it that the

those and and see what is it that the owl has eaten

owl has eaten

owl has eaten how does my own DNA looks like and

how does my own DNA looks like and

how does my own DNA looks like and during these activities children tend to

during these activities children tend to

during these activities children tend to a lot of questions and we have always a

a lot of questions and we have always a

a lot of questions and we have always a lot of people helping these children

lot of people helping these children

lot of people helping these children with answering those questions in IT we

with answering those questions in IT we

with answering those questions in IT we have we program apps and gaming’s and a

have we program apps and gaming’s and a

have we program apps and gaming’s and a lot of other stuff and especially I

lot of other stuff and especially I

lot of other stuff and especially I recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old

recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old

recall a kid Simon who was 12 years old and he come he came to cruel mines

and he come he came to cruel mines

and he come he came to cruel mines together with his mom and we he didn’t

together with his mom and we he didn’t

together with his mom and we he didn’t know what interested him and the same

know what interested him and the same

know what interested him and the same the parents didn’t know what interested

the parents didn’t know what interested

the parents didn’t know what interested him so he joined the programming course

him so he joined the programming course

him so he joined the programming course and the introduction course is very

and the introduction course is very

and the introduction course is very basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming

basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming

basic it’s a drag-and-drop programming and he joined that and within the

and he joined that and within the

and he joined that and within the three-month period time he went from

three-month period time he went from

three-month period time he went from that very simple visual programming to

that very simple visual programming to

that very simple visual programming to advanced Java programming those of you

advanced Java programming those of you

advanced Java programming those of you who had program you know this this is

who had program you know this this is

who had program you know this this is hard to do and it was just amazing to

hard to do and it was just amazing to

hard to do and it was just amazing to see his development in those three

see his development in those three

see his development in those three months and he got so caught up with it

months and he got so caught up with it

months and he got so caught up with it that he actually wanted to have his

that he actually wanted to have his

that he actually wanted to have his birthday in the IT room we were quite

birthday in the IT room we were quite

birthday in the IT room we were quite pessimistic about that about his mom and

pessimistic about that about his mom and

pessimistic about that about his mom and I we discussed for a long time but he

I we discussed for a long time but he

I we discussed for a long time but he insisted the

insisted the

insisted the that’s what he wants so we put together

that’s what he wants so we put together

that’s what he wants so we put together something for him and he had 15 of his

something for him and he had 15 of his

something for him and he had 15 of his friends over and they had a lot of fun

friends over and they had a lot of fun

friends over and they had a lot of fun during the two hours and they showed

during the two hours and they showed

during the two hours and they showed each other their games and had a lot of

each other their games and had a lot of

each other their games and had a lot of fun with that

fun with that

fun with that another area is electronics and then we

another area is electronics and then we

another area is electronics and then we have one of the very popular courses is

have one of the very popular courses is

have one of the very popular courses is that we do we build a robot over eight

that we do we build a robot over eight

that we do we build a robot over eight weeks of time together with the children

weeks of time together with the children

weeks of time together with the children and this is quite a complex process

and this is quite a complex process

and this is quite a complex process actually because there’s a lot of

actually because there’s a lot of

actually because there’s a lot of soldering and components and things go

soldering and components and things go

soldering and components and things go wrong from time to time but one time it

wrong from time to time but one time it

wrong from time to time but one time it really went wrong very very much so I

really went wrong very very much so I

really went wrong very very much so I was very frustrated and went beat the

was very frustrated and went beat the

was very frustrated and went beat the robots to my electronic suppliers which

robots to my electronic suppliers which

robots to my electronic suppliers which were I know the CEO and he’s an

were I know the CEO and he’s an

were I know the CEO and he’s an electronic engineer and I said I’m so

electronic engineer and I said I’m so

electronic engineer and I said I’m so frustrated and then he turned around and

frustrated and then he turned around and

frustrated and then he turned around and said to me fascin you are trying to do

said to me fascin you are trying to do

said to me fascin you are trying to do things with 8 years old kids that we did

things with 8 years old kids that we did

things with 8 years old kids that we did at the university level what did you

at the university level what did you

at the university level what did you expect it will go wrong but to be honest

expect it will go wrong but to be honest

expect it will go wrong but to be honest looking now we have done this for one

looking now we have done this for one

looking now we have done this for one and a half years the percentage of

and a half years the percentage of

and a half years the percentage of failure is so small and we succeed by

failure is so small and we succeed by

failure is so small and we succeed by far more than we fail and it’s just

far more than we fail and it’s just

far more than we fail and it’s just amazing to see children actually

amazing to see children actually

amazing to see children actually succeeding and learning so quickly just

succeeding and learning so quickly just

succeeding and learning so quickly just for two weeks ago we had a birthday

for two weeks ago we had a birthday

for two weeks ago we had a birthday party 19 kids and they were supposed to

party 19 kids and they were supposed to

party 19 kids and they were supposed to build a small electronic gadget within

build a small electronic gadget within

build a small electronic gadget within two hours two of the children previously

two hours two of the children previously

two hours two of the children previously had joined for a summer camp at coal

had joined for a summer camp at coal

had joined for a summer camp at coal mines we didn’t know that and after 15

mines we didn’t know that and after 15

mines we didn’t know that and after 15 minutes they were already done so

minutes they were already done so

minutes they were already done so annoying because we didn’t have any

annoying because we didn’t have any

annoying because we didn’t have any other activity for these two and you

other activity for these two and you

other activity for these two and you know 25 components rightly placed on a

know 25 components rightly placed on a

know 25 components rightly placed on a circuit board soldered it’s even hard

circuit board soldered it’s even hard

circuit board soldered it’s even hard for it growing up to do and it worked

for it growing up to do and it worked

for it growing up to do and it worked perfectly parents they typically come to

perfectly parents they typically come to

perfectly parents they typically come to Kumar’s and they they have the same

Kumar’s and they they have the same

Kumar’s and they they have the same problem as we have as a family what

problem as we have as a family what

problem as we have as a family what should we do with the kids and when you

should we do with the kids and when you

should we do with the kids and when you de see their children sitting there for

de see their children sitting there for

de see their children sitting there for three hours not moving at all forgetting

three hours not moving at all forgetting

three hours not moving at all forgetting all about iPads iPhones and

all about iPads iPhones and

all about iPads iPhones and and monsters they need to hunt in the

and monsters they need to hunt in the

and monsters they need to hunt in the near gym I they start running around and

near gym I they start running around and

near gym I they start running around and taking pictures like they’re a

taking pictures like they’re a

taking pictures like they’re a journalist and to be honest they want to

journalist and to be honest they want to

journalist and to be honest they want to show everyone else that my kid can sit

show everyone else that my kid can sit

show everyone else that my kid can sit still and and they can if it’s fun and

still and and they can if it’s fun and

still and and they can if it’s fun and then the learning comes as well and I

then the learning comes as well and I

then the learning comes as well and I think this is absolutely our

think this is absolutely our

think this is absolutely our responsibility as grown-ups to make a

responsibility as grown-ups to make a

responsibility as grown-ups to make a platform that is both fun and

platform that is both fun and

platform that is both fun and educational and then I’m sure that the

educational and then I’m sure that the

educational and then I’m sure that the children would follow we just during the

children would follow we just during the

children would follow we just during the summer we had our summer camp and then

summer we had our summer camp and then

summer we had our summer camp and then we had a lot of kids joining in one kid

we had a lot of kids joining in one kid

we had a lot of kids joining in one kid wanted to join two of his friends that

wanted to join two of his friends that

wanted to join two of his friends that had signed up for programming but there

had signed up for programming but there

had signed up for programming but there was no seat available anymore

was no seat available anymore

was no seat available anymore so he joined the electronic course this

so he joined the electronic course this

so he joined the electronic course this was the next best thing because he could

was the next best thing because he could

was the next best thing because he could be in the same building as them and the

be in the same building as them and the

be in the same building as them and the second day when I was going around and

second day when I was going around and

second day when I was going around and asking how are you doing how’s

asking how are you doing how’s

asking how are you doing how’s everything he turned around and said to

everything he turned around and said to

everything he turned around and said to me you know what I am so lucky that

me you know what I am so lucky that

me you know what I am so lucky that there was no seat for me in the

there was no seat for me in the

there was no seat for me in the programming because this is so much more

programming because this is so much more

programming because this is so much more fun I mean this is really what cool

fun I mean this is really what cool

fun I mean this is really what cool minds is is all about we open another

minds is is all about we open another

minds is is all about we open another door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out

door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out

door for this kid if he hadn’t tried out electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun

electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun

electronics he wouldn’t know if it’s fun he would have continued with sitting in

he would have continued with sitting in

he would have continued with sitting in front of the computer and doing

front of the computer and doing

front of the computer and doing programming so kuma is basically opening

programming so kuma is basically opening

programming so kuma is basically opening doors and exposed children to new ideas

doors and exposed children to new ideas

doors and exposed children to new ideas new subjects new area and then they will

new subjects new area and then they will

new subjects new area and then they will choose their own their own way a lot of

choose their own their own way a lot of

choose their own their own way a lot of kids today they a lot of parents are

kids today they a lot of parents are

kids today they a lot of parents are frustrated by the fact that kids sit in

frustrated by the fact that kids sit in

frustrated by the fact that kids sit in front of YouTube and they have seen

front of YouTube and they have seen

front of YouTube and they have seen everything but I honestly believe that

everything but I honestly believe that

everything but I honestly believe that seeing on YouTube how you do an electric

seeing on YouTube how you do an electric

seeing on YouTube how you do an electric engine and then you feel like you know

engine and then you feel like you know

engine and then you feel like you know you know you know how to build it it’s

you know you know how to build it it’s

you know you know how to build it it’s not the same of actually doing it

not the same of actually doing it

not the same of actually doing it yourself the learning curve that there

yourself the learning curve that there

yourself the learning curve that there is in actually doing failing redoing and

is in actually doing failing redoing and

is in actually doing failing redoing and fail many times probably but at the end

fail many times probably but at the end

fail many times probably but at the end succeed it’s just enormous how the how

succeed it’s just enormous how the how

succeed it’s just enormous how the how kumar’s will evolve how the future of

kumar’s will evolve how the future of

kumar’s will evolve how the future of cool knives will be I don’t know but I

cool knives will be I don’t know but I

cool knives will be I don’t know but I know for me and my

know for me and my

know for me and my family and whoever who has been involved

family and whoever who has been involved

family and whoever who has been involved in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic

in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic

in Kumar’s this has been a fantastic journey we have had a lot of fun with it

journey we have had a lot of fun with it

journey we have had a lot of fun with it and we hope we have touched the heart of

and we hope we have touched the heart of

and we hope we have touched the heart of some kids and we have kind of opened

some kids and we have kind of opened

some kids and we have kind of opened some eyes and we want to we’re going to

some eyes and we want to we’re going to

some eyes and we want to we’re going to continue doing that and in case you’re

continue doing that and in case you’re

continue doing that and in case you’re sitting and you’re thinking how can I

sitting and you’re thinking how can I

sitting and you’re thinking how can I help how can I get involved don’t

help how can I get involved don’t

help how can I get involved don’t hesitate to reach out to us we will need

hesitate to reach out to us we will need

hesitate to reach out to us we will need all the help we can get

all the help we can get

all the help we can get thank you very much for listening

thank you very much for listening

thank you very much for listening [Applause]

”

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