[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.48,0:00:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when I was 15 years old,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.40,0:00:15.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I felt my first real life calling.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.01,0:00:17.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thanks to a group of Olympic athletes
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.90,0:00:22.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were coaching kids for free \Nright here in San Jose,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.22,0:00:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I fell in love
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.88,0:00:27.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with one of the most obscure\Nsports in the world:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.71,0:00:29.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the hammer throw.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.25,0:00:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I imagine you're all familiar\Nwith the shot put, the discus,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.94,0:00:34.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe even the javelin.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.87,0:00:37.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So here's the moment \Nyou've all been waiting for:
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.47,0:00:39.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hammer Throwing 101.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.63,0:00:42.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine you took a 16-pound bowling ball,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.05,0:00:44.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you lodged a broomstick into it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.75,0:00:48.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then you spun it around so fast \Nthat the ball went 60 mph,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:48.94,0:00:51.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it built up centrifugal force
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.68,0:00:54.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,up to 500 lbs.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.25,0:00:56.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then you let go \Nat just the right moment
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.86,0:01:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so that it could fly higher \Nthan an eight-story building
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.42,0:01:02.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nearly the length of a football field.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.93,0:01:04.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that gives you some sense
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.91,0:01:08.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the unique difficulty \Nand appeal of hammer throwing.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.43,0:01:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But despite having the best \Nteachers in the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.20,0:01:14.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the first day did not go well.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.02,0:01:16.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, I fell down.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.74,0:01:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Couldn't have done worse.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.47,0:01:22.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I got back up,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.76,0:01:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,took thousands of throws,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.00,0:01:26.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got better over time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.36,0:01:28.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So while I started at zero,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.38,0:01:30.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the time I was a senior,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.15,0:01:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had the farthest throw\Nfor a high school student in the country;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.02,0:01:36.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,earned a scholarship to Georgetown -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.03,0:01:37.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go, Hoyas! -
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.50,0:01:39.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in 1996, I made my first Olympic team;
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.75,0:01:42.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually I threw 260 feet,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.22,0:01:45.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is one of the farthest throws\Nin American history.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.63,0:01:47.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.56,0:01:53.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.72,0:01:55.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But to be honest with you,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.86,0:01:59.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the real benefits of that activity ...
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.84,0:02:03.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were that it paid for my education,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.25,0:02:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it allowed me to see the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.25,0:02:08.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it allowed me\Nto form lifelong relationships
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.07,0:02:10.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with some very amazing people.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.42,0:02:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as an educator these last 20 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.70,0:02:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I often wonder
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.26,0:02:18.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what would have happened \Nto my Olympic dream
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.16,0:02:20.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if I had been graded
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.66,0:02:24.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the same way that we grade \Nkids in the classroom.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.00,0:02:27.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Quick history of letter grading \Nin the United States.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.26,0:02:30.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Letter grading actually started in 1897
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.45,0:02:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,out in Mount Holyoke College,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.35,0:02:36.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they decided to grade \Ntheir students' work from A through E.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.68,0:02:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, one year later,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:37.68,0:02:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they realized that E\Nwas being confused with excellent.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.27,0:02:43.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.27,0:02:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's where we get the F \Nthat we all know and dread.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.46,0:02:47.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.100,0:02:53.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we're talking about \Na 120-year-old way of assessing students.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.51,0:02:55.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, assessment is great.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.00,0:02:59.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I spent probably more time \Nwatching video of hammer throwing
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.77,0:03:01.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than I did actually throwing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.73,0:03:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But letter grades present \Na number of serious problems.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.24,0:03:06.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Number one:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.45,0:03:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Letter grades are unreasonably permanent.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.92,0:03:10.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So let's go back to my Olympic story.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.98,0:03:13.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On day one, I would have gotten an F.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.99,0:03:16.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the end of the semester, probably a D.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.43,0:03:20.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, as a senior, \NI was leading the country;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.01,0:03:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll take the A.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.48,0:03:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But all of this is going to be averaged.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.99,0:03:29.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I probably got \Nabout a 2.5 GPA in hammer throwing.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.94,0:03:34.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And with a 2.5, colleges would say \NI'm not ready for the next level,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.11,0:03:37.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my Olympic dream would be over\Nalmost before it began.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.77,0:03:41.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might be thinking, "OK. Well, \Nthat's sports. Different from academia."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.49,0:03:45.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, let's check in with your typical \Nhigh school freshman.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.99,0:03:47.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Let's call him Doug.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.97,0:03:49.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Doug,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.26,0:03:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for whatever completely rational reason,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.66,0:03:57.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he bombs his first biology test\Nhis freshman year.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.49,0:03:59.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe he has the flu.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.49,0:04:01.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Maybe something's going on at home.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.76,0:04:03.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But he starts off with an F.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.75,0:04:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He gets better over time.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.76,0:04:10.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the end of the semester, Doug is \Nthe best biology student in the class.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.61,0:04:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's all going to be averaged,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.76,0:04:15.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so Doug gets a C+,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.99,0:04:19.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that C+, it's forever.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.25,0:04:20.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Doug as a senior
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.68,0:04:22.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could go on to do research
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.75,0:04:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,worthy of a Nobel Prize in Biology
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.72,0:04:28.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but cannot get a 4.0.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.49,0:04:30.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I want you to think\Nabout Doug's situation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.76,0:04:33.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How many of us, if we were in a footrace,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.26,0:04:34.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you fell down at the start,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.94,0:04:38.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you knew you had no chance \Nof winning or even placing well,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.74,0:04:41.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would get back and run all out?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.100,0:04:44.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's really hard to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.14,0:04:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or consider the role reversal.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.44,0:04:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know hundreds of teachers,\Nand I don't think there's any one of them
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.98,0:04:53.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who would want a grade \Non their first year of teaching
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.58,0:04:56.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that stuck to them\Nfor the entirety of their career.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.75,0:04:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know I wouldn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.24,0:05:00.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we're missing out on is the do-over.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.78,0:05:02.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everything that we do in life -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.69,0:05:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, our basic life skills -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.04,0:05:07.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're terrible at them at the beginning.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.03,0:05:09.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From walking to talking to riding a bike,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.73,0:05:12.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we all get better\Nby a process of do-overs.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.50,0:05:14.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or take design.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.43,0:05:16.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a Ted event after all.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:16.47,0:05:18.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The logo that everybody knows
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.85,0:05:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because of the cool arrow \Nin the negative space,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.92,0:05:23.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the FedEx logo there,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.69,0:05:27.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,famously went through 200 iterations\Nbefore they got to this version.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.77,0:05:31.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was not 199 failures \Nand then a sudden success;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.89,0:05:33.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it was an evolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.75,0:05:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or consider the paragons \Nof success that we admire:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.14,0:05:38.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thomas Edison,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.14,0:05:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,famously finding out 1000 ways \Nto not make a light bulb
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.18,0:05:43.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the light went on;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:43.81,0:05:45.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or Walt Disney,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.72,0:05:48.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whose first animation company\Nwent bankrupt;
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.29,0:05:49.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or Maya Angelou,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.88,0:05:53.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who endured one of the most difficult \Nchildhoods you could possibly imagine
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.52,0:05:58.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to come back and become one of the most \Ninfluential voices of the 20th century.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.44,0:06:01.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do these people have in common?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.22,0:06:04.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not education.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:04.30,0:06:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not money.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.54,0:06:08.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not privilege. It's not talent.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.48,0:06:09.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's resilience.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.55,0:06:13.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when we don't allow for a do-over,\Nwe don't build that trait
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.73,0:06:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is most in common for people \Nwho have achieved great success.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.35,0:06:21.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grades are stressful by nature.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.83,0:06:24.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we talk about student stress,\Nwe should listen to them
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.54,0:06:27.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because what they tell us\Nis absolutely shocking.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.43,0:06:28.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In 2015,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.86,0:06:31.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the California Healthy Kids Survey
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.22,0:06:35.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,revealed that one out of three students\Nreported chronic sadness ...
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.90,0:06:38.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,depression.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.98,0:06:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the year before,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.16,0:06:43.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the American Psychological Association
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.73,0:06:46.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,asked students: "What is\Nthe leading cause of stress in your life?"
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.94,0:06:50.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and identified school as number one.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.69,0:06:55.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one in four said \Nit was causing them extreme stress.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.23,0:06:58.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's not just grade permanence\Nthat causes this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.85,0:07:01.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's something inherent \Nabout grades themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.03,0:07:04.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want you to imagine \Nthe world's worst video game.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.99,0:07:06.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're going to call it Level Down.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.74,0:07:10.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in Level Down, you start off \Nwith everything unlocked.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.38,0:07:13.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You've got all the super powers.\NYou've got all the gear.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.87,0:07:16.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you only get worse over time.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.99,0:07:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two things would happen\Nif you played Level Down:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:19.74,0:07:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you would lose interest very quickly,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.72,0:07:25.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you would also focus\Nonly on the things that could go wrong.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.06,0:07:27.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's nothing to strive for.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.08,0:07:30.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is very much the situation\Nof high school students.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.97,0:07:36.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even if our man Doug gets an A\Non that first biology test,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.72,0:07:40.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he can only hold on or do worse.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.48,0:07:43.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so he's basically\Ndoing a tightrope walk,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.09,0:07:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if he gets to the other end\Nof the semester with the A,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.93,0:07:50.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the chief emotion\Nhe might experience is relief.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.74,0:07:55.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The chief emotion of learning and\Nbettering yourself should not be relief;
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.21,0:07:56.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it should be joy.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.22,0:07:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you might say,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.22,0:07:59.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, OK, education: \Nserious stuff, it's not a game."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.93,0:08:01.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I would beg to differ.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.18,0:08:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's already a game.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.88,0:08:07.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's just a really stressful\Nand oftentimes boring game.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.64,0:08:09.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all the students\Nknow the rules to this game.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.94,0:08:11.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Rule number one:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.46,0:08:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Find out what the teacher\Nreally wants me to know.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.46,0:08:15.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Number two:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.50,0:08:20.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Cram the night before or during lunch\Nor in the car or during break.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.35,0:08:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Number three:
Dialogue: 0,0:08:21.51,0:08:24.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Spit out that answer\Nthat that teacher wanted to know.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.47,0:08:26.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And repeat.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.40,0:08:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not a fun game.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.16,0:08:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very stressful game.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.95,0:08:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we need to change the rules.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.02,0:08:34.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grades are counter-motivational.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.48,0:08:35.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I mean by that is
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.73,0:08:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they literally motivate traits\Nthat we don't want to foster.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.24,0:08:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right. We've got three paths here.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.76,0:08:44.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one on the left takes three hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:44.97,0:08:46.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one in the middle takes one hour.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.97,0:08:49.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one on the right takes five hours.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.50,0:08:52.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there's $100 at the end of this path,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.49,0:08:55.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which road are you going to take?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.22,0:08:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Students are not dumb.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.75,0:08:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They'll do the same thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.34,0:09:02.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means taking the easiest classes,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:02.01,0:09:05.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the easiest teachers, \Nthe least complex projects,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.75,0:09:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because the pay-off's the same,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:07.89,0:09:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as a result,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.20,0:09:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what are we actually encouraging?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.70,0:09:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A minimized work ethic.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.65,0:09:17.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A conformity of knowledge:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.90,0:09:20.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't question the teacher;\Nit's only going to hurt your grade.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.84,0:09:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And most painfully of all, for me,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.62,0:09:24.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an actual avoidance of creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.24,0:09:26.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would you come up with a solution
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.00,0:09:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's different than the A work\Nthat the teacher provided as a sample?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.16,0:09:32.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would point out
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.96,0:09:35.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that these are the traits
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.19,0:09:38.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we look to for innovators in society:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.97,0:09:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who are incredibly hardworking,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.90,0:09:43.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who think differently,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.97,0:09:46.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and people who are creative.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.32,0:09:47.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, some might say,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.38,0:09:51.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, it's kids these days. \NThey're just lazy."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.71,0:09:52.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they're not.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:52.100,0:09:55.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our man Doug, he'll work incredibly hard,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.48,0:09:57.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just after school,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.16,0:10:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it's doing a sport\Nor leveling up in a video game
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.35,0:10:02.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or figuring out a skateboard trick
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.23,0:10:04.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or figuring out some new, you know, \Nsong on the guitar.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.87,0:10:06.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They will spend hours on this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.76,0:10:08.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:08.49,0:10:10.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What are we depriving them of in school
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.71,0:10:12.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they're getting after school?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.97,0:10:15.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Daniel Pink
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.26,0:10:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wrote a groundbreaking book called Drive,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.34,0:10:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where he described that \Nwhat we really are motivated by
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.97,0:10:24.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are autonomy, mastery, and purpose.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.27,0:10:27.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Essentially, we want the freedom\Nto choose what we're doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.95,0:10:30.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We want to figure out\Nthings that are hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.97,0:10:33.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we want to know that it matters,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:33.68,0:10:36.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either to our future\Nor to the benefit of the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.91,0:10:41.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In short, students want the freedom\Nto develop skills that actually matter.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.90,0:10:44.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Four:
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.65,0:10:48.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Grades distract from\Nthe actual goal of learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.41,0:10:50.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right. This is Ernie Sheldon.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.26,0:10:56.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ernie wanted to break\Nthe seven-foot high jump record.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.50,0:10:58.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was a big deal in the 1950s.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.42,0:10:59.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No one had ever done it.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:59.57,0:11:01.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was kind of like the four-minute mile.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.91,0:11:03.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Ernie was so fired up
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.49,0:11:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that in his bedroom,\Nhe put a tape mark at seven feet.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:07.72,0:11:09.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fixated on that number.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:10.46,0:11:14.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ernie jumped 6'11" dozens of times
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.58,0:11:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but never jumped seven feet,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.46,0:11:18.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because he was so focused\Non the end result
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.86,0:11:22.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not on the process\Non actually how to jump better
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.99,0:11:26.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that would give him the end result.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.33,0:11:29.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if we replace that tape with the grade,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.26,0:11:31.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can see the problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:31.06,0:11:33.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there's some research to back this up.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.16,0:11:36.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Ruth Butler took three groups of kids
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.03,0:11:39.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and said we're going to do\Ntwo academic tasks,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.41,0:11:41.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, group number one, \Nwe're going to grade you.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.70,0:11:44.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Group number two, we're\Njust going to give you comments.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.99,0:11:47.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Group number three, \Nwe're going to do both.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.49,0:11:50.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Guess which group outperformed all others
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.22,0:11:55.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in both performance academically\Nand in their interest in the projects.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.85,0:11:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Group number two.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.24,0:11:59.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In other words,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.48,0:12:02.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just knowing they were being graded
Dialogue: 0,0:12:02.42,0:12:04.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually made them perform worse.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.40,0:12:08.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So knowing all this, why are we doing it?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.76,0:12:10.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Who do these grades actually serve?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.44,0:12:12.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The only answer I can\Ncome up with is colleges.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:12.66,0:12:14.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They need to differentiate students.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.38,0:12:15.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I get it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:15.50,0:12:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But consider the fact that two teachers\Nin the same department of the same school
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.27,0:12:22.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,might disagree on assessment.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.74,0:12:26.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or the fact that schools\Nuse different grading scales.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.45,0:12:31.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At one school, the same student\Ngets a 4.4, another one a 3.8.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.34,0:12:32.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Same student.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:33.78,0:12:36.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or the fact that the letter grades\Ndon't mean anything anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.91,0:12:41.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a time that a C\Nliterally meant a mathematical average.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.86,0:12:46.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know a class in existence\Nright now where that's the case.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.69,0:12:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what do we do?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.02,0:12:50.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I give you some what-ifs.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.90,0:12:54.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What if more colleges subscribed to\NFreshman forgiveness?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.98,0:13:00.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So our state schools and our UC system\Nand some private schools do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.19,0:13:01.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it should be standard.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.89,0:13:04.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What if colleges\Nfocused more on portfolios:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.68,0:13:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what students designed,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.88,0:13:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what stories they told,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.50,0:13:12.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what research they've done,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.24,0:13:14.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what have they written?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.01,0:13:19.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're going to get a much more clear\Npicture of who that person actually is.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.22,0:13:23.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All right. Who can figure out\Nwhat these three students have in common?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.99,0:13:28.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have the same GPA.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.90,0:13:30.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's crazy.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.47,0:13:37.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I propose that if there was a calculation\Nof slope that followed the GPA ...
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.60,0:13:41.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something that gave us\Na little bit of story,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.31,0:13:43.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a movement index
Dialogue: 0,0:13:43.61,0:13:44.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we could understand:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.74,0:13:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hey, student number two is excelling
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.31,0:13:50.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and probably really ready for college.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.13,0:13:51.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He just had a rough start.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.51,0:13:54.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We should know that story, \Nand it's not that hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.91,0:13:56.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What can educators do?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.70,0:13:58.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can gamify our classes.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.29,0:14:00.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Students can level up\Ninstead of level down.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.83,0:14:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can give them a sense of mastery.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.55,0:14:06.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So a student who's in calculus\Nreally has mastered algebra first.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.52,0:14:07.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can flip our classrooms.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.92,0:14:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can provide resources\Nthat students can access at home
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.06,0:14:13.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so they're not so stressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.01,0:14:14.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can have do-overs
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.56,0:14:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so students' work can improve over time.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.02,0:14:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And lastly, we can link learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.70,0:14:22.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is when you work with a professional
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.65,0:14:26.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who's using the skills you're learning\Nin class in their professional life,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:26.36,0:14:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which gives it purpose.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:28.24,0:14:30.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For the last five years,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.38,0:14:32.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've tried all of these,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.19,0:14:34.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I can tell you they work.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.22,0:14:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My students are less stressed,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.49,0:14:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,more engaged,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.32,0:14:41.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and producing better work.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:42.88,0:14:44.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So make no mistake:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.71,0:14:48.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are alternatives\Nto traditional letter grading,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.97,0:14:54.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in a world that is changing\Nmore quickly than ever before
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.23,0:14:57.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and facing unprecedented challenges,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.67,0:15:00.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're going to rely\Non education more than ever.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.92,0:15:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And after 120 years,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:02.97,0:15:04.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope you'll agree:
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.82,0:15:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we're ready for an upgrade.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:06.47,0:15:07.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.51,0:15:08.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)