[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.12,0:00:01.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[marker squeaks]
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.47,0:00:17.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Sir Ken Robinson) Every country on Earth at the moment
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.07,0:00:19.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is reforming public education.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.23,0:00:21.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are two reasons for it.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.39,0:00:22.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first of them is economic.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.68,0:00:24.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People are trying to work out,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.57,0:00:27.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how do we educate our children
Dialogue: 0,0:00:27.69,0:00:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to take their place in the economies of the 21st century?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.30,0:00:33.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do we do that, given that we can't anticipate
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.81,0:00:36.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what the economy will look like at the end of next week,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.99,0:00:40.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the recent turmoil is demonstrating?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.32,0:00:42.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do we do that?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.15,0:00:43.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second, though, is cultural.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.71,0:00:47.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every country on Earth is trying to figure out how do we
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.76,0:00:50.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,educate our children, so they have a sense of cultural identity
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.52,0:00:52.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so that we can pass on the cultural genes
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.71,0:00:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.60,0:00:57.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while being part of the process of globalization?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.03,0:00:59.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do you square that circle?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.91,0:01:03.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem is, they're trying to meet the future
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.15,0:01:05.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by doing what they did in the past.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.49,0:01:08.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on the way they're alienating millions of kids
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.13,0:01:10.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who don't see any purpose in going to school.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.95,0:01:12.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When we went to school,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.51,0:01:13.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were kept there with a story:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.95,0:01:15.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is if you worked hard, and did well,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.96,0:01:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and got a college degree, you would have a job.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.36,0:01:20.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our kids don't believe that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.13,0:01:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they're right not to, by the way.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.51,0:01:23.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You're better having a degree than not,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.43,0:01:25.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's not a guarantee anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.41,0:01:27.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And particularly not if the route
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.42,0:01:29.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to it marginalizes most of the things
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.40,0:01:31.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you think are important about yourself.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.32,0:01:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And some people say,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.01,0:01:34.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We have to raise standards," as if this is a breakthrough.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.32,0:01:37.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, like, really? Yes, we should.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.89,0:01:39.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would you lower them? [audience chuckles]
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.12,0:01:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, I haven't come across an argument
Dialogue: 0,0:01:42.09,0:01:43.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that persuades me of lowering them.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.92,0:01:46.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But raising them, of course, we should raise them.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.50,0:01:49.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The problem is that the current system of education
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.29,0:01:52.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was designed, and conceived,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.62,0:01:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and structured for a different age.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.95,0:01:57.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was conceived
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.84,0:02:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the intellectual culture of the Enlightenment,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.10,0:02:06.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in the economic circumstances of the Industrial Revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.27,0:02:07.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before the middle of the 19th century,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.89,0:02:11.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were no systems of public education, not really.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.19,0:02:12.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, you could get educated by Jesuits,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.81,0:02:14.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you know, if you had the money.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.64,0:02:17.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But public education, paid for from taxation,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.73,0:02:20.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compulsory to everybody, and free at the point of delivery.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.43,0:02:22.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That was a revolutionary idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.62,0:02:24.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And many people objected to it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:24.66,0:02:27.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said it's not possible
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.24,0:02:29.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for many street kids, working class children
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.40,0:02:31.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to benefit from public education.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.23,0:02:32.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're incapable of learning to read and write,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.79,0:02:34.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why are we spending time on this?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.95,0:02:38.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, there's also built into it a whole series of assumptions
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.40,0:02:40.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about social structure and capacity.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.71,0:02:43.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was driven by an economic imperative of the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.80,0:02:46.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But running right through it
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.59,0:02:50.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was an intellectual model of the mind,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.37,0:02:52.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was essentially the Enlightenment view of intelligence,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.92,0:02:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that real intelligence consists in this capacity
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.02,0:02:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a certain type of deductive reasoning,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.18,0:02:59.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a knowledge of the classics, originally.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.61,0:03:02.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What we come to think of as academic ability.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.79,0:03:05.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is deep in the gene pool of public education
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.70,0:03:07.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there are really two types of people:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.32,0:03:09.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,academic and non academic,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.03,0:03:11.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,smart people and non-smart people.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.31,0:03:12.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the consequence of that is
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.51,0:03:15.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many brilliant people think they're not
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.81,0:03:18.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they've been judged against this particular
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.03,0:03:19.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,view of the mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.65,0:03:23.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we have twin pillars, economic and intellectual.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.37,0:03:25.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And my view is
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.05,0:03:29.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this model has caused chaos in many people's lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.43,0:03:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's been great for some;
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.66,0:03:32.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there have been people who've benefited wonderfully from it,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.91,0:03:35.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but most people have not.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.85,0:03:37.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, they suffered this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.68,0:03:39.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the modern epidemic,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.15,0:03:42.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's as misplaced and it's as fictitious.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.60,0:03:46.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the plague of ADHD. [crowd murmurs]
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.68,0:03:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this is a map of the incidence of ADHD in America,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.79,0:03:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or prescriptions for ADHD.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.94,0:03:57.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Don't mistake me, I don't mean to say there is no such thing
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.78,0:03:59.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as Attention Deficit Disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.82,0:04:02.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not qualified to say if there is such a thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.19,0:04:04.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that a great majority of psychologists
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.29,0:04:07.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and pediatrician think there is such a thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.08,0:04:11.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's still a matter of debate.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.10,0:04:15.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What I do know for a fact is it's not an epidemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.30,0:04:18.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These kids are being medicated
Dialogue: 0,0:04:18.09,0:04:20.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as routinely as we had our tonsils taken out,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.91,0:04:23.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and on the same whimsical basis,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.34,0:04:26.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for the same reason, medical fashion.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.94,0:04:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our children are living in the most intensely stimulating period
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.54,0:04:33.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the history of the Earth.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.66,0:04:36.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're being besieged with information,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.09,0:04:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and caught their attention from every platform:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.94,0:04:42.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,computers, from iPhones, from advertising hoardings,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.63,0:04:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from hundreds of television channels.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.94,0:04:46.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we're penalizing them now
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.47,0:04:48.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for getting distracted.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.66,0:04:51.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From what? You know, boring stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.99,0:04:54.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At school for the most part.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.51,0:04:56.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It seems to me it's not a coincidence, totally,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:56.55,0:04:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the incidence of ADHD
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.66,0:05:01.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has written in parallel with the growth of standardized testing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:01.41,0:05:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These kids are being given Ritalin, and Adderall,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.02,0:05:07.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all manner of things-- often quite dangerous drugs--
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.16,0:05:10.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to get them focused and calm them down.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.23,0:05:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But according to this, Attention Deficit Disorder
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.87,0:05:15.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,increases as you travel east across the country.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.93,0:05:24.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People start losing interest in Oklahoma. [audience erupts in laughter]
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.75,0:05:27.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can hardly think straight in Arkansas.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.90,0:05:29.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by the time they get to Washington,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.13,0:05:31.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they've lost it completely.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.47,0:05:35.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are separate reasons for that, I believe. [laughs]
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.91,0:05:38.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a fictitious epidemic.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.58,0:05:41.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you think of it, the arts.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.13,0:05:42.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I don't say this exclusively the arts,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.99,0:05:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think it's also true of science and of maths.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:45.18,0:05:47.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But let me-- I say about the arts, particularly,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:47.28,0:05:50.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they are the victims of this mentality currently,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.61,0:05:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,particularly.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.50,0:05:56.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The arts, especially address the idea of
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.43,0:05:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,aesthetic experience.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.07,0:06:01.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An aesthetic experience is one in which your senses
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.65,0:06:03.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are operating at their peak,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.51,0:06:05.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're present in the current moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.64,0:06:08.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you're resonating with the excitement of this thing
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.31,0:06:09.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you're experiencing,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.99,0:06:12.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when you are fully alive.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.45,0:06:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An anaesthetic is when you shut your senses off,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.32,0:06:19.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and deaden yourself to what's happening.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.26,0:06:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a lot of these drugs are that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.11,0:06:26.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're getting our children through education by anaesthetizing them.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.16,0:06:27.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I think we should be doing the exact opposite.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.60,0:06:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We shouldn't be putting them asleep, we should be waking them up
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.27,0:06:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to what they have inside of themselves.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.44,0:06:34.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the model we have is this.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.08,0:06:36.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's, I believe, we have a system of education
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.37,0:06:39.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is modeled on
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.04,0:06:41.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the interests of industrialism
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.77,0:06:43.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in the image of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.51,0:06:45.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll give you a couple of examples.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:45.61,0:06:48.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Schools are still pretty much organized on factory lines:
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.37,0:06:51.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ringing bells, separate facilities,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.07,0:06:54.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,specialized into separate subjects.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.22,0:06:57.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We still educate children by batches.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.13,0:07:00.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, we put them through the system by age group.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.11,0:07:03.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we do that? You know, why is there this assumption
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.59,0:07:05.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the most important thing kids have in common
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.51,0:07:07.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is how old they are?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.61,0:07:09.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, it's like the most important thing about them
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.08,0:07:12.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is their date of manufacture.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.04,0:07:14.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I know kids who are much better than other kids
Dialogue: 0,0:07:14.02,0:07:16.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the same age in different disciplines,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.51,0:07:18.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or at different times of the day,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.46,0:07:20.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or better in smaller groups than in large groups.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.44,0:07:22.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or sometimes they want to be on their own.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.33,0:07:23.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you're interested in a model of learning,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.77,0:07:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you don't start from this production line mentality.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.38,0:07:28.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These-- it's essentially about conformity,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:28.42,0:07:30.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and increasingly it's about that as you look at the growth
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.28,0:07:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of standardized testing and standardized curricula.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.49,0:07:35.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's about standardization.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.47,0:07:37.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I believe we've got to go in the exact opposite direction.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:37.81,0:07:40.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what I mean about changing the paradigm.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.24,0:07:41.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was a great study done recently
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.71,0:07:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of divergent thinking, published a couple of years ago.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:45.64,0:07:49.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Divergent thinking isn't the same thing as creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.39,0:07:52.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I define creativity as the process of having original ideas
Dialogue: 0,0:07:52.66,0:07:54.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that have value.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:54.52,0:07:57.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Divergent thinking isn't a synonym,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.22,0:08:02.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's an essential capacity for creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.08,0:08:06.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the ability to see lots of possible answers to a question;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.04,0:08:08.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,lots of possible ways of interpreting a question;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.92,0:08:12.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think, whatever De Bono would probably call, laterally;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.46,0:08:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to think not just in linear or convergent ways;
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.17,0:08:19.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to see multiple answers, not one.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.60,0:08:20.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I mean, there's tests for this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:20.71,0:08:22.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, one kind of common example would be,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.42,0:08:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people might be asked to say,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.96,0:08:28.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how many uses can you think of for a paperclip?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.16,0:08:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All those routine questions,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:29.42,0:08:31.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,most people might come up with 10 or 15.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.73,0:08:34.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People who are good at this might come up with 200.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.61,0:08:36.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they do that by saying, well,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:36.05,0:08:37.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,could the paperclip be 200 foot tall
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.58,0:08:39.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and be made out of foam and rubber?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.20,0:08:40.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, like does it have to be a paperclip as we know it, Jim?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.00,0:08:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:43.22,0:08:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, there are tests for this, and they gave them to 1500 people
Dialogue: 0,0:08:46.31,0:08:49.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a book called "Breakpoint and Beyond".
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.07,0:08:50.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on the protocol of the test,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.33,0:08:53.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you scored above a certain level,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.03,0:08:56.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you'd be considered to be a genius at divergent thinking.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.36,0:08:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay, so my question to you is
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.64,0:09:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what percentage of the people tested
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.67,0:09:03.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the 1500
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.23,0:09:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,scored at genius level for divergent thinking?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.26,0:09:08.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, you need to know one more thing about them.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.30,0:09:08.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These were kindergarten children.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:09.00,0:09:14.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what do you think, what percentage at genius level?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:14.40,0:09:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-(audience member) 80%.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.03,0:09:17.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,-(Ken) 80? You think 80, okay.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.25,0:09:21.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,98% Now, the thing about this was it was a longitudinal study.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.51,0:09:24.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, they retested the same children
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.09,0:09:26.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,five years later, age of 8 to 10.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.70,0:09:29.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do you think? 50?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.52,0:09:32.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They retested them again, five years later,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:32.37,0:09:35.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ages 13 to 15.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:35.37,0:09:39.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can see a trend here, can't you?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.30,0:09:43.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, this tells an interesting story
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.20,0:09:44.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because you could have imagined it
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.22,0:09:46.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going the other way, could you?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.83,0:09:48.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You start off not being very good,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.27,0:09:49.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you get better as you get older.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.89,0:09:50.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this shows two things:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.00,0:09:54.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one is we all have this capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.54,0:09:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and two, it mostly deteriorates.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.21,0:09:58.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, a lot of things have happened to these kids
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.65,0:10:01.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they've grown up, a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:01.23,0:10:02.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one of the most important things that happend to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.79,0:10:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am convinced, is the by now they have become educated.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.48,0:10:09.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They've spent 10 years at school being told there's one answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.18,0:10:10.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's at the back
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.77,0:10:13.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and don't look
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.14,0:10:16.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and don't copy because that's cheating.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.23,0:10:18.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When outside schools, that's called collaboration. [audience chuckles]
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.81,0:10:21.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not inside schools.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.03,0:10:23.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This isn't because teachers want it this way,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.28,0:10:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's just because it happens that way.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.55,0:10:29.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's because it's in the gene pool of education.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.97,0:10:32.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have to think differently about human capacity,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.46,0:10:34.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have to get over this old conception
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.68,0:10:37.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of academic, non-academic,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.26,0:10:40.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,abstract, theoretical, vocational,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.38,0:10:42.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and see it for what it is
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.87,0:10:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a myth.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.58,0:10:46.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Secondly, we have to recognize that most great learning
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.71,0:10:50.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,happens in groups, that collaboration is the stuff of growth.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.75,0:10:52.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we atomized people, and separate them,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.64,0:10:54.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and judge them separately,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:54.20,0:10:58.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we form a kind of disjunction between them
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.07,0:11:00.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and their natural learning environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.02,0:11:02.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And thirdly, it's crucially about the culture
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.78,0:11:05.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of our institutions, the habits of institution
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.42,0:11:07.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the habitats that they occupy.