What leading minds say about the future of education
What do the leading experts on education have to say about the future of education? These TED Talks have inspired us at Acton. We embrace and believe deeply in many of the ideas presented in these talks. Below is a summary of some of the top TED Talks on education and how they align with what we’re doing to shape a learner-driven, values-based educational experience.
1. "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" by Sir Ken Robinson
Summary:
Sir Ken Robinson highlights how traditional schools often prioritize conformity over creativity, squashing a learner’s ability to think divergently. He emphasizes and advocates for reimagining education to value creativity as highly as literacy, encouraging unique talents to flourish.
How it works at Acton:
We see creativity bloom daily, from Spark learners building 3D neighborhood structures to Discovery Studio Eagles creating passion projects related to baking and video editing. For example, during the Lip Dub project, learners led the entire creative process, from selecting the song to editing the final video. Creativity isn’t just encouraged—it’s celebrated as learners take ownership of their ideas and projects.
“Creativity is as important as literacy”
2. "The Power of Vulnerability" by Brené Brown
Summary:
Brené Brown speaks about the courage it takes to be vulnerable and how embracing vulnerability can build deeper connections. She emphasizes the importance of empathy, resilience, and personal growth.
How it works at Acton:
Our Hero’s Journey framework encourages learners to embrace challenges and reflect on their experiences. Eagles and Guides often talk about their failures and struggles. This year, a middle school learner shared how completing a difficult challenge taught her that she could “do hard things.” Similarly, Socratic discussions, like those around conflict resolution in the Growth Studio, allow learners to share openly and build stronger community bonds.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
3. "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" by Simon Sinek
Summary:
Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” approach emphasizes starting with “why.” Great leaders inspire action by connecting to purpose, rather than focusing on what or how. In addition to his famous Ted Talk, Simon Sinek also detailed how this can be applied to schools. When you tour Acton Academy, understand our mission and understand our why!
How it works at Acton:
Purpose drives everything we do. Learners develop annual goals in their Hero Planners, creating a clear vision of their “why.” The Adventure Studio’s Becoming a World-Class Conversationalist Quest exemplifies this. Eagles practiced communication by helping Spark learners and preparing interviews with community heroes, connecting skills to a greater sense of purpose and leadership.
“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of the leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.”
4. "Every Kid Needs a Champion" by Rita Pierson
Summary:
Rita Pierson argues that meaningful relationships between teachers and students are essential. She believes every child deserves someone who believes in them and champions their success.
How it works at Acton:
While we call our mentors "Guides" instead of teachers, they champion our Eagles’ success in every way. At Acton, Guides recognize and celebrate learners’ efforts. In the Growth studio, the learners celebrate each other’s progress on reading, math, and language arts work.
5. "Let’s Teach for Mastery — Not Test Scores" by Salman Khan
Summary:
Salman Khan, founder of Khan Academy, advocates for a mastery-based approach to learning rather than one focused on standardized testing. He argues that traditional education’s “one-size-fits-all” pace leaves gaps in understanding, which compound over time. Instead, learners should master concepts before advancing, ensuring a strong foundation for future learning.
How it works at Acton:
Mastery is at the heart of learning at Acton Academy Columbus. Our learners use tools like Khan Academy for math and other subjects, progressing at their own pace to truly grasp each concept. For instance, middle school learners solidify their understanding of fractions and decimals through mental math challenges, while younger learners use hands-on materials in the Montessori Studio to internalize foundational skills. The focus isn’t on how quickly they advance but on ensuring they understand the material deeply, aligning perfectly with Khan’s vision for education.
This commitment to mastery is also evident in learner-driven projects like the Discovery Studio’s Civilization Badge Tracker, where learners complete rigorous challenges that combine research, creativity, and critical thinking. By emphasizing mastery over speed, Acton Academy ensures learners build a solid foundation for lifelong success.
How These TED Talks Reflect Acton Academy Columbus Values
The ideas shared in these TED Talks resonate deeply with Acton Academy Columbus's learner-driven model. Below are detailed examples and studio-specific highlights that illustrate how these principles are embodied in our day-to-day practices.
1. Creativity and Individuality
At Acton, creativity is not just encouraged—it’s foundational. Learners are given the space and resources to explore their unique talents and interests.
Spark Studio: Creativity flourishes through hands-on activities like building 3D neighborhood maps, constructing paper inventions to solve real-world problems, and painting vibrant landscapes inspired by Georgia O’Keefe.
Growth Studio: Learners took on the challenge of creating unique visual representations of their civilization studies, showcasing their understanding through art and design.
Adventure Studio: During the Lip Dub project, learners exercised creativity and leadership by organizing roles, choreographing sequences, and editing the final video. This collaborative effort highlighted their ability to turn ideas into a finished product.
2. Embracing Vulnerability
Vulnerability is key to growth and community-building at Acton.
Hero’s Journey Reflection: One Eagle shared how completing a particularly challenging task helped her realize, “I can do hard things.” This kind of reflection is a regular part of studio life, helping learners grow in confidence and resilience.
Conflict Resolution: Peace tables in the Growth and Spark Studios empower learners to work through disagreements with honesty and empathy. These moments of vulnerability strengthen relationships and create a supportive environment.
Growth Mindset Challenges: Learners regularly face challenges like juggling or learning the Rubik’s Cube, which push them out of their comfort zones while fostering patience and self-compassion.
3. Purpose and Leadership
At Acton, learners are encouraged to discover their purpose and lead with intention.
Hero Planners: Learners set annual, sessional, and daily goals, ensuring that their actions are tied to a clear purpose. This process teaches them to reflect on their “why” and take ownership of their journey.
Community Impact: Adventure Studio learners interviewed local heroes to understand what drives their success, gaining insight into purposeful leadership. This project also inspired them to lead younger learners in activities like the Lip Dub and conflict resolution discussions.
Guide-Led by Design: By empowering learners to take charge of their own projects—like the NASA Virtual Field Trip and Civilization Quest—they become leaders in their own education.
4. Relationships and Community
Strong relationships form the backbone of Acton Academy, creating a culture of trust and collaboration.
Grace and Courtesy Lessons in Spark Studio: These lessons help young learners practice kindness, respect, and responsibility, setting the foundation for positive interactions.
Collaboration on Projects: In the Discovery Studio, learners worked in pairs to create visual representations of their history lessons, sharing ideas and providing constructive feedback.
Parent-Child Bonding Through Exhibitions: During exhibitions, parents are invited to ask thoughtful questions and celebrate their learner’s journey, strengthening their connection and understanding of the learning process.
5. Mastery Over Memorization
Acton prioritizes mastery learning, ensuring learners truly understand concepts before moving forward.
Math Progression: Learners use tools like Khan Academy to master concepts at their own pace. For example, Growth Studio learners spent focused time on multiplication and fractions to strengthen their foundational math skills before advancing to more complex topics.
Civilization Badge Tracker: Learners work through interdisciplinary challenges that combine research, writing, art, and problem-solving. Completing these badges requires demonstrating a deep understanding of the material, from the Spanish Armada to the Renaissance period.
STEAM Challenges: In Spark Studio, learners create real-world solutions, such as designing inventions to entertain a crying baby or engineering paper towers, blending creativity with skill mastery.
6. Learner-Driven Innovation
Acton’s model is a direct response to the call for revolutionary education, putting learners at the center.
Customized Learning Paths: Whether a learner is exploring poetry in Writer’s Workshop or diving deep into historical topics like the Protestant Reformation, they choose how to engage with the material in a way that aligns with their interests and goals.
Freedom to Explore Interests: Learners in the Reggio Studio spend time finger knitting, building origami, and creating comics, pursuing activities that spark joy and develop skills.
Experimentation and Reflection: Projects like the Adventure Studio’s Becoming a World-Class Conversationalist Quest allow learners to experiment with real-world applications of their skills, such as practicing introductions and leading group discussions.
Conclusion
The alignment between these TED Talks and Acton Academy Columbus’s values is not coincidental—it reflects our shared vision for what education can and should be. By focusing on creativity, vulnerability, purpose, relationships, mastery, and learner-driven innovation, we are creating a space where young heroes can thrive, ready to lead and contribute meaningfully to the world.