Yoto Talks TED: Sugata Mitra on how children can drive their own education
At Yoto, we’re big fans of learning and research. In fact we are slightly obsessed with sharing interesting content — particularly from the likes of TED. In this series of blog posts, I will be sharing some of our favourite TED talks with you, and discussing why they might be relevant to you as parents and fans of Yoto.
This is about how the Internet can be liberating for kids. It’s really about harnessing the power of computers and the Internet. This talk is a brilliant set of examples of how screen time can be positive for the development of kids. Sugata is a funny man, but more importantly a passionate believer in finding new ways to help everyone around the world become educated. He gets kids that speak no English to learn things like science in English. He creates learning bridges between Delhi and Newcastle. He even creates a ‘Granny Cloud’ (you just have to watch it — it just can’t be explained!). And he also interviews Arthur C Clarke who says “If children have interest, then education happens”. It’s obvious — but for all those parents who have ever shaken their head at kids being graded on spelling tests that they hate doing because they’re too…you will love this talk.
It’s just so inspiring to see that kids can work stuff out themselves — as long as they are given playful challenges. We’d love to work with Sugata, not only as we’d laugh out loud at least once a minute but mostly as his enthusiasm and approach would help us develop how Yoto can work to advance learning.
