TED: Hans Rosling, Awesomest Lecture Ever!

Well, one of them.

I stumbled upon this TED talk as a related presentation from a presentation linked to in the comments on a previous post on statistics and homelessness.  And I’m very glad I did.

I am always blown away by how many professors and teachers that I’ve had over the years thought that either (a) the material being presented was intrinsically interesting enough that no dressing up was required; or (b) the kids are here with the option to learn, and they are free to choose not to.  I am here to teach those who choose to learn.  If they don’t make an effort, then they deserve what they get.

I was one of the kids who did NOT choose to learn for many of my courses (though this may sounds like a joke to Americans, I paid about $4,500CDN a year in tuition, and I felt that warranted some enthusiasm from Professors.  I felt ripped off and in my immaturity let an opportunity to get something out of my $4,500/year pass me by).

There were about four or five lecturers (out of maybe thirty?) who did consistently engage my classes and made the daily grind of university academics an absolute pleasure.  Some even had fan bases and referrals:  kids would bring friends in to sit in on lectures just for entertainment and enlightenment.  It made me want to become a Professor for a while (until I realized that my course of study, Psychology, was not for me… and neither was starting over in a discipline I might like more).

Well, Hans Rosling is in one of those rare equal splits between lecturer-entertainer-researcher.  And recognizes that the threshold to the obtaining, applying, and engaging of learning is a major impediment to broader learning and understanding.  And although it is a student’s job to learn, and a Professor’s job to teach, he makes sure he does all he can on his side (I wish I did the same on mine).

He engages his subject (misunderstanding of the relationship between health and wealth, at least in terms of the wealth of nations) with the enthusiasm of a horse race announcer during the last leg.  All the more impressive, coming from a 60 year old Swede, in English.  He accompanies his enthusiasm with an inquisitiveness perfectly matched, unbelievably, by his presentation material.

This is the first time in my life I have been impressed by a slideshow.  But that’s probably because I haven’t watched his second TED presentation yet.

Anyways, a fantastic presentation that I would recommend for anyone who cares about education.  And those who were in University, or teach, imagine if every lecture were like this one.  There’s no reason why every lecture can’t end with applause.  I had one professor achieve that distinction and there isn’t a single student of his who will forget his contribution and zeal.

… and the cow goes moo