Ever Want to Give a TED Talk?

Experiment

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During June 2020, my family did. Sort of. 

Each week since pandemic times began, my nuclear family with additions (partners, children) has been holding weekly Zoom calls. It's been a wonderful way to have (at least for me) even more communication than prior (my blindspot is initiating contact), and replace our in-person family gatherings for 2020. 

My niece birthed the idea for a group of "TED talks" or really a "Teach-O-Rama" for the celebrating resilience occasion of my dad's 80th birthday. After all, what would a retired professor like more than to listen to lectures? The experience need not happen for a birthday and you definitely do not need a professor in the group, but it was such a fun way to share with one another that I thought I'd write a post to encourage anyone else who may be in Zoom-ville doldrums to try it and see what happens. 

Step 1:  Each person chooses a topic of interest or passion to them that they could comfortably talk about for minimum of 5 minutes. Some of ours went way longer ... in a good way!

Step 2:  Take a week or two to plan your sharing, teaching, demonstration. 

Step 3:  Agree upon a time to meet for 1-2 hours, depending on how long your presentations are. 

Step 4:  Write up a schedule with presentation titles and share your screen at start of gathering with said schedule. 

Step 5:  Zoom it up and give one person at a time your full attention while they share their passion project or expertise or whatever they feel compelled to share. Use PowerPoint, or a photo slideshow on your screen, or just you talking with a cardboard cutout behind you and a paper mouse arrow, as one of our lovely presenters did. Endless possibilities.

To give an idea of the topic range, one person shared about values important in teaching, one about data compression and GIFs, one about library classification systems, one about rules of writing four-part harmony in music, one about following genetic information from DNA to RNA to proteins with computer coding, one on the importance of the ethos of creativity in reimagining a more compassionate world, and a few heart sharings that were personal contributions more than teachings, since it was a birthday after all. 

Results

For me the "TED talk" experiment was super powerful for several reasons.

• Listening allowed me to appreciate each family member in a completely new way ... and I've known a few of them for over 5 decades now.
• Compared to many family gatherings which often contain a lot of crosstalk and overtalk or simultaneous side conversations, fully focusing on one person's sharing at a time allowed each person to be heard in a way I had not experienced before. 
• My mind was blown by learning information new to me, even if I did not share the same passions. 
• I fully intend to do a how to knit tutorial at a future gathering after I mail everyone supplies, because when I asked if there was any interest, they said, Bring it on! (my words)
• Participating in this memory for me has been a highlight of the past few months.
• It seems most folks have many more than one area of interest or passion they could share about or research enough to create a small presentation. You do not need a ton of education or some fancy job title to teach another person what you've learned or care about from your time spinning around on spaceship Earth. Anything from plants to animals to music or an artist you love, sky's the limit.

Try it and see how it goes for you in any group, family or not.