We started Term 3 today with a Teacher Only Day, focusing on developing SOLO rubrics for our courses this term. Initially in Learning Area groups unpacking success criteria and writing rubrics so we have a common grounding across all courses and then in our cross-curricular teaching teams.
At one stage I found myself sitting listening in on the English teachers conversation about their rubric for Speaking which is a focus this term. The only previous time (not an English teacher so not part of my day to day focus!) I have heard teachers discussing this was to do with school speech competitions.
Then today’s question hit me: What If a school speech competition was reframed as a TEDx event?
Would it mean more entries? Does it change the criteria that teachers would use? Would students be more excited about it? Would they be more willing to share their passions and interests? Does it mean that you would invite more audience in? How does this change things? Would other students be more or less interested in watching the speeches?
No answers today, but lots of questions bounding around in my head!
This post is part of my Questioning Quest.
Steve Mouldey 
Love the idea. Of course we would have to know that the students knew what a TedX was or it might be lost on them. I do wonder why making a speech has to be a competition. The only person someone standing up and delivering a public performance is competing with is themselves. Shouldn’t anyone who stands and delivers a TedX or whatever be applauded for their courage?
Thanks Alan. I completely agree and that is part of the appeal of a TEDx event to me. It celebrates all who take the risk to stand up and share their ideas. Wonder how many schools engender that same feeling when they are doing speeches?
Totally agree, Alan! http://rosmaceachern.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/s-is-for-speeches.html
We have done this sort of thing before for internal assessments – Ss were exposed to many examples over the year then we ran our Tedx conference – set the room up like a conference room, had water jugs etc and then they did their presentations. It was fun.
Ran out of time to do this in 2014 which is sad.
Would be good for school wide event.
Or what about a PechaKucha style speech? Little more rigourous than a TED talk we have found. Still playing around with it.
Steve you must have been reading my mind haha! I have two answers to this question and completely support the other replies above, especially what Alan said about not having to be a competition and being applauded for courage. I wrote my answers here in this little reply box but it turned into such a long and detailed response that I thought aha – this could be a blogpost in itself – so thank you, Steve, you’ve broken by blogger’s block! I’ll add the link here when I’ve finished…!
here is my full response! http://rosmaceachern.blogspot.co.nz/2014/07/s-is-for-speeches.html