Campus Connection

UWL faculty member attends global TEDSummit, looks to expand UWL’s program

UWL is looking to expand its involvement in a global movement of sharing good ideas. For the past two years, UWL has participated in the TEDx program, hosting independent, local events through TEDxUWLaCrosse that further TED's mission of "ideas worth spreading." TED is a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading ideas in subjects from business to science primarily through short, powerful talks. Those talks are presented to live audiences and then watched by billions of people around the world at TED.com. While TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently on a community-by-community basis, TED, the parent organization, is looking for more collaboration with local TEDx events worldwide, says Teri Holford-Talpe, part of the TEDxUWLa Crosse organizing group. Holford-Talpe attended the Global TEDSummit June 26-30 in Banff, Canada, with TEDx organizers from around the world to learn how UWL’s program could play a role in TED's future. The summit was an opportunity for TEDx events and TED to aim higher together, says Holford-Talpe. TED is about more than just spreading good ideas, she writes in her blog. "It’s an energy, a movement, an experience, an engine," she writes. The TEDxUWLaCrosse organizing group is looking for more involvement from faculty and staff to help coordinate or be involved in local TED-like experiences in the future. The 2016-17 academic year will include TEDx salons, small, interactive workshops where the UWL campus community and others have an opportunity to discuss critical and timely TED videos. The next large, filmed speaking event featuring local people sharing "ideas worth spreading" will likely be during 2017-18. Holford-Talpe was able to attend the TEDSummit through the UWL Foundation Carol Dobrunz Endowment travel grant; the UWL Foundation Small Grant; and additional funding from the Provost's office. Reaching out to local TEDx talent In her online blog, Holford-Talpe shares how TED's Curator Chris Anderson praised TEDx events worldwide, which have helped TED to reorganize and find amazing ideas. TED organizers are now improving the TED.com website interface to allow viewers to directly access TEDx talks by theme, subject, location or language. One of Holford-Talpe's biggest takeaways from the summit was that TED and TEDx are global laboratories. TED allows people to mix and mingle and learn from one another. Those shared ideas turn into action. Researchers are now studying the TED movement as a model for the future in terms of building communities and making ideas into reality. Along those lines, Holford-Talpe says the summit confirmed the value of a liberal arts education. "Critical thinking, complex reasoning, communicating big ideas, understanding the cultural or historical context of decisions, and the ability to discuss them in a respectful atmosphere are skills that are just as important as ever for undergraduates," she says. "Undergraduates can only benefit by these skills, both in the workplace and in their communities. These skills and abilities will help identify them for higher level positions and promotions. Companies are looking for these types of minds, and a working democracy needs them." UWL's TEDx history TEDxUWLaCrosse has hosted two TEDx events with live speakers. Videos from those events have garnered more than 225,000 combined views. Assistant Professor Tesia Marshik’s talk on learning styles alone garnered more than 131,000 views. In addition, UWL has hosted three live TEDxSalon events in 2015-16. How can I get involved? Anyone interested in getting more involved with TEDxUWLaCrosse events including nominating a speaker, suggesting a TED video to show, helping organize events and more can complete this survey https://uwlacrosse.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_b8yDd4ccg8kUYJv or get in touch with Organizing Committee Co-Chairs Marc Manke at mmanke@uwlax.edu or Jessica Thill at jthill@uwlax.edu. How could TEDxUWLa Crosse help me?

• The organizing committee is exploring new ways to assist faculty, instructors and staff in using TED talks and TED resources in their courses and programming.
• The organizing committee is interested in introducing undergraduate researchers to new and exciting ideas that are being explored on bigger stages.
• Consider speaking on the TEDxUWLa Crosse stage during the next big event — likely in 2017-18 — or nominate someone you think would excel. Speaking on the TEDxUWLaCrosse stage gives speakers a highly beneficial public speaking experience and expands UWL’s reach.

Learn more about Teri’s TEDSummit adventure on her blog. Two of the most powerful presentations Teri Holford-Talpe saw during the summit: Why Brexit happened – and what to do “How trees talk to each other”