The most popular TED Talk ever is the late Sir Ken Robinson’s hugely entertaining and inciteful 2006 presentation on the issue central to his life’s work – people's potential and how important it is to cherish and develop their creativity.
It’s been viewed around 70 million times, it seems to get better and better every time I watch it and if, somehow, you have missed it then I urge you to check it out. The Talk talks absolute sense.
Too often, Ken says, children’s creativity and ingenuity are dulled or killed off before they can make their developing talents fly. Too often, he cites, educational systems throughout the world fail to recognise creativity in the same ways they applaud and reward maths, science and languages etc.
In the modern world, he campaigned, nothing matters more than creativity – especially in children – for it lies at the heart of human progress.
Ken’s beliefs which have generated very significant impact world-wide are close to my heart – it was why I wrote my novel Potential – and so it was a huge privilege to spend yesterday (4 March 2021) honouring the great man’s legacy in a special on-line tribute called under the banner Imagine If.
Talks, discussions with Ken and guests, tributes, creative sessions from people across the globe, and, of course, that wonderful TED Talk – plus some other TEDs he has given – packed a day dedicated to his work and huge influence.
Born in Liverpool, Sir Ken very sadly died in August 2020 after a short battle against cancer. A New York Times best-selling author, he led national and international projects on creative and cultural education across the world, unlocking and igniting the creative energy of people and organisations. He was named as one of Time/Fortune/CNN’s ‘Principle Voices’.
You can see Imagine If and more on Ken Robinson’s life, works and writings at - http://sirkenrobinson.com/
Ken’s famous TED Talk is at: https://www.ted.com
Follow Imagine If on twitter at: https://twitter.com/weimagineif