It's a Wrap!

Thanks to all that attended! We had a great discussion on our theme and enjoyed the talks. We had a total of 8 attendees (+1 dog), which was a mix of students and non-students.

If anybody has anything in particular that you remember (quotes, ideas, comments) about the event, please share in the comments!

The videos we watched were:

Gever Tulley on 5 dangerous things for kids

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

Mae Jemison on teaching arts and sciences together

If you weren't able to make it, but get a chance to watch these videos, also feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments as well. This isn't a discussion that ends post-event. As Mae Jemison told us, ideas are like a ball held up in the air in the hand of a high school physics teacher. "They have potential energy, but nothing will happen until we risk putting them into action."

The Calm Before

We're really looking forward to this event, and while it will be short, I think we will have a great time. Just a few details here and questions that have come up.

The event is at 5:00 to 7:00 and we'll watch three TED talks. We'll have a short discussion after each and then some discussion at the end. We've got a bit of a schedule so we will have time to watch and enjoy each talk, but there is some flexibility built in so we can keep a good thing going, so to speak, if we want.

The address for the event is 4112 Spruce Street. It is Apartment #12, on the 4th floor. Someone will be at the entry to the building to let you in. However, if you are super-early, feel free to buzz #12 and one of us will come down to let you in. If you are handicapped, let me know and we will see what kind of arrangements we can make to accommodate you. A few stairs shouldn't be an impediment to all of us having a great TEDx experience. If you are driving here, street parking is usually not bad on weekend afternoons. However, give yourself some extra time to find a parking spot. On weekends, we tend to have the best luck on 42nd Street.

I've been asked about what to wear and what to bring. Just dress casually or in whatever puts you in the best mood to have a TED-style experience. If you need to be in a suit and tie to meet new people and have a discussion, wear a suit and tie. If jeans and a t-shirt are comfortable, that's totally fine as well. If you want to be creative, create away! As per what to bring, we'll have water, coffee, and tea here. Otherwise, just yourself (and a friend!).

If, after the event, you want to grab a bite or a drink with your fellow TEDx'ers, we'll be happy to make a recommendation. Keep the conversations going and the creativity flowing!

Theme and Format

The theme for TEDxUniversityCity will be Unconventional Learning, and we will borrow talks primarily from TED's theme How We Learn.

The format for the evening will be a quick meet and greet, then we will watch three TED talks. Immediately following each talk, we will have a few minutes for discussion, and then move on to the text talk.

We hope to attract a wide range of people from various disciplines from around the University City and West Philly areas. We welcome all -- you need not be a student to join us for an evening of thought and discussion.

If any are interested in extending conversation after the event, there are numerous places within a few blocks to meet back up with our new friends.

Time, Date, Location

TEDxUniversityCity will be

Saturday, December 5, 2009
from

5:00 to 7:00
at

4112 Spruce St.
Philadelphia, PA, 19104

All are welcome, but you must either
email (cle9m@virginia.edu)
or
call (310.266.6121)
to be on the guest list.

About TEDxUniversityCity, TEDx, and TED

What is TEDxUniversityCity?

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxUniversityCity, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxUniversityCity event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

What is TEDx all about?

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK, and this November, the TEDIndia Conference will be held in Mysore, India. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where three exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter (twitter.com/TEDTalks), or on Facebook, (facebook.com/TED).

TED2010, “What the World Needs Now,” will be held Feb. 9–13, 2010, in Long Beach, California, with TEDActive, a simulcast conference of TED2010, in Palm Springs, California. TEDGlobal 2010, “And Now the Good News,” will be held July 13-16, 2010, in Oxford, UK.

Welcome

This is the webpage and blog for TEDxUniversityCity. More info coming soon!