I really don’t want to start this post off with that old bloggy cliché. You know the one. It goes something like this.

“I didn’t know what to expect at my first TED event…” because, let’s face it, that sounds like I’m about to tumble deep into an abysmal five-paragraph-health-class-essay hole.

I knew exactly what was going to happen at TEDxPeachtree.
And I liked it.

Let me first begin by thanking the Galloway School for being such gracious hosts for the day’s jam-packed events — it’s a beautiful K-12 campus situated in the heart of Chastain Park, all brick and columns, sprawling play areas and art-decked halls. I would love to send my kids there someday. Second, many thanks to those who put together such a great day. It went off without a hitch, so major kudos!

So, after some early-morning coffee and mingling, I settled down with @briancauble to chat about iPhone app design, collegiate ‘hashtag’ learning (classroom crowdsourcing), and of course, the day’s plan. This was the first real Twitter-centric event I’d ever been to (shocking!), where iPhone use, Twitter use, Facebook use, Evernote use, and web use was encouraged. I’m a prolific Twitterer (all 712 of you know that), and let me say, I Tweeted without abandon. These ideas were meant for spreading, and thus, a shameless plug for the new, improved @amandaserfozo.

Enjoy! I sure did :)

10:15 a.m. TEDxPeachtree founder Al Meyers and Atlanta City Councilman @KwanzaHall declare today an official Atlanta “TEDxPeachtree” day, and #TEDxPT becomes a top trending Twitter hashtag throughout the city (that was FAST - great to see such social-media minded attendees here!) “We’re delighted to bring a replicated experience of TED ideas worth spreading, and sharing insight with the entire community,” Councilman Hall said.

10:20 a.m. Professor Paul Root Wolpe (@parowol) an Emory University colleague and Asa Griggs Candler Fellow at the Center for Ethics discussed the new “wave” of “species design”. Buzzwords? Who hasn’t heard of the “beefalo” or “camel-llama” hybrids by now? Pigs, puppies, and monkeys are being genetically modified — which is fascinating if done altruistically. If you can do genetic manipulation between monkeys and apes, that means you can also do it in human beings, and as such, it is theoretically possible that we can be biotechnologically capable of creating human beings that…glow in the dark. Bioluminescence can occur in genetically engineered salmon! (Ehhh.) The monkey became the first primate to have three independent functional arms (I wish I had three arms.) Self-aggregation of networks, integrated chips as mechanisms which ran a flight simulator, and organic chips made out of living neurons were attached to the lamprey eel brain in its fully intact state with electrodes. Researchers attached photo sensitive sensors, and using light, were able to retranslate its intention to move. Meaning, it could move without actually having to, but through sheer ‘brain power’. These labs aren’t Frankensteinian  — but what are the ethics, and is it possible to genetically produce these without religious, medical, or bioethical questions being raised? What if these procedures are done for the continuation of life, or keeping endangered species intact? How does reframing contextual questions in bioethics affect our perceptions of them?

10:40 a.m. Scott Rigsby (@ScottRigsby) endured 8 surgeries in 6 weeks after a life-changing accident that took both his legs. “My life changed in 9 seconds,” he said. “I would go on to reclaim my life from being a professional patient and instead became one of the top salespeople in the country. I lacked vision in my life and let me tell you, it’s a terrible thing to see, but have no vision,” said Rigsby. “If you open up the door for me, I’ll run through it. So have a dream, let it be bigger than you, get people to buy into your vision — operate on faith, not fear. All of these will lead you closer to your finish line.” (He’s THE real Ironman, people. Winner of the famous Hawaii marathon.)

11:50 a.m. Jim Brazell (@radicalplatypus) asks what is the use of technology in education. He says that discovery is the process of science, invention is the work of art” (Jacob Bigelow), so the question then turns to: how do we make innovators from our school systems? Science, engineering, mathematics, AND the applied arts are imperative. “I submit to you today…a shift from organizing our schools to do better at science, in teams. Vocational education itself must become dynamic and lose its current stigma. By selecting a program of study and a particular focus in career and technical education, the student is on a pathway all the way through their B.A., with options for certification. Vocational school is not terminal, not just for those students who want an associate’s degree. The shift in our schools and communities and integration of the academic rigor with applied learning will give way to many new systems,” he said. Why are many other educational systems beating us in math, tech, science? Because there is re-channeled learning via vocational tech specialization in Germany, Switzlerland, Netherlands, Austria, Australia, and Britain. Upper, postsecondary education have 40%+ of their students involved in a votechnical education. In the U.S. only 1 in 5 have had a university degree. So why do we organize our high school systems so that those who don’t go ON to college are thrown OUT as useless? Brazell said we should put every hand to work — dual credit, in articulations to students, so we can build a systems approach to education which unifies the world of K-12, community, technical colleges, and high schools. “The new well rounded student in the 21st century is able to achieve the academic rigor of arts education, character, and leadership. Some say the key missing ingredient is applied learning which opens up the door to abstract knowledge. That’s absolutely not true,” he maintained. “Rigor is fundamental knowledge. The function of learning design, from the world of neuroscience tells us so much about the way we learn, and how we can reintroduce concepts and better store them.” We learn by doing and experimenting. By catering to people who can only learn the abstract knowledge of textbook academia, we’re alienating so many other people who have different learning styles (audio, visual, or kinetic). A SHIFT should be organized around systems of knowledge acquisition rather than specialization in traditional universities. Understand how we learn; then produce innovation. “And let me just close by saying, the first person to walk the surface of Mars will be from Atlanta.”

12:30 p.m. Sheena Iyegnar gave a great TED Talk on choice! Choice is constrictive when it is unlimited, although positive depending on the circumstance and range, as well as depth (a fleeting choice, or a deep, intense one). It’s also very cultural — seven sodas are seen as JUST soda, not an independent, ‘branded’ choice. Choice is measured by merit for each culture. “The story Americans tell is the story of limitless choice. This narrative promises so much — freedom, happiness, success. It lays the world at your feet and says you can have everything. But when you take a close look, you start to see the holes,” Iyegnar, who is blind, said. She proposed several other ways of thinking: choice can be told in many other ways than one linear method of selection. Americans have so often tried to disseminate their choice, but their history tells us it doesn’t always work out that way. Phantasmagoria varies from place to place, and the notion of ‘choice’ doesn’t serve the needs of choice everywhere, or to everyone. Some like it boundless, others like a few tailored options. We can incorporate perspectives of others into our choice, too! “Poetry is lost in translation, but it is gained in translation as well. We have far more to gain than to lose. Instead of replacing one story with another, we can learn from and settle in the many versions that exist, perhaps through brainstorming or collaboration to make a rational decision. No matter your narrative, we all have a responsibility to open ourselves to what choice may represent. This doesn’t have to lead to paralyzing moral relativism, but teach us when and where to act,” Iyegnar said. Choice in all its strangeness, complexity, and compelling beauty is deeply personal, but culturally dependent. She mentioned a great example — nail polish name vs. content of the color. ‘Ballet Shoes’ or ‘Hot Pink’. As a blind person, how could she choose? Ballet Shoes was more “elegant” while Hot Pink was more “glamorous”. The NAME influences the decision, and in studies that took the title away, participants believed both were the same exact thing. This says so much about brand label influence. “A rose by any other name probably does look different and smell different.”

12:45 p.m. @DantesRameau, an Abreu Fellow, founder of Atlanta Music Project and avid bassoonist talked about the power of music in community identity. When two students work tirelessly to reach harmony with their instruments, they’re learning empathy. When they practice the same piece tirelessly in their room for hours, they’re learning perseverance,” he said. “We’re changing the perception that music is an extracurricular to a necessity that the community literally cannot live without because it defines and saves lives.” Dantes’ talk went on to show Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic, as well as his work with native Venezuelan students who would otherwise live in extreme poverty. Such a fascinating look at how music isn’t just an activity or fun thing to do to enhance the school day, but literally the factor that turns a poor ‘nobody’ student into a ‘somebody’ student with an identity and something to look forward to. Music, further, doesn’t just benefit the student, but his or her parents, siblings, church, school, thus a trickle down effect for positivity. Let’s make music something our neighborhoods and communities can’t live without!

2:30 p.m. Beth Mynatt ’s talk discussed how technology should partner with people, ebb with them instead of their adaptation to it. “It may lean forward, it may push back. It may create a space for us to dazzle and design. The secret of invention is the dance,” she said. How do you understand something so visually rich, productive, for someone who couldn’t see it? How to present visually rich information and present it to blind people? (Like what we had talked about with algebra textbooks for blind people?) Train your intuition, learn what people want to do, what people can do, then design your technology to allow them to dance with it. Leave space in your design for the users you’re working with for the invention. Fill technology with a personal relationship, complete the design with the magic of movement in partnership.

4:00 p.m. Pamela Meyer (@pmeyerphd) says the role of “permission giver” comes in all shapes and sizes, giving the authority for dynamic play/work stations designed for collaboration. Pamela was such an amazing speaker — theatrical, dramatic, and her talk wasn’t just a narrative but a performance. Permission to role-play or break out of the norm gives you freedom from yourself and the daily grind, opening up new parts of yourself never unlocked. We need a culture of collaboration, innovation, and resource sharing in order to create! The importance of improvisation is major — she discussed the “chicken hat” professors wore in a normal conversation, continuing conversation nonchalantly while onlookers cracked up. Without being aware, Abigail (the professor mentioned) and her colleagues gave permission to bring their silly selves to work. She created the playspace for new ideas, new roles, which opened new communication. “Outing other people’s humanity is the goal,” Meyer said. “A huge shift can happen if we have enough playspace in which to make it.” Takeaway: be a permission giver. Make the shift from workplace to playspace and watch how your colleagues, friends react and realize their inner capabilities.

4:20 p.m. Adora Svitak presented a TED Talk on children and creativity — the audacity to imagine. “Kids don’t think about the limitations of bounds. Kids challenge professionals to create bigger, better, more expansive designs or ideas without boundaries,” she said. Svitak noted that regimes become oppressive when they’re fearful about losing their control, citing several world wars and international disputes, as well as adult politicians who’ve been ‘faulty’ and kids who’ve been revered (i.e. Ruby Bridges, Anne Frank). Adults often underestimate challenges and expect the bare minimum, which is dangerous, since children will inevitably sink to them. “Creating BIG opportunities for children is important — we’re the leaders of tomorrow. The world’s problems shouldn’t be the family’s heirloom.”

4:45 p.m. NPR speaker, ESPN commentator, and former MLB baseball player Doug Glanville (@dougglanville) takes the stage to discuss the “three periods of cool-seeking (1) pre-professional in college, (2) professional inward vs. outward acceptance, (3) reflective professional, post-professional”. All of these run in concentric circles and are necessary, inevitable, and fun parts of your life that define who you are at the end of your career. “For me, my career was over with at 35, so I was extra cautious not to live with regrets early on, since I would have a long, long time to reflect on them.” Eventually, Glanville said that we cylcle through these phases to come into our full selves, and that our identity emerges after we’ve checked all those boxes.

xxx

And, of course, some of my completely fangirlish, overly excited live-tweets from throughout the day. Looking forward to next year, when I’ll be bringing a few other TEDsters along to share in all the great knowledge sharing and collaboration!

It’s @TEDxPeachtree Day! I don’t want to barrage 700 poor feeds, so check out the new @amandaserfozo for all the good stuff #TEDxPT

Let the fun begin :)  — at TEDxPeachtree http://gowal.la/c/2Q83S

Awesome! RT @TrendsAtlanta: #tedxpt is now trending in #Atlanta

Emory Professor @parowol takes the stage to discuss design, evolution, history. Great mashup of science and our new species “wave”. #TEDxPT

@parowol says bio-hybridization is possible to save species like apes. Can we make the leap to save human life?  http://twitpic.com/343qtz

@DanGoldgeier I wish I had three fully functional arms, though!

For those of you playing at home, watch what I’m Tweeting through the #TEDxPT live stream - http://bit.ly/1zL3fu

Getting into bioethics, people as ‘producers’ — keep it coming, this is my 385 thesis, ha!

Woot, @ScottRigsby! Reported on him a lot at Rodale. Runner’s inspiration. #TEDxPT

“If you open up the door for me, I’ll run through it.” - @ScottRigsby #TEDxPT

@kristengreen Absolutely amazing! The real Ironman :)

Wow, props to all our fellow TEDx’ers around the country (every state is represented on the stream) as well as Morocco, Africa! #TEDxPT

Hanging with @briancauble this morning — great conversation about app development, small business Tweets, and classroom crowdsourcing!

Coffee with @scullyke12 and Eileen Escarda — what an amazing TEDesque conversation! #serendipity

Thought from #TEDxPT break — how many ‘intellectual missed connections’ are there at these things? :) Hopefully not many; this is AWESOME.

Jim Brazell, @radicalplatypus! Dynamic, multi-level K-12 education for audio, visual, kinetic learners to produce innovation. Shift! #TEDxPT

Actually absorbing a lot about public speaking via Sheena Iyegnar’s TED Talk — great enunciation, pace, control. Debate geek, ha! #TEDxPT

“When two orchestral students work tirelessly to reach harmony with their instruments, they’re learning empathy.” - @DantesRameau

@scullyke12 You too! Can’t wait for more great talks!

A-men. @JC: I can’t agree with the idea that more options leads to better choices…too many options leads to choice paralysis. #tedxpt

“The worst thing about poverty is not the lack of bread or a roof; it is a feeling of being a no-one…music changes that.” Goosebumps! #TEDxPT

There’s something incredible about the moment a person takes the stage — you either run towards/own a bolder version of yourself, or fold.

I don’t even have words for the mingleship going on - angel investors, tech entrepreneurs, CEOs, photographers - INSANELY passionate geeks.

RT @desireeadaway: RT @RobbieReese: “A dreamer is a fool with faith. A dreamer is a fool with a cause.” — Alia Christian #tedxpt

Seeing such great, quality Tweets about today’s #TEDxPT. I often wonder if events like this would be the same without real-time @Twitter?

Jamie Oliver’s #TEDxPT Talk is filled with heat, urgency, and such morbidity, that it jolts you into understanding and agreement. Preach it!

@DanGoldgeier Agreed! He’s so in the zone right now! #TEDxPT

RT @willedmond: As an educator I showed my class #FoodInc and it changed their lives. They never had anyone to (cont) http://tl.gd/6quq6m

RT @dahlalyssa: Students who contributed to class discussions via @Twitter increased engagement over a semester 2X… http://ht.ly/35cA5

Incredible advancements by Waterbrick in disaster efficiency, repurposing in Haiti, etc. Love this shot. #TEDxPT http://twitpic.com/3464ei

Incredible, dynamic, humorous, creative, multicolored presentation on workspace to playspace by the effervescent @pmeyerphd. #TEDxPT

Ran into TEDxPT founder Al Meyers AND today’s rockstar presenter @radicalplatypus too - awesome book recs and great conversationalists!

#TEDxPT’s own pinch hitter - first African American Ivy League MLB player, @DougGlanville. Awesome.  http://twitpic.com/346l6w

@MyronRolle is totally the @DougGlanville of the baseball world. Philosophize and play.

@jacquichew Excellent - already there! Looking forward to many more great discussions from Atlanta TEDsters. Thank you for being here!

About to wrap it up - #TEDxPT, you were AMAZING. Stunning. Taking all this passion and accelerating forward! Let’s keep talking :)