How This Teacher Made Education "Go Viral" with TED-Ed Director Logan Smalley

Culture Leaders: The Masters Behind Movements

The innovative founding director of TED-Ed, Logan Smalley, shares his inspiring journey in fostering global curiosity and education through creative storytelling. As a visionary in the field of educational content, Smalley has been instrumental in transforming the landscape of learning, emphasizing the role of curiosity as a driving force in educational advancement.

In this episode of Culture Leaders Podcast, Logan Smalley discusses the genesis and evolution of TED-Ed, a platform that has redefined the boundaries of learning and engagement. He delves into the significance of storytelling as a powerful educational tool, capable of transcending traditional learning methods and connecting people across various cultures and backgrounds.

Join us as Logan Smalley takes us through his path from being a special education teacher to leading TED-Ed, highlighting his innovative approaches to education, the contagious nature of curiosity, and the impact of his work in shaping a more informed and curious world.

Segmented Timestamps:

• [00:18] The origin and mission of TED-Ed.
• [04:29] The evolution of educational storytelling.
• [12:27] The role of curiosity in shaping learning content.
• [17:05] Insights from Logan's background in special education.
• [22:00] The creative journey behind the 'Call Me Ishmael' project.
• [26:08] Influences and inspirations in Logan's educational approach.

Notable Quotes:

"My purpose is probably to be a champion of curiosity." - Logan Smalley

"Curiosity is contagious. To be around curious people makes you more curious." - Logan Smalley

"I've been a special education high school teacher... it's all about... how you take content or information or knowledge and help get it into diverse groups of people's minds." - Logan Smalley

"I think of it as the same as the TED audience, which is, you know, roughly college and above, but also younger." - On TED-Ed's target audience

USEFUL LINKS

Reach Logan at:

TED-Ed YouTube Channel - http://youtube.com/teded

Websites:

Call Me Ishmael - https://www.callmeishmael.com/

Darius Goes West - http://dariusgoeswest.org

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