Education Reimagined: Student-led Learning | Dr. Catlin Tucker | TEDxFolsom

Record numbers of teachers are leaving the profession, and too many students report negative feelings about school. Dr. Catlin Tucker addresses the urgent need to reimagine education and create more effective, equitable, and student-led learning environments. It’s time to transform classrooms into collaborative spaces where educators work alongside students, creating a more sustainable and fulfilling teaching and learning experience for everyone. Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her master’s in education at the University of California at Santa Barbara and her doctorate from Pepperdine University. Catlin has published nine books, including The Shift to Student-led and The Complete Guide to Blended Learning. She hosts The Balance podcast and is active on X @Catlin_Tucker and Instagram @CatlinTucker. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@freddyparmentier]

This whole idea of teachers being more like coaches than lecturers is awesome. Makes learning feel way more personal

[@toxic_sxgur]

The part about kids building confidence by doing more on their own really stood out to me. Confidence is everything and the earlier it can be built up the better

[@dustyevans2130]

I love the idea of students becoming problem-solvers and collaborators. Those are skills they’ll actually use in real life.

[@joshuabaxter507]

I appreciate her call for school leaders to support teachers in adopting new methods. That's such a crucial step and without that kind of backing even the best ideas aren't going to reach their full potential.

[@MyStrifeLife]

Okay the biggest thing that stood out to me here was building real life skills and confidence. I did so well in school and college but then when it was time to get a big kid job I was petrified

[@billconconi3996]

Giving students more say in their learning seems like a game-changer. It’s about time we let them take the wheel a little!

[@haileypattern7666]

The comparison between old and new media was spot-on. It’s incredible how much control today’s kids have over their entertainment and if we could find a way for them to be that involved in their education too it would really make all the difference in terms of engagement.

[@officialsefrey]

I love the idea of giving students more control over their learning. It’s time for education to evolve and embrace modern methods.

[@buddyfranks]

I can see this working. I messed up so much in school because I always just felt lost and didn't understand the real point of it all

[@alexleister]

Would love to see this come into effect. Might create some changes to the actual structure of our education systems too.

[@jonahcuster2302]

Couldn't agree more, I remember getting out of school and just feeling so lost in terms of what I wanted to do or how to go about it

[@stanzdumas]

Wow she did a fantastic job explaining how differently teens experience media vs education, really drove the point home

[@gretaallison]

What a cool idea and there's so many advancements in tech happening we could really create some properly immersive learning experiences for them!

[@akashmuraleedharan]

Having teachers facilitate rather than directing is such a great idea. Would be a really refreshing approach that could actually create more dynamic and engaging classrooms.

[@dannyturkin6229]

It’s so true-kids these days are glued to their phones. Using tech in the classroom just makes sense since it’s already such a huge part of their world

[@parksungwoo4730]

The analogy of teachers as architects is perfect. That is what we need.

[@daryyldavys]

As a parent, I completely understand her point about control. Letting go is hard, but it’s how kids learn and grow. I can only imagine how tough it must be for teachers!

[@shannonpscofield]

Blending technology with personal interaction is such a great approach! Could make learning modern but also meaningful

[@QuackGal]

The concept of students as "thinkers, debaters, tinkerers, problem solvers, explorers, and collaborators" paints such a vivid picture. Imagine walking into a classroom and seeing that level of engagement and creativity. It's a far cry from the rows of desks and silent test-taking we're used to!

[@jorenduran]

Sounds like a really fantastic way to boost engagement and ownership of their education!

[@aldennoname]

I think as our tech evolves and everyone has their own little platforms we're going to see the development of such niche fields and career paths! Helping students establish their own from the get go would genuinely be so helpful

[@teritompkins]

My job involves training new teachers, and I always tell them to focus on building relationships, not just delivering content. Hearing her reinforce that made me feel like we’re on the right track.

[@jordyndejong]

The comparison of teachers to architects was a lightbulb moment for me. It's such a powerful shift in perspective

[@yunzhang5041]

It's so refreshing and reassuring to see such a forward thinking approach to the future of education. I think the tools are already here, we just have to use them!

[@therealmyyt]

These are some really cool ideas! I didn't hate school or anything but I think I'd probably be closer to my goals if learning was structured this way

[@2ndchanceisthebestchance]

I taught for a while, and her point about not being able to meet every student’s individual needs is so real. It’s impossible to do that without changing how we approach teaching.

[@miamay626]

As always support is crucial if we actually want to implement something like this. Teachers already need as much of it as they can get.

[@lorissolfa]

The connection between students' lives outside school and the need for change inside is spot on! It's somewhat unreasonable that we expect kids to go from having total control over their digital experiences to sitting passively in a classroom. No wonder they're disengaged!

[@1LilyThings]

I'm a high school teacher and there really is a huge gap between a students’ daily life and what happens inside the classroom. I agree we really need to start bridging that gap.

[@sergiobellance]

My son’s school started using more tech in class, and it’s genuinely made him more excited about learning

[@nadiaferchichi]

The idea of "passing the baton" to students was really inspiring. I’ve started giving my kids more responsibility at home, and it’s amazing to see them rise to the challenge.

[@TheBoldBazooka]

The idea of students regularly communicating with their families about their progress is gold. I'd love to be more involved in my kid's learning journey, not just get a report card every few months

[@christoglendon]

Dr. Tucker was my English teacher in 2013; I learned the most from her teachings and style then I did from any teachers prior. She’s the best!

[@hooponopono8528]

I actually let my kids cook once a week too, just like she mentioned. They love it and are so proud of what they make. It’s amazing what happens when we give them control over something.

[@jessicamahmed]

I've seen firsthand how using tech in small ways can really help kids stay engaged. My son’s teacher started using videos and apps to supplement lessons, and it’s made a world of difference.

[@faithcortellis]

I loved her focus on giving kids more control. My teenager plans her own study schedule, and her motivation totally shifted once she started doing that

[@thegreatemilianosantiago]

I’ve always believed that students learn best when they’re actively involved, and this talk just confirms that for me

[@aafMtLk]

Love the enthusiasm and knowledge of this presenter. It is really shocking that education has not kept pace with changes in our culture. Public education better wake up as there are forces at work that want to dismantle it & replace it with their own agenda.

[@themighty1174]

I’ve always been a bit of a control freak, so when she talked about the challenge of giving up control as a teacher, that really hit me. But taking control of a situation is necessary for growth!

[@kirkhall2855]

Extremely timely and important!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thefast_and_the_curious]

Her point about resilience and versatility in a rapidly changing world is spot on. We need to prepare kids for jobs that don't even exist yet. Teaching them to be self-directed learners is probably the best skill we can give them for future success.

[@Epic-Blue]

I wonder how we can support teachers in making this transition without burning them out even more. It's a lot to take in, but I'm inspired to start small and see where it leads.

[@erikdangor]

I love the idea of not just a more flexible learning environment for students but also one that can adapt easily! I think the reason we've been doing it the same way for decades is because of how hard it would be to make these changes but honestly we really need to just rip that band aid off and go for it

[@sweetdreams6953]

This is such a brilliant vision! If you could couple it with helping students find their purpose and crafting learning plans to help them serve it we could really change the trajectory of society in just a decade or so.

[@johncatholic2819]

Excited to become a designer of learning experiences! It sounds challenging but exciting to think about how that can play out in real classrooms.

[@marekduvanche]

I think by taking this approach we'd finally be recognizing that kids are capable of so much more than we give them credit for.

[@vladhvadim]

I'm all for students taking more control and teachers becoming learning architects. It's about time we shake things up!

[@lizzaleleflame9967]

I agree about experience and empathy being crucial in teaching. That's why teachers should be given the time to learn about new tech and see how they can bring it into the learning environment

[@themostofall4250]

her vision for education is like a breath of fresh air in a stuffy classroom. The way she connects our digital lives outside school to the need for change inside is spot on.

[@edwardlapine]

ha! I see what you did there...

[@Trilogtheking]

her approach reminds me of the Montessori method, but supercharged for the digital age. It's fascinating to see how we can blend tried-and-true educational philosophies with modern tech to create something truly innovative.

[@jycintabrown]

The cooking analogy was brilliant! It's so true that we often rob kids of learning opportunities by doing everything for them. I'm guilty of this as a parent, and it's eye-opening to see how it applies in education too.

[@AngelInfinity]

I like the emphasis on making classrooms more adaptable to the uncontrollable stuff like extreme weather or pandemics... it's super relevant and having a flexible approach would make our schools more resilient in the face of whatever comes next

[@gabrielivar]

It's so hard to keep students engaged these days so I agree that something needs to change

[@sergeypestovskiy]

Seems like it would also help the teachers and this makes it even more worth looking into

[@CouchSurferWorldsBest]

This makes so much sense to me, we have access to some really cool tech and implementing it as a tool for learning would be an amazing way of reinventing education

[@billconconi]

This just makes sense. The way the world is evolving everyone should have skills rooted in technology

[@beitrissavinsky]

I loved the story about her son sharing his cooking on Snapchat. We have a group chat with the extended family that I let my daughter share her accomplishments with (she's still a bit too young for her own social media accounts) and it's such a great motivator for her

[@edwardlapine]

makes me want to go back to school and experience this kind of learning environment

[@eddysgarage]

Her passion is inspiring. It makes me want to get involved and be part of this change, even if I'm not an educator myself.

[@wildflowerhoney1862]

I agree we need to equip our students with the skills to navigate an ever-changing world, not just cram them full of facts.

[@maureenfermoyle6427]

I so admire her passion & energy to make a change, an impact on education. Bravo!

[@EverDragMedia]

Life has a way of forcing us to let go, and I think that’s a lesson we can apply to education too.

[@ErinRice-u5f]

Loved this! Catlin gets me excited about mixing things up in the classroom and giving students more opportunity. It's a great concept and she has an extraordinary voice. Keep using it!

[@helenimnotready]

I agree learning to ask for help can be so powerful and from the sounds of things it's something educators really need!

[@bryanestelle]

YES to student-led learning! about time we shook things up

[@woodychuck]

Fantastic talk! The notion of blending technology with human interaction in classrooms is exactly what we need to make learning more engaging.

[@jycintabrown]

for sure but I think it needs to be relevant as well as engaging

[@shaquille.oatmeal9576]

As a college professor, I’ve noticed that students who take ownership of their learning do so much better. Giving them control doesn’t mean chaos, it means they care more.

[@JaniceBurt]

Such an insightful, important talk! I love the ideas presented on ways to improve and reimagine our deteriorating education system. Great talk, Catlin!!

[@Flipflopflipflop]

This is such an incredible idea, it makes so much sense and I'm excited to see how this approach could unleash creativity and critical thinking in our classrooms.

[@nubblesleopard9735]

As an educator, this talk both excites and terrifies me. The idea of being a learning architect sounds amazing, but it's such a shift from how we've been trained.

[@edwardlapine]

true, I imagine there would have to be some kind of updated training

[@vardajesty]

100% agree, we need to change all education now

[@smilingputin]

I remember being in high school and feeling tired and bored. Wish I’d had more engaging learning experiences.

[@ListHeist]

I completely agree that students need to be more active in their learning process and empowering them in this way would probably do a lot for their confidence in terms of making big decisions later in life as well!

[@jycintabrown]

that's a great point! and I think school really should be about building confidence as well as skills

[@andreshedberg]

Letting students be builders of meaning rather than just consumers of content is a pretty amazing idea

[@edwardlapine]

yeah it definitely changes the whole picture of what education could be

[@camilaanders3419]

I can relate to what she said about how tech has changed everything. My kids are glued to their screens, but when they go to school, it’s like stepping back in time and I don't think it's an experience that is accurately preparing them for the real world

[@PineappleStrum]

The part about releasing control as a teacher was interesting. I used to be really strict with my kids' homework routine, but when I loosened up a bit, they started taking more initiative. Maybe it's similar to that.

[@thereallyreallybigpicture]

this would be a great use of the tech advancements we have available to us now, would help students and teachers alike!

[@jycintabrown]

Yeah I think with all the burnout and understaffing happening in schools it would be great if they could use tech to help themselves out a bit more

[@tarahjaiden1680]

I appreciate the idea, it is really good and we truly do need something to change however if we're changing systems it would be good to incorporate methods that will benefit people from all class systems.

[@charlotte-may9193]

Education over every thing else is long overdue for a massive change

[@konglum]

anything is better than what we currently do in education

[@kevinwilliams3272]

I love your positivity and your philosophy of teaching, Dr Catlin. And God, you are one dynamic woman!!! You certainly shouldn't have any trouble getting the attention of your pupils/students whatever teaching method you use. I will admit to you that I was gaping throughout the whole talk, thunderstruck not only by your incredible energy but also by your beauty, your elegance and in particular your high heels. Immediately after sending this comment I'll "google" you because you're really interesting. I was sad to hear about all you lost in the fire, but the most important is that you and your children are alive to fight another day. And now you've got the fire in you!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[@miroslavhancinsky6111]

Brilliant idea and long overdue

[@IAmTheRealMagicMan]

Wonderful talk.

[@RainbowPassion]

This is a really clever idea because let's face it, a lot of teachers that have been doing it for decades are pretty out of touch with the world and what's going to be important for a students future

[@ask.aryana]

Absolutely love this!! Amazing job, Catlin!

[@turkvestule1668]

I wish this had already been a thing when I was in my last years at school... the resistance to using tech of any kind to help with our studies was crazy

[@jycintabrown]

I can imagine that would have been so frustrating!

[@carllokit]

I love the emphasis on students becoming active learners rather than passive recipients. It reminds me of the saying, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime."

[@edwardlapine]

that is an awesome comparison!

[@adam-cooper]

Kinda sounds like the best possible way to prepare them for the future

[@TheShadowComesAlive]

I can see this working but I think trying to introduce all these things at once would be super overwhelming for students and teachers, not to mention all the people who would complain just because it's a change and people are scared of change. If we could stagger the integration of these methods though, that would be pretty good

[@candyengelhardt]

I'm curious how this would work for different subjects. Student-led math sounds cool and all but what about history or literature? Would be interesting to see how it plays out across the board

[@jason-childers]

I see a lot of people doubting this in the comments but there will always be gaps between students. Some excel and others don't regardless of the teaching methods, that's just life.

[@kimturri6591]

This was fabulous!!! I loved watching it!! Thank you!

[@jonrhome]

I agree that education needs an overhaul, but I'm worried about giving students too much control. What about kids who need more structure? And how do we ensure they're learning the essential skills? It's a complex issue, and I'm not sure there's a one-size-fits-all solution.

[@jycintabrown]

I agree it's not a one size fits all but I don't think that's what this talk is about anyway, they're talking about guidance and creating individual learning paths

[@christy-mercurio]

She makes a great point about outdated educational practices but I wonder if students are truly ready for such a shift in responsibility

[@madsdx8397]

I remember how much I dreaded school growing up because it was just so rigid and repetitive. If we’d had more flexibility like she’s suggesting, I think it would’ve been a totally different experience.

[@ericfollestad2244]

If you can get the doctor to visit your school district, her in-live training would be beneficial.

[@dianamazzaglia185]

Enjoyed this :)

[@alyhdickinson]

3/4 of high school students feeling tired, stressed, and bored is a wake-up call. We're clearly failing our kids with the current system.

[@edwardlapine]

big time... and it makes sense, the world has changed so much since we were at school

[@hudsonhalloway]

I get where she's coming from and I can see how it would be really useful but I already worry about how much time my kid spends on his phone/computer/gaming... I think introducing technology to more areas of his life will just make it harder and harder for him to find any balance with "real world" activities

[@graysonmyles]

This is great and all but what about students who struggle with self-motivation?