TED

1) What is the TED organization about?


TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading
2) What is the purpose of their website and how does the functionality of their site support that?


The purpose of their website is to deliver videos to viewers. The layout of their website makes access to videos fast and simple and highlights the most interesting ones by size

3) As Engineers and Problem Solvers, which topic areas (the choices from the "Show talks related to:" section on the sidebar) are of most interest to us? Justify your answer.


Design to me would be the most important one for engineering, ideas for new designs can create new ones in your head and help you design solutions around ideas that have already been answered.
4) Based on your previous answer, what are 3 talks (videos) on the site that appear like they would be of most interest to you as an Engineer/Problem Solver? Justify your choices.

George Whitesides: Toward a science of simplicity

Tom Wujec: Build a tower, build a team - I think this one is the most interesting because it discusses how team bonding works when dealing with projects and how it benefits teamwork. 

Jane McGonigal: Gaming can make a better world

5) Each student will watch a unique video. Claim your video on the following period specific posts: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th. If no one else has claimed your video, leave a comment on that post to call the one you want. If someone else has already claimed the talk, go back and pick another one. Watch the video. Embed the video in your blog post and create a bulletized outline of the key issues presented in the talk.

Dimitar Sasselov: How we found hundreds of potential Earth-like planets

6) How could you get involved in the field/technology/issue you chose to hear about? What experience/skills/training/education would you need to learn to get involved with this field?



Education in astronomy and engineering will help you discover earth like planets.