The Brain's Cheat Codes: Learning Through Gamification | Mohamed Ali | TEDxAjou U Tashkent
Can games unlock our brain’s full learning potential? In this dynamic talk, the speaker explores how gamification can supercharge education by turning lessons into engaging, brain-boosting challenges. Discover how game mechanics like rewards, levels, and storytelling can transform classrooms—and why tapping into our brain’s "cheat codes" might be the key to deeper learning and motivation. It all started in 2017, when I was a twelve year old child. We had just landed in Türkiye due to my traveler family, a land of captivating history and vibrant culture. Yet, a language barrier stood between me and the world around me. Feeling isolated and quite bored, I found myself drawn to the familiar glow of my father's old computer. In a quest for virtual adventures, I stumbled upon Code.org, a website that promised to unlock the secrets of coding. Little did I know, it would be the spark that ignited a lifelong passion for technology.Those first blocks of code were like magic spells, weaving digital worlds into existence. I devoured the introductory courses on Code.org, collecting certificates with childlike pride. Each challenge solved fueled a burning curiosity – what else could this code create? This newfound fascination propelled me to delve deeper, to unravel the mysteries behind the ones and zeros that powered the digital world. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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- 10:58Confidence has a branding problem | Mérida Miller | TEDxYouth@AICSWhat if confidence didn’t mean being loud, outgoing, or always sure of yourself? In this TEDx talk, Mérida Miller challenges the myth of the “confident type” and explores how our culture has misbranded confidence altogether. If you’ve ever felt too quiet, too unsure, or like you don’t fit the mold of a “confident person,”—this talk might show you that your confidence was never missing, it’s just been mislabeled. Founder & CEO at Project Fearless, public speaker and professional hype-girl.Building for people, with people, and creating empowering solutions is what gives me energy. I left the corporate world to build Project Fearless, a switch shaped by wiring for human-centric design. We’re creating what parents wish they’d had growing up, and want for their girls and kids now: a place where they can step inside, shed who they “should be”, and have the space, time and tools to figure out who they are instead. Since 2019, we’ve welcomed 2090 kids and teens to our programs, and seen how what they learn at Project Fearless impacts their friends, families and communities in a ripple effect. It’s also helped me step into leadership roles in inclusive cycling, joining the board of No Ordinary Women Cycling Club. Stay tuned for her TED talk: "Confidence Has A Branding Problem" This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:28College football is reshaping higher education | Nic de Baubigny | TEDxSacredHeartSchoolsAthertonCollege football has shattered the boundaries of what traditional sports mean and “raised the stakes” transforming the college admissions landscape, making large state schools as competitive and exclusive as the Ivy League institutions that once sat as the pinnacle of higher education. Football is an important aspect of American colleges, but it’s important to ensure that it serves as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, the core goal of higher education. Nic Debaubigny '26 is currently a Junior attending Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, CA. Besides giving TED talks, he is on the lacrosse team at school and enjoys activities like surfing and DJ-ing in his free time. He also hopes to pursue future schooling in business or entrepreneurship. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 10:50How to Stay Alive When Everything Goes Wrong | Maximilian Mirsepahi | TEDxSacredHeartSchoolsAthertonEven in modern times, survival skills are extremely important to learn and use. They build character, preparation, quick thinking, and toughness. The chances of being stuck in an unfortunate situation are low, but never zero. Be prepared, just in case. Maximilian Mirsepahi '28 is a freshman at Sacred Heart Prep, and has had an interest in outdoor survival since he was very young. His favorite pastimes are reading, making games, playing water polo, drawing, and memorizing as many skills his brain can handle in the case he would ever be stuck in the wilderness. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 9:29Fake It Till You Make It - Or Don't | Kushi Hosahalli | TEDxSacredHeartSchoolsAthertonStep past that boundary of perfection and embrace being imperfect. I believe that by striving not to be perfect, but to be better, we’ll create a generation of artists, innovators, and creators whose work and ideas can help make an imperfect world, just a little more perfect. Kushi Hosahalli is a passionate sophomore at Basis Independent Silicon Valley. She’s had the pleasure of being invited to speak on international stages through the World Scholars Cup, and has also competed and won awards in extemporaneous speaking. Kushi’s passionate about the law and spends her time as an attorney in peer court and working with public defenders to implement a legal AI tool. Her background in public speaking allows her to do one of her favorite activities which is coach public speaking to younger students. Kushi hopes to use her voice to help implement change and good through political and legal avenues. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 9:31Stoic Principles for Winning in Tennis and Life | Blake Sinclair | TEDxSacredHeartSchoolsAthertonThe secret to the success of elite athletes like Novak Djokovic is not just physical talent, but mental discipline. Lessons from the Stoic masters can help us in our everyday pursuits. Blake Sinclair '26 is a junior attending Sacred Heart Prep in Atherton, California. He is on the tennis team at school and plays all tournaments year-round. He aspires to study economics or accounting in college, hopefully somewhere on the East Coast. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 5:51The Transformative Power of Weightlifting | Andres Caillaux | TEDxMaumeeValleyCountryDaySchoolAndres talks from personal experience of the advantages and power of lifting. TBD This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
