CASD1707 Fall 2024

Public Speaking Title Icon

Module 1 Response

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Shiraz Biggie (she/her/hers)

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Each module ends with a Discussion Response, where you will be posting in the comment section on this page.

I will also include a checklist so that you know if you’ve completed all the activities for the module that can be found through the different pages.

Module One Checklist:

  • Do module readings
  • Complete the Syllabus Checkpoint
  • Register and accept the invitation for the Commons
  • Register and join the Hypothes.is group
  • Annotate a historical speech
  • Record and post an introductory video
  • Contribute to the Discussion Post below (using the comments)

If you need to go back to finish something, you can always return to the main overview using this button (or through the menu bar at the top of the site):

Module One Overview

What I’m looking for in a Discussion Response:

Responses should be your original thoughts about the prompt for the module materials. Don’t just repeat what you learned; instead, try to write about how you reacted to the material or how it might apply to past work or in the future.

Respond to one another; interact. The more you engage with each other the stronger our overall learning community is.

  • There isn’t a specific word count for a response, but at least one of your contributions to each discussion post at the end of a module should be a sizable paragraph or two.
  • You are not required to start a fresh response each week. (Try to aim for at least half of the modules.) If you join the conversation later, you may want to write in response to another classmate’s views and ideas.
  • As part of the next module each week I will ask you to go back to responses on the final discussion post or in Hypothes.is to continue the conversation.

Start meeting your classmates by checking out their introductory videos and responding to them in terms of their content. Start thinking about how to engage in productive feedback that will help you improve. (Note: Responses for each introduction will be part of the work of your next module.)

Discussion Prompt

In the Discussion Response for this week, please write a paragraph in the comments about what you thought about in relation to the questions below when watching the W.T. McRae “Teaching Kids to Cheat” video.

Please feel free to post as part of this discussion response about any other pieces of this module’s content, especially your thoughts about learning public speaking in an asynchronous modality!

Go back to the video

Comments

50 responses to “Module 1 Response”

  1. Matthew Herman Avatar
    Matthew Herman

    He introduces the speech by stating that he wanted to be an actor, but was offered a position to teach drama at a school. I was very engaged from the start and his storytelling really captivated me in regards to the introduction. In doing this, he also offers us a brief summary of his professional background and lays the foundation for the speech. He engages with the audience by using the screen as a way of showing things like the toy. This made me more interested in where he was going with the speech. I also think the jokes keep the audience engaged. His main point is that often, children are given rules to follow, and that these rules can stifle creativity and innovation. He supports this point by talking about thinking inside the box, as opposed to outside. By doing this, people can learn to test boundaries in favor of innovation. I can relate this to my professional career in a big way. There are many rules and guidelines within my work, but testing the parameters of creativity while abiding by these rules will often reward me. He concludes the speech by speaking about how he hopes to be able to give tools to kids in order for them to advance and break the rules correctly, inside the box.

    Reply
    1. Bendly Avatar
      Bendly

      Hey Matthew! I agree with you and I thought he was a wonderful storyteller. I often travel that same distance and I follow the same procedures so I conected with him straight away. I think it was great that you noticed the concept of testing the parameters of creativity because sometimes the very ideas that we choose to limit could be what identifies us as difference makers in our environments. Very interesting observation!

      Reply
      1. Adam Hasan Avatar
        Adam Hasan

        W. T. McRae began his speech by telling his audience that he was offered a job to teach as a drama teacher. His story telling brought me to my toes and I couldn’t be more eager to hear what was next. He also engages with the audience by cracking a joke every now in then that kept the audience interested. In relating back to this Public speaking course, the video taught me to use storytelling to make my words heard, and relatable.

        Reply
    2. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      Matthew – I’m curious to know more about how this applies to your professional career.

      Reply
      1. Matthew Herman Avatar
        Matthew Herman

        Hi! Here is a quick example.
        I feel that strong choices are very important during auditions, but the choice has to make sense in regards to the script. Risks pay off at times, but only if I am working within the materials given to me. In other words, inside the box 🙂

        Reply
  2. Bendly Avatar
    Bendly

    Right off the bat I noticed that McRae was an incredible storyteller. As he explained his journey from long Island to the Bronx I was able to visualize where he was as though I was with him. He gave accurate depictions of scenery with great detail. He was also pretty humorous and a bunch of his jokes caught me off guard. It allowed me to remain keen as a member of the virtual audience and I appreciated his comedic timing. I also noticed that he also stood out very well. His pants were bright red, The haircut was a little funky, and the lighting made him the center of attention as he needed to be. I am someone who jokes around a lot too so by adapting his random, quirky punchlines I can reel in my audience as well.

    Reply
    1. Ahmed Eladdly Avatar
      Ahmed Eladdly

      I completely agree with your take Bendly. His vivid descriptions brought his journey from Long Island to the Bronx to life and made seem so real. This helped in my ability to visualize what exactly he was talking about. His unexpected jokes made me laugh and kept me wondering what he was going to say next also the timing of the jokes were really perfect. I enjoyed the way he was using humor and adapting his style of quirky punchlines in a great way to keep the audience’s attention.

      Reply
    2. Hibah Hashmi Avatar
      Hibah Hashmi

      You’re right, McRae’s storytelling was really engaging. His detailed descriptions and humor definitely made the story come alive and kept us hooked. I agree that his bright red pants and funky haircut added to his unique presence, which helped maintain attention.

      Reply
    3. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      I’m glad you all responded well to the storytelling aspect of his speech. It’s a big part of why I think this one works so well and also a hallmark of the Ted Talk type of format.

      Reply
    4. Liridona Hyseni Avatar
      Liridona Hyseni

      I couldn’t agree more! I thought the humor to the speech kept everything so lighthearted for the viewer and kept you interested to hear more! His voice and expression were great and captivating. He’s definitely a great story teller as I too pictured all he was saying in my head. I like to add humor to my speeches or story telling as well as I feel it keeps people interested and creates a sort of friendship with the listener/viewer when they’re laughing along with you.

      Reply
    5. Liridona Hyseni Avatar
      Liridona Hyseni

      I agree especially with your comment. I really enjoyed what a great story teller he was and his voice was captivating as you mentioned. I think humor is always a great touch to a speech as it can keep a speech lightened even if it gets too deep.

      Reply
  3. Ahmed Eladdly Avatar
    Ahmed Eladdly

    After watching W.T. McRae’s “Teaching Kids to Cheat” video, I realized how education systems often stop the collaboration of problem-solving which McRae argues is essential for real-world success between students. His points about redefining c as he emphasized that in life, we often rely on others and available resources to solve problems really made a lot of sense to me. However this doesn’t relate to the individual work focus approach in many schools. I also connected his ideas to learning public speaking asynchronously. Now a days its hard to get immediate feedback but with asynchronous classes feedback can just be a click of a button away and I feel like that would help a lot of the students in the distant future.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      An interesting connection! Way to put the pressure on for instant feedback…
      What you talk about in terms of our current school system is spot on. Part of why I shared this particular speech is that I hope that you do take this course as an opportunity to think creatively. And that you all take away the message that I (and no doubt most of your other professors) are interested in your thinking and making connections, not just blindly following the prescribed route and never thinking about why.

      Reply
    2. Adam Hasan Avatar
      Adam Hasan

      Hi Ahmed, I couldn’t agree more ! feedback is much more simpler, and easier to attain. Even if it isn’t instant feedback(No pressure Professor Shiraz!) it very much is much more convenient for not only the students, but the professor as well.

      Reply
  4. Alan Jiang Avatar
    Alan Jiang

    At the start he use the word intended. He did not intend to be a be a teaching artist. This really put a through in to me. My major was computer science. Will I Get into a job in computer science or maybe half way through the degree will I change my degree. Will everything goes as I plan. And when he go to the school to work he ask question but the answer he get is not a straight forward answer. He said that he enjoy puzzle. I enjoy puzzle too, I like Rubik cube. “Can I do that” I think of this too I always think about the things I do. What will happen if i do that. “Breaking the rule They di it for one another’s benefit” I like this line. it give a purpose to break the rule. A Good Purpose.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      It is highly unlikely in today’s world that most people will have only one career at one company for their whole working life. You’ve likely all heard this before, I’m sure. I, too, love his “Can I do that?” question and it has taken me into some interesting spaces.

      Reply
  5. Hibah Hashmi Avatar
    Hibah Hashmi

    W.T. McRae introduces his speech with a funny anecdote about unexpectedly becoming a teacher, setting a relatable and engaging tone. He concludes by reflecting on the importance of teaching creativity, innovation, and empathy, tying these ideas back to his work in the arts. His main point is that cheating, when reframed as innovation, can be a powerful tool for creative thinking. McRae supports this idea through personal stories and examples, such as the childhood toy and Hedy Lamarr’s innovations, which illustrate how breaking the rules can lead to meaningful progress. I realized how powerful stories can be in grabbing attention and making a message stick. It’s not just about facts or information, but about connecting emotionally with the audience. In relating back to this course I could use storytelling to make my points more relatable and memorable. Instead of just stating information, I could share examples or personal experiences that tie into the message, which would probably keep my audience more engaged and invested.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      I’d love to see you do exactly what you pointed out at the end here in your (and this goes for everyone!) responses. How do you make your audience, speaking or writing, be invested in your thoughts. One of the surest ways is through sharing the personal. We’ve all seen what he had to say, so now its about considering why and how it reflects in your life.

      Reply
  6. Nylissa Vanmanen Avatar
    Nylissa Vanmanen

    A couple minutes in you can tell he is a great storyteller and that is what had me intrigued. His way of storytelling, you are able to imagine where he was, like I was with him, while explaining his journey from long island to the Bronx. He has a very different style when it comes to either his haircut or clothing but this can make it more intriguing to the people watching him on stage. He was also very funny and even though his jokes were different thats what made them funny.

    Reply
    1. Matthew Herman Avatar
      Matthew Herman

      I agree that this is some great storytelling!

      Reply
  7. Alexander Szczesny Avatar
    Alexander Szczesny

    You get a great sense of capture when you look at this speaker before anything of great importance is even said. Once the talk begins, you engage in a series of high-critical thinking situations in which the talker paints a picture for you in your mind as they continue throughout. The entire time you feel as if you are not only listening to the speech that is being given but also trying to further understand what general point is being made as well as the connection of that to the end resultant of meaning to the speech as a whole.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      Painting a picture in your mind is a great phase for anyone giving a speech to always keep in their own mind. The best speakers do this, particularly in politics, to help push your attention where they want it to go and to the emotions that brings out.

      Reply
    2. Rosy Gadeh Avatar
      Rosy Gadeh

      I agree! The way he spoke really made it easy to follow. It didn’t feel like a boring lengthy speech yet it was quality and much can be learned from it.

      Reply
  8. Damian Dziegielewski Avatar
    Damian Dziegielewski

    You can tell he is very prepared when coming in and talking about his experiences. His way of talking and the flow of the speech encapsulates you in. Him talking about his journey from long island to the Bronx, he is putting a lot of details in about his experience. His sense of comedy, I really appreciated as well. I feel like humor is a very good way to capture the audience.

    Reply
    1. Kadin Blanc Avatar
      Kadin Blanc

      Hey Damian , I totally agree with what you said about how he is giving alot of details about his experience . His humor is what kept me intrested and wanting to listen to it more.

      Reply
    2. Matthew Herman Avatar
      Matthew Herman

      I agree that he is very prepared!!

      Reply
  9. Darnell Prudent Avatar
    Darnell Prudent

    From the beginning it was obvious that McRae had a gift for storytelling. Listening to his tale of traveling from Long Island to the Bronx made me feel like I was there with him. His storytelling painted vivid pictures and his attention, to detail was impressive. What really grabbed my attention was his sense of humor—his jokes kept me entertained throughout as a spectator. He really knew how to deliver his lines.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      How do you think he prepared for this talk?

      Reply
  10. Nichelle Julius Gordon Avatar
    Nichelle Julius Gordon

    Throughout the speech McRae had head turning points. He always found a way to grab the listeners attentions. He even stated “I know those points didn’t connect” but it was a way to make sure you always were paying attention to what was the message. I do believe the message was well put and I agree that when in a learning environment we are always being held to strict guidelines and requirements. When you tell a student you don’t have to do xyz, they’re still asking a million questions because they’re afraid of making mistakes. It takes away the creative learning process of learning and seeing what you’re mind is truly capable of. It does tie to your learning structure of having self reflections of ourselves and having a creative thinking and learning process in holding ourselves accountable; not in negative way but looking at it within ourselves and yet a different point of view.

    Reply
  11. Emily Ramzy Avatar
    Emily Ramzy

    I like the metaphor McRae makes between his commute and his experience walking into the school. But what really triggered me while watching was the concept of thinking inside the box, not outside. It made me think wow I really never thought about things in that way. And now I’ve learned to have a look inside and outside.

    Reply
    1. Diana Moiseyeva Avatar
      Diana Moiseyeva

      I was actually just saying that i never thought that i was thinking both inside and outside the box as well. So nice to see that i was not the only one!

      Reply
      1. Muhammad Uddin Avatar
        Muhammad Uddin

        Me too. Being able to think inside and outside allows you to have both perspectives so you can come to a decision.

        Reply
  12. Diana Moiseyeva Avatar
    Diana Moiseyeva

    McRae was extremely entertaining and had so many skills to offer throughout his performance. He starts off by portraying himself as this adequately funny and entertaining guy that grsaped everyones attention. The main point that he is trying to get out there is that “cheating,” when viewed from a different perspective specifically as “innovation” can be seen as a method of creative problem solving. Rather than following conventional rules or established methods, the idea is that breaking the rules or finding unconventional shortcuts can lead to innovative and imaginative solutions. He is stating “cheating” isn’t about dishonesty or unethical behavior, but about rethinking boundaries and constraints to come up with new, creative ideas. He is extremely engaging the audience through his humor and how open he is. Hes not standing in one spot but moving around and keeping people entertained. I cant really relate to how he was saying about different ways of thinking that consists inside the box and outside the box and i just never thought that i thought both at one point.

    Reply
  13. Kimone Kichelle Atkinson Avatar
    Kimone Kichelle Atkinson

    When watching the “teaching kids to cheat” video I really liked that the narrator wanted to give students a better opportunity to learn. Instead of coming up with more rules to help kids he wanted to create less rules. I thought that was a really good idea. It reminded me of when babies were learning how to walk, parents didn’t try to get in their way instead they let the babies fall and figure out how to do it correctly on their own. That’s honestly a great strategy for a teacher to instill in their students. It helps build problem-solving techniques that will better guide these kids when they are adults.

    Reply
    1. Nichole Pena Avatar
      Nichole Pena

      Hi Kimone,

      Totally agree with you. As a mother of a 2-year-old, I remember when she was learning to walk, and I was so worried she wasn’t walking when she should. I tried to implement so many things to make her walk faster, and when I finally accepted the fact that she will walk on her own timing, she walked.

      Reply
      1. Kimone Atkinson Avatar
        Kimone Atkinson

        awww, I’m glad she started walking !!

        Reply
    2. Leslie Avatar
      Leslie

      Hey Kimone,

      Yes, I agree because he said it allows the kids to think outside the box and for kids to learn how to do things differently as far as technology advances. This allows critical thinking and for kids to start thinking outside of the box.

      Reply
      1. Kimone Atkinson Avatar
        Kimone Atkinson

        Yes, I agree with what you said.

        Reply
  14. Muhammad Uddin Avatar
    Muhammad Uddin

    In his talk “Teaching Kids to Cheat,” W.T. McRae starts by saying he’s going to teach kids how to cheat, which grabs attention right away. His main point is to rethink what cheating means and how it can sometimes lead to creative problem-solving. He uses humor, stories, and interactive examples to support his ideas. McRae keeps the audience engaged with his lively delivery and relatable stories. He ends by encouraging parents and teachers to understand why kids cheat and to use that understanding to teach better. This talk makes me think about the importance of encouraging curiosity and creativity, even if it means questioning the rules. In this course, it highlights the need for critical thinking and addressing the reasons behind cheating.

    Reply
    1. Leonardo Avatar
      Leonardo

      To add to what you said, McRae also adds a different perspective of the phrase “thinking outside the box” to think inside the box and using the word cheating as a better way to teach kids the importance of manipulating the foundation of how our world works such as in schools. Curiosity and creativity are unlimited but our ideas can be limited by how far we individuals can go to achieve our goals and the process it takes us. In the video, McRae uses the spinner toy as an example for following those rules by spinning can greatly reward you but his creativity on how to solve it was diminished. There is a limit on how to solve everything but taking risks is more beneficial as suppose to following the task improves our thinking capabilities in future problems to take a greater risk as he proposes to change how society works. Likewise, Hedy Lamarra contributed to the making of cell phones even though her idea of the time was not possible these ideas are now renovated and benefit us in the future. McRae’s methods for teaching kids are helpful to establish in their early life more confidence for the future where everyone is shackled to the rules made by their superiors. Overall I agree with you that critical thinking is a major contributor to kids with unlimited potential to change the way we live and handle our ideas.

      Reply
    2. Su-Dony Bryan Avatar
      Su-Dony Bryan

      I agree with you. I feel like parents and teachers should let their children step out of the box (inside the box). I feel like that would be a better way for their child to have creative thinking. It would make them understand that cheating is right. It’s like letting them find out so that they can learn instead of forbidding it from the start.

      Reply
  15. Leslie Avatar
    Leslie

    The video W.T. McRae’s “Teaching Kids to Cheat”, I noticed how his storytelling skills captivated me to the video to watch the whole video. Mcrae was able to use humor as well as examples examples and analogies to be able to push his ideas. At first with his toy example he was upset that “cheating” was a way that contradicts problem solving, but it was the contrary as he went on and encouraged kids to cheat. This was further supported because he says it allows kids to think outside the box because as technology advances you need to be more creative and find ways to create critical thinking.

    Reply
    1. Rosy Gadeh Avatar
      Rosy Gadeh

      I definitely agree! The humor and storytelling really made it easy to follow.

      Reply
  16. Dennis Shender Avatar
    Dennis Shender

    What I admire most about McRae’s was the way he masterfully structured it. First hooked the audience with a strange and counterintuitive concept of teaching kids that cheating can be a good thing. Then he used personal stories to connect with the audience and relate the concept to how it can be used in reality. Lastly he leaves the audience with a strong message of allowing and actually encouraging kids to take risks even if they might end up making mistakes because it sparks creativity and ingenuity.

    Reply
    1. Dennis Shender Avatar
      Dennis Shender

      about McRae’s talk*
      First he hooked*

      Reply
  17. Jason Lin Avatar
    Jason Lin

    McRae beautifully explains the detriment of the current structure of the education system. I definitely agree that the competitive nature and harsh grading policies in school nurtures bad behaviors like cheating, as students often do not get rewarded for learning, but instead getting good grades in class. If students were punished less for doing bad on test scores and homework, and instead rewarded for engaging with the lesson and each other, cheating would not be as prevalent. The fear of receiving a bad grade on a test or not turning in homework creates and environment where students feel more incentivized to cheat. However, McRae brings up a good point where “cheating” is not necessarily a bad thing. When provided this skill in a healthy environment, students learn how to critically think and solve an existing problem.

    Reply
    1. Leonardo Avatar
      Leonardo

      I also agree with you Jason Lin on how adults structure our system making it so limiting for us to access our full potential because just like McRae said I do feel afraid of doing the wrong or the right thing within classes I can’t express myself to be more creative or intuitive on how to pursue my ideas or strengthen other classmate’s ideas. However, since there is this Hierarchy where the teacher can’t be persuaded or even change their policies within a class makes it difficult for me to understand that they want what is best to learn and stick to the traditional idea of learning because change is terrifying with the outcomes can lead to failure of a child. I want more public schools to take risks like McRae said to encourage students’ behavior risks to achieve what they want to overcome effectively so that they won’t be in a position where they can’t defy or innovate an idea to their boss or any adult in the future where it can be revolutionary.

      Reply
  18. Rosy Gadeh Avatar
    Rosy Gadeh

    Mcrae’s Ted Talk “Teaching Kids to Cheat” really made me think about how adults may inadvertently be encouraging dishonesty and cheating through their expectations for children. The way he spoke throughout was so engaging – especially since he threw some jokes into the mix. He explained the pressures that make students feel like they should cheat. This really made me think about how sad it is that children/ students should ever have to feel that way. It made me think about how much education students are just losing and not taking advantage of because of the feeling of always needing to succeed.

    Reply
    1. Kimone Atkinson Avatar
      Kimone Atkinson

      I agree, so many people are afraid of doing something wrong that they rather not try when it comes to learning. It’s always better to try and fail than to not try at all because when you fail, you learn from your mistakes.

      Reply
  19. Su-Dony Bryan Avatar
    Su-Dony Bryan

    Mcrae’s Ted Talk “Teaching Kids to Cheat” introduces his speech by talking about a film that shows a toy called Ball Bearing Tilt. He saw a little boy with a toy, the kid spun it around and all of the balls went to the corner. He pointed out that the boy cheated because he didn’t follow the rules of the game.

    The main point of this is to show that kids should think inside the box sometimes and not go by the rules. Parents and teachers should let the kids cheat because that would be a great way for the kids to see what’s right from wrong. This would give the kids a chance to think about the reasons behind the rules and the impact of the decision on what they made. Parents could also help their children to have a strong understanding of the consequences of cheating.

    He engaged with the audience by telling jokes and talking about a film.

    I could relate to this because as a kid and a little bit now, I would question the rules. Just to have a better understanding on why they made that the rule and why we should go by it.

    Reply

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