TEDxDelft 2013 | The people behind TEDxDelft: Marike Weltje-Poldervaart – analytical plant with an absolute passion for education!

Can you tell us something about yourself?
My name is Marike Weltje-Poldervaart. I am an educational advisor at the Centre for Expertise in Education OC Focus at the TU Delft.
Being a cultural anthropologist, the university is a great place to work: interesting “study” surroundings in more that one sense of the word!

What’s your job at TEDxDelft?
I am a performer coach for TedX Delft 2013.

What’s your favorite TED(x)talk?
There are many inspiring TedX talks. Since education is my passion, I very much agree with the talk by Ken Robinson about how schools kill creativity.
Another talk I find inspiring is the one by Angela Lee Duckworth about the key to succes: Grit!
And one of my favourites is the talk by Arthur Benjamin: teach statistics before calculus.

What’s your idea worth spreading?
My own idea worth spreading is that we should make more use of the enthusiasm, willpower and energy of young adults at schools and universities. What I often see is that the potential that students have is not used once they enter our schools and universities.
There are so many students with original ideas and initiatives! We should really make more use of them for the benefit of our educational system. By doing this, we can make the education at schools and universities more gratifying for both teachers and students and make our schools and universities more beneficial for all!

Which keywords define you as a person?
An analytical plant (in Belbin teamrole-terms) with an absolute passion for education!