Dissemination Event in Eskişehir/Türkiye

 

By Hilal İnal, Şehit Mehmet Şengül Science High School, Eskişehir, Türkiye

On June 1st, Şehit Mehmet Şengül Science High School students carried out a Ted Talk Day as the dissemination event of our eTwinning project "High Schoolers Talk I"

                                                             

Our Ted Talk Day Event Introduction for High Schoolers Talk I eTwinning Project

Objectives of the Initiative

This special event was organized to spotlight the intellectual achievements of our students and to share the core values of our collaborative project with the wider educational community. By providing a platform for public speaking in English, our main goal was to demonstrate how critical thinking and effective communication can empower young learners to become confident global citizens who can articulate complex ideas.

Event Dynamics and Engagement

The conference hall was filled with an inspiring energy, characterized by curiosity and mutual support. Our high school students took the stage to address an array of highly relevant, modern themes ranging from artificial intelligence and social justice to personal psychology and aesthetics. The entire program was smoothly moderated by our student hosts, Öykü and Zeki, who maintained a professional and welcoming tone throughout the day.

Behind the Scenes: The Preparation Phase

Success on stage is always the result of dedication behind the scenes. In the weeks prior to the event, students engaged in deep research, structured their arguments and refined their English delivery. They worked hard to ensure their messages were both impactful and engaging. This structured preparation phase not only boosted their presentation skills but also helped them overcome stage anxiety, resulting in highly polished performances.

Key Takeaways and Presentations

• Psychology and Aesthetics: Şefika opened the session by exploring human optimism in her talk, "Do we choose to be a Debbie Downer?" by encouraging the audience to focus on positivity. Later, Ela captivated listeners by analyzing how socioeconomic factors and personal emotions shape our cultural understanding of beauty.
• The Digital Era and Humanity: The impact of technology was a major focus. Erva questioned the emotional depth of artificial intelligence in the creative arts while Kaan and Demirkan joined forces to deliver a fascinating presentation on how robotics and coding influence human perception.
• Society and Self-Improvement: Merve provided a critical legal perspective on women's rights while questioning the real-world impact of existing laws. Concluding the talks, the team of Zeynep, Elif and Ecehan focused demonstrating how micro-habits can lead to long-term personal growth.

Celebratory Wrap-Up

The event reached a high point during the final curtain call. All student speakers, tech crew and supporting teachers were invited back to the stage for a collective celebration. The audience honored their dedication with a long standing ovation. This closing moment perfectly captured the shared pride of our school community and left everyone with a great sense of accomplishment.

Educational Value

This event proved that modern education goes far beyond traditional classrooms. By analyzing global issues and presenting them in English, our science high school students developed vital soft skills including media literacy, empathy and public speaking. It stands as a clear example of how project-based learning can inspire academic excellence and personal confidence.