Eduardo Briceño: How to get better at the things you care about

Andrea Phillips

ET

Briceño, E. (2016, November). Eduardo Briceño: How to get better at the things you care about [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/eduardo_briceno_how_to_get_better_at_the_things_you_care_about

Summary:
In his TED Talk, Eduardo Briceño identifies the difference between the learning zone and the performance zone. The learning zone is where learning happens: mistakes are made, and specific skills are focused on in order to improve. The performance zone is when the skills practiced in the learning zone are put to the test. Then reflection happens, and the process begins again. Briceño argues that we spend too much time in the performance zone without giving students the opportunity to participate in deliberate practice in the learning zone in order to improve.

Evaluation:
Understanding the difference between the performance zone and the learning zone, and what needs to happen in each zone in order to become better in any given area, is an important idea for educators, parents, and people in general. Briceño makes it very clear that we need to build in time for deliberate practice in a low-stakes environment in order to see learning improvements. Most of our time is spent in the performance zone without reflecting on what we need to improve in order to be better, and how to deliberately practice those skills. By building time for learning into our daily lives and into the education model, people will experience more success in the areas that matter to them. Although this TED Talk is short, it provides a good introduction to the idea and importance of deliberate practice.