I just finished watching a 20-minute video of Ken Robinson’s presentation on the nature of creativity in our education systems from the TED (technology, entertainment, design) conference, and it’s a great clip. Robinson is funny and engaging and almost without knowing it you find yourself agreeing with him. Grad a drink or snack and let it play.

Some highlights, paraphrased:

• More people will graduate in the next 50 years from universities than in cumulatively have graduated ever before.
• We are seeing huge inflation in university degrees – as more people graduate their degrees become less differentiating and valuable.
• Those graduating from universities today will not retire until beyond the middle of the 21st century. How can their education possibly hope to prepare them for the changes they will see just in the next 10 years?
• Most university professors live in their heads and consider their bodies relocation devices for their heads.

Also, check out the TED Blog for links to conference highlights and discussion.