Ian Gilbert
‘It was like watching the world’s most education-oriented stand-up comedian!’. So said a recent delegate at the Teaching Awards where Ian Gilbert was delivering a keynote presentation to the winners, an approach summed by the Independent Thinking mantra – make ‘em laugh, make’ em think.
It’s a response that also matches many of the other comments Ian regularly receives when he works with teachers and school leaders, comments such as:
'The only keynote speaker I have ever listened to from the first word to the last'
'Made me cry, both with laughter and with awe at the job we do'
'Superb, inspirational. Every staffroom should have one'
'Admin just been to tell me that you got 100% "ones" top evaluation, never been done before, for conference...'
And our favourite:
‘He was very good - a bit like Eddie Izzard on speed…He ain't cheap - but I (who pays no bills!) reckon he's well worth it’
‘Education’, Ian is quoted as saying, ‘is too important to be taken that seriously’ but Ian also matches his humour with an encyclopedic knowledge of his area, summed up by one delegate who wrote:
'Each little throw away line from Ian Gilbert is a nugget from which several activities could be devised'
Since leaving languages teaching in 1993 – a job he was doing as a stepping stone to his work with on motivation with young people and because his then mother-in-law told him he needed a trade and what good was a French degree from Durham if you couldn’t mend a leaking tap - Ian has built Independent Thinking into one of the most inspirational and effective educational organisations in the UK and beyond. He has also established himself as a leading educational speaker, practitioner, innovator and an award-winning writer, helping teachers teach so that children can think and learn. From motivation, neuroscience and enterprise skills to creativity, learning and thinking, he has developed tools and ideas that genuinely make a difference to what goes on in the classroom, at the same time directly influencing the approach that many school leaders take to bring out the best in young people and staff alike.
The creator of widely used tools such as Thunks ™ and 8Way Thinking, author of several best-selling books including the ‘classic’ Essential Motivation in the Classroom, The Book of Thunks – winner of the first ever educational writing award from the Society of Authors - and his latest Why Do I Need a Teacher When I’ve Got Google? and the editor of the hugely popular Independent Thinking Series, Ian has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to make a difference to the lives of young people in and beyond school.
For a while, Ian’s work was almost becoming mainstream but the new regime change at the top has meant that his passion for helping children think – and for themselves – is once again seen as wild and dangerous ranting. Ian is happy with this and, although not a political animal himself, he is happy to give schools as many proverbial tomatoes as they need to hurl at anyone who thinks teaching children is about filling them with testable facts to see if we can out-Chinese the Chinese education system in the PISA tests. (Remember that to Shanghai means ‘to trick someone into doing something by underhand means’.)
Click on the following button to see Ian Gilbert live in action at TEDx Dubai 2009 - from Giorgio Ungania on Vimeo:
and more recently in August 2011 at TEDx Patagonia 2011
Currently working to establish Independent Thinking in South America and the Middle East, Ian regularly returns to the UK to work with teachers, school leaders or governors (across all phases of education including early years and further education) and although ‘he ain’t cheap’ he is value for money with many schools using a day spent with Ian as the only catalyst they need for a whole year’s worth of school development.
‘Please tell Ian just how fantastic we all thought his workshop was today. You were quite right, he's one of the best speakers I have heard and, in particular, offered practical strategies to improve teaching and learning rather than just woolly exhortations to do better. This will be one invoice I don't mind paying!'
Click on the following button to see highlights of Ian Gilbert live in action*:
Nice 'Tweets' seen recently include:
- We had a great day with Ian Gilbert - very good!
- Why Do I Need a Teacher When I've Got Google? by Ian Gilbert. An absolute must for probationer teachers.
People who have benefited from Ian have also enjoyed Roy Leighton.
Articles written by Ian Gilbert:
Books written by Ian Gilbert:
Forewords written by Ian Gilbert:
DVDs from Ian Gilbert:
Video clips with Ian Gilbert:
Podcasts from Ian Gilbert:
TV Programmes with Ian Gilbert:
If you are looking for a thought-provoking keynote, a rousing ‘send ‘em home’ happy address, a full day or half day’s INSET or just want to make contact with an innovator, entrepreneur and educationalist to help you realise you are not the one who is mad then please call the Independent Thinking office on 0844 589 0490 or e-mail us at learn@independentthinking.co.uk.
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Ian's prices are as follows: |
| £2,500 |
Full Day INSET/Conference |
| £1,750 |
Half Day INSET/Conference |
| £1,750 |
1-Hour Conference Address |
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Travelling expenses, accommodation costs (if required), and VAT are also charged |
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For our other Associates' prices, corporate Event prices or further information on expenses please click here |
Ian's CRB number is 001259332270 issued 23rd November 2009.
(*If you experience difficulties downloading this clip then please e-mail us at admin@independentthinking.co.uk or call us on 0844 589 0490 and we'll try and help)
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