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Today's math curriculum is teaching students to expect -- and excel at -- paint-by-numbers classwork, robbing kids of a skill more important than solving problems: formulating them. At TEDxNYED, Dan Meyer shows classroom-tested math exercises that prompt students to stop and think.

Temple Grandin, diagnosed with autism as a child, talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.

TED Talks It may seem that big problems require big solutions, but ad man Rory Sutherland says many flashy, expensive fixes are just obscuring better, simpler answers. To illustrate, he uses behavioral economics and hilarious examples.

Zoe Weil is the co-founder and President of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), www.HumaneEducation.org. IHE works to create a humane, just, and sustainable world for people, animals, and the environment through education, offering a variety of programs for teachers, parents, students, concerned citizens, and changemakers, including the only graduate programs in comprehensive humane education in the U.S., online courses, workshops, and free downloadable resources at www.HumaneEducation.org. Zoe is the author of six books and hundreds of articles and tours with her one-woman show, "My Ongoing Problems with Kindness: Confessions of MOGO Girl." You can find her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter at ZoeWeil, and read her blog at www.zoeweil.com.

Criticism and critique of Khan Academy. You can see more of my stuff at http://rationalexpressions.blogspot.com, or you can connect with me on twitter (@mpershan).