Blog Post #7

What can we learn about teaching and learning from Randy Pausch?

The lecture given by Randy Pausch, Last Lecture, was one that encompassed three main highlights that led up to the main point, on how to lead one's life. He touched on his childhood dreams, enabling others' dreams, and ended with lessons learned. This lecture was not only significant due to the past obstacles that Randy faced, but also his current obstacle of living life with the end near in sight. He revealed that he had ten (10) tumors in his liver and less than a year left to live. That sad account did not hinder his enthusiasm and passion.

There were many valuable stories that Randy shared, but when it comes to education, he seemed to give us the "head fake". He taught about education, but in a way that was very easy to understand and yet, nonetheless valuable.

Randy started out discussing brick walls. He said that they let us prove how badly we want something. He also spoke on the importance of fundamentals. Being an instructor, Randy was very familiar with being under authority and having authority over students as well. He was told, when you screw up, and people no longer say anything anymore, it means that they have given up on you. He also taught that approach when speaking to people is important. When he wanted to work for Disney Imagineering, the college Dean and the other Dean said the same thing, but one of them had a better approach. That is what made all the difference in his inner respect for the men.

While teaching his class, he had the students rate one another. An important lesson for educators is to get someone to become self-reflective. When they can see it, it makes all the difference. Another lesson for educators was that setting a bar for the students, does the students great disservice. The students went above and beyond what he as a professor could imagine, and it had him confused on the way forward for a little bit. His class could not have reached the heights that they had reached if he had limited their imagination and thinking. Mind you, fundamentals get one a clearer understanding, and foundation, but it should not stop there. Also having headed the program for about ten (10) years, Randy was not fully happy leaving it in the hands of another person. Another lesson for teaching is, to hand it over to someone who is better, if the opportunity arises.

When it comes to learning Randy taught important lessons for reflection. He said to never lose the child-like wonder inside of you. He also pointed out that it's okay to be wrong when you are learning new things, but it is not okay when you refuse to own up to your mistakes. He said to apologize when you screw up. He also pointed out that you cannot get anywhere alone, so learn to help others. This lecture was quite powerful, and all of the information was meaningful. There is not anything that I would really say that I disagree with, since this is Randy Pausch's story, and life lessons that he took away from all of his experiences. In all truth, life is all about those brick walls that make us fight harder for our dreams.