Blog Post #6, What can we learn about teaching and learning from Randy Pausch?

First of all, I love this "Last Lecture" and am so glad to be assigned to view it. It has been too long since I'd last viewed it. I've also read the book. Dr. Pausch is so inspiring! He had a gift for speaking and striving for goals and inspiring others to do the same. Plus, he loved Disney, so that right there = points in his favor.

He used his unique gifts and talents for lecturing to provide the world with a lesson and insight into his own life and experiences that will touch others for a long, long time. I know that personally I have been inspired, as just me, and as professional/teacher me.

Some of the things that have made the longest lasting impact from the first viewing through this one are:
The brick walls aren't there to stop me. They're there to stop those other people. The ones who'll give up. They're there, but they won't keep me from achieving my dreams. How powerful! With a mentality like that, nothing is impossible!

I also loved hearing about how he was so impressed with the products his students had created. He went to his mentor and friend and asked, "What do I do? What do I say to them? They blew me away today!" And his wise friend said to go in for the next class meeting and let them know that what they'd done was alright, but that he expected a lot more in the future. Genius! The sky is truly the limit and we as teachers don't need to lower the skyline. We should keep pushing and encouraging our students to soar even higher, because they can!

The third most impressive part to me as a teacher and person was listening to how he appreciated when his students failed, and failed big time. The goal is not to be safe, but to shoot for the stars, and be alright with failing, because as long as you don't let that stop you from pressing on, then it is not a failure at all, but a catalyst that propels you further in your creating!

Finally, we need to have fun! Life should be fun! Learning should be fun! Naturally, it is! Don't set up life so that it loses this element!

I love Dr. Pausch's inspiring words and I hope you do too. They make me laugh and cry and inspire me to be an even bigger, better, more fun version of myself, as a person and as a teacher, every time I reflect on them.

Here is the link to his last lecture video. I highly encourage you to view it if you haven't had the pleasure before. (Or watch it again if it has been a while!)