Blog Post #6

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

 

     Raundy Pausch was a very inspiring lecturer.  During his last lecture he was close to dying and still was able to have a positive attitude about life.  This proved so much about his character. He began by saying, "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." This is so true! Immediately, I learned a lesson for the classroom; it is important to approach life with positive implications.

     Randy gave so much information that could be used in the classroom. His ideas and perception about life is amazing! A great teacher would model his ideas. The lecture taught to lead by example in the classroom. If you want a certain behavior to be shown in your classroom, you must example that behavior. Randy spoke on how it was important to be enthusiastic in the class. He stated, "It is better to be a Tigger, then an Eyore!" This idea was supported in the beginning when he was telling about his childhood dreams. Everyone has childhood dreams and he showed how somehow he met all of his childhood dreams in some way or another. This is important because it is imperative that a teacher enables child hood dreams. That will be our job as educators! By critiquing our students we will be enabling their dreams.  Randy learned that when you screw up and no one tells you that you have, you are in a bad place because your loving critics have given up on you! We cannot give up on students.

     Mr. Pausch learned where to set the bar for students. He understood that no bar should be set but students should know that mediocrity is unacceptable. He came to this conclusion after his first assignment 

given to his students. These students gave him work that was well beyond his expectations. This is still a way to enable your students' dreams! By not setting a bar you teach your students that the sky is the limit!

      Mr. Pausch has taught so much, but it always goes back to enabling children's dreams.  He has great teaching methods that would help any teacher be most effective in the classroom. His main point is to show how important it is to let students dream! You do not set a bar. You allow them to go as far as you know they can go! You do give extra credit and you show the students the benefits they will receive from the extra assignment! Teachers must be honest and trust worthy. Your student has to believe in you! You must critique students. Like Rafe, I beleive that Randy believed failure is good! 

 The teacher must keep the enthusiasm in the classroom. The teacher must allow the student to dream and the teacher must enable the dream!