Blog Post #8

The question we are asked to address in this blog is "What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?" after watching his Last Lecture.

Randy used this opportunity, this lecture, to teach some very key lessons not to his audience but to his sons. Randy was given a diagnoses that left him with only a few months left to live. Many lessons in this lecture can and should be applied by many.

The overall theme of this lecture was "childhood dreams". Randy says "Anything is possible. That is something we should not lose sight of. The inspiration and the permission to dream is huge". I agree with statement and think we should take this idea into our classrooms. Our students should have permission to dream huge.

Randy, a Carnegie Melon professor, used technology and project based learning throughout his classes and created a very successful career for both himself and his students.

An important concept in learning Randy says is "You have to get the fundamentals down otherwise all the fancy stuff isn't going to work". He uses an example from his childhood. His coach came to football practice without any footballs. When a teammate asked about it, the coach responded asking how many football players are on a team. He then asked how many players touch the ball at once. One. The coach stated that they would be practicing on what all the other teammates would be doing. "You have to get the fundamentals down otherwise all the fancy stuff isn't going to work". This concept needs to be carried over in any learning area. You have to understand the fundamentals in order to build on that and do the "fancy stuff". I think this concept is key for learning as well as something that should be taught to our students.

When teaching, you don't always know where to set expectations and limits. When Randy was blown away by the phenomenal work of his students within the first two weeks of class he didn't know where to go from there. His adviser told him "You don't know where the bar should be and you are only going to do them a disservice by putting it anywhere". I very much agree that you should allow your students to go above and beyond as far as they can. Setting certain limits only says you don't believe they can do better.

As I have volunteered, observed, and worked with students I have repeatedly come across a student that just doesn't want to follow the rules. Randy reminds us to "wait long enough and someone will almost always impress you... You just haven't given them enough time". It is so important that you give every student a chance to do great! A student is never "bad", only their actions are. There is good in everyone and you just have to give them time to show it.

Randy shared of a time where his actions were being perceived as arrogant. He had a boss tell him "what a shame that people perceive you this way because it is going to limit what you can accomplish". This is an important statement! Randy, himself, was not arrogant. However, his actions were causing people to think so and that could have kept him achieving great accomplishments. I believe you should address issues with your students in a similar, age-appropriate way. Let your students know that they are being seen in a certain way and that is only going to keep them from having good things in their life. When others start to see them in a different light, they will begin to feel the benefits. I had an instance like this with a "bully" in my summer daycamp class. We sat down and addressed that people did not see her as friendly and that was keeping her from having play mates. When she understood that, she began going out of her way to help others and gained many friends by the end of the summer.

To paraphrase Randy "there's a good way and a bad way to say I don't know". I think in teaching and learning whenever you come across a moment that you don't know an answer to something, you can address it in completely different manners. One way to say it is in an upset rage. That is obviously the wrong way. Randy remembers a time where a dean said to him something along the lines of "I don't know. But I do know that I have a star faculty member in my office and he is really excited about it. So, let's figure it out". Students will ask a million and one questions and you will not always have the answer. It is important to learn how to speak to your students and to teach them how to speak to their peers and adults. Ending an "I don't know" phrase with "let's figure it out" is the best way to approach any situation.

Randy reminds us that it takes others to help us get anywhere in life. We need others help. He tells us some ways to get that. He says always apologize. He also reminds us not to focus on ourselves but to put others first. These are great ways to get a group of support!

One very true idea Randy talks about throughout the lecture is what he calls a "Head fake". This is when you think you are learning one lesson but are really learning something else or many things in the process. In my opinion this is one of the greatest ways to teach! Students don't want to sit and learn but when you make something fun, they don't always realize they are learning in the process! I believe this concept is very important in teaching many lessons.

Randy taught many key concepts in his lecture that we are lucky to have been able to hear.