Blog Post #8

In this blog post I am answering the question,"What can we learn about teaching and learning from Randy Pausch?" I would like to start off by saying that "Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams" video is one of the most inspirational videos that I have ever seen.

Not only can we take these points that Randy Pausch stressed on and use it in the educational world, but we could also use these points to get through everyday life. Here are a few things in Randy Pausch's last lecture that teaches us about teaching and learning:

1. "Brick Walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things."

This is an amazing point. As future educators, there will be many brick walls. As a teacher, the way you execute your lessons and the amount of time you put into your class will prove how badly you want it. Teachers should have a natural drive to be the best that they can be. There are going to be plenty brick walls to face, but it is how we tear down those brick walls that matter.

2. "Have fun while learning- it's ok."

This really describes the educational world today. The way to actively engage students is to have fun. Get students excited about learning, and encourage a "love for learning." As future educators, we will see the best results when our kids are having fun learning. 

3. "Never lose your child-like wonder- it drives us."

This point really speaks to elementary education majors. Think about it, NEVER lose your child-like wonder. Teachers need to realize, especially elementary teachers, that their students watch them. If the teacher acts like a boring adult, or they act like they are too cool to participate in fun activities. Then, the kids will act the same way. If more teachers focus on acting excited about their lessons and if they participate with their students; then the kids will be excited about learning in return.

4. "Loyalty is a two way street- Believe in your students and they will believe in and with you."

Believe in your students when it comes to learning, and believe in your students when it comes to teaching. NEVER GIVE UP on your students. It is important that as teachers that we push our students to be the best that they can be. If they know that we believe them, and they know that we always have their back. Then, they will believe in us, and they will believe with us. We should always remember that our students look to us as role models, and we need to give them a good example to follow.

5. "Apologize when you screw up, focus on other people."

It is important as teachers for us to apologize for our mistakes. Our students need to realize that we are not perfect, and that way its easy for them to understand that its okay to make mistakes. While observing this year, I have seen many students get very upset because they got a question wrong. If we as teachers explain to our students that "we all make mistakes." Then it is easier for these students to cope with messing up, and they do not constantly feel the pressure to be perfect. Just as I previously explained, students watch their teachers. We need to be that example. 

Here are some other points that Randy Pausch made:

1. "It is all about the fundamentals"
2. "Get students to be self-reflective"
3. "Always help other people enable their dreams"
4. "Never give up"
5. "Tell the truth, Be earnest"
6. "Always do the right thing"
7. "Show gratitude"
8. "Don't complain, Just work Hard"
9. "Find the best in everybody"
10. "Always be prepared"
11. "Brick walls let us show our dedication; Don't bail"

All of these points are very important to the educational world and also in everyday life. What really inspired me was Randy Pauschs last statement "This talk is not for you, it is for my kids." While Randy Pausch really made his last lecture for his kids, I think that this statement can be vital to us as future educators. As teachers it is not about us, but it is and will always be about our kids. As educators, we are not doing this for us, but we are doing this for our students. It is important for educators to be selfless just as Randy Pausch was, and remember who we are doing this for.