Blog Post #10

What can we learn about Teaching and Learning 

from Randy Pausch?

In Randy Pausch's Last Lecture: Really Achieving your Childhood Dreams, 
He talks about:

1. his childhood dreams
2. enabling the dreams of others
3. lessons learned: how YOU can achieve your dreams or enable the dreams of others

Here is the video on Randy's last lecture:

Even though this is a lengthy video, it is worth it! He is so inspirational and comical. I have been taught a tremendous lesson! Anything is possible; this is something we should NOT lose sight of- the inspiration and permission to dream is HUGE! So what does Randy have to say?

1. Randy's childhood dreams:

• Being in zero gravity
• Playing in the NFL
• Authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia
• Being Captain Kirk
• Winning stuffed animals 
• Being a Disney Imagineer

He says it is important to have specific dreams. 

Brick Walls are there for a reason: They let us prove how badly we want things!

They stop people that don't want it bad enough and enable those who do want it bad enough to show their dedication...

Randy Pausch has taught me that you have to know the fundamentals, and you have to teach the fundamentals. You have to teach children that if they screw up and no one says anything to them- then that means they have given up. He had a very powerful quote: "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted." This is powerful. When most people learn, they learn indirectly. This indirect learning style is referred to by Randy as a "head fake". Basically, when you are teaching something, you are actually teaching something else. Make sense? Let me explain by example: when you are teaching football, are you really just teaching the game of football? Or are you actually teaching life concepts such as teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, perseverance, etc.? 

Randy Pausch has also taught me that you must evaluate and at some point you must come to the realization there are certain things that you are NOT going to be able to do. This is an important attribute to learn and teach others. It is hard. Communication is also an important attribute when teaching others. There are always at least two ways to say something: a positive way and a negative way. Two people can say the exact same thing, but depending on their wording, body language, tone, etc., it could be perceived differently.  

2. Enabling the Childhood dreams of others:

If you don't know where the bar should be, then aren't you doing a disservice if you just set it anywhere? 



This is a crucial point to realize. When educating others, or even learning from others, if you don't know the appropriate level of learning/ teaching, then how can you assess? How can you determine where the bar needs to be set? Some really good advice Randy gives (that someone gave him): you can always do better. No matter how shocked by brilliance you are, always expect more! 

Another piece of crucial advice: The best gift an educator can give is getting someone to become SELF-REFLECTIVE! This is no easy feat. I have been taught that many people try to excuse a problem or error, but getting them to take the feedback and build on it... This is one of the best gifts you can give someone.

3. Lessons Learned:

Teachers, parents, mentors, students, colleagues.... all of these people play crucial roles in learning from and teaching others. Some valuable tips Randy Pausch gives: 

• Respect authority while questioning it...
• Decide if you are a Tigger or a Eeyore (another words: are you pessimistic or optimistic)
• Never lose your child-like wander
• Help others
• Never give up
• There are moments that change your life and seeing it in 10 years (in retrospect) is one thing, but to realize it at that given moment is crucial
• You can't get there alone
• Always tell the truth
• Be earnest
• Apologize when you screw up
• Focus on others, not yourself...
• Show gratitude
• Don't complain, just work harder
• Be good at something, it makes you valuable
• Be prepared: "Luck" is where preparation meets opportunity

Randy's "Head Fake" for this lecture:
The lecture was not about how to achieve your dreams... it was about how to lead your life the right way... so the dreams will come to you!