Sunday, October 10, 2010

Blog Post #7



Randy Pausch Last Lecture- Great lecture from someone that all teachers should aspire to emulate. Dr. Pausch teaches because he wants to make a difference in the world. This has to be one of the best talks I've ever listened to for many reasons.  First, he gives an honest account of his life  including his successes and failures.  In each of his failures he finds the positive and perseveres. Each "brick wall" he notes, is only meant to keep out those who lack the determination to bust through it.

The second reason this talk was great was because he shares invaluable advice about how to approach your goals. He set goals for himself when he was young and attained them in one way or another as an adult. This focus and drive to achieve is contagious. When you see someone set a lofty goal and attain it, it builds confidence that all goals are attainable with hard work.

I also liked how Dr. Pausch didn't settle for teaching large groups of students. He searched for a way to give every one access to the skills that he developed. He went as far as to create a program that is widely available. He was passionate about making learning fun.

One thing that inspired me from a teaching stand point, is his willingness to think outside the box. Don't be afraid to try something new or embrace an untried method, it might revolutionize the way a student learns. This is very appropriate for EDM310 because the technologies that we are utilizing in class are not widely used in today's classroom.

The main point that I took from this lecture, though, is to never let an opportunity to inspire others pass you by. After receiving his grim news Dr. Pausch could have easily stayed home with his family, but he chose to have a positive impact on millions instead. We all need to be watchful for when that moment presents itself and choose to make a difference.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Mitch. You made a few good points in this post. I also liked his analogy about the brick wall. Dr. Pausch was passionate about making learning fun and we, as future teachers, should strive to do the same. I am a substitute teacher and I do my best to make learning fun for the children, but it is difficult at times. We must, like you said, think outside of the box in order to get the students interested in the material. I agree that we should never be too selfish to let an opportunity to inspire someone pass us by. It is tempting to get down about your circumstances, but we must always remember that others are more important.

    Amanda

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