Sunday, October 27, 2013

What Can We Learn About Teaching and Learning From Randy Pausch?


This video is sad, first and foremost, but after watching, I can say, this man left a legacy. With that legacy, he left some wonderful advice. I want to focus on the advice that can be used by teachers everyday. How I write down that advice will be more or less points, not entire definitions or hyperboles. I have taken the advice for me, how you take the words is up to you, just like everything else in life. So, let's get started!

Let's start with fundamentals. If we don't don't have a foundation that is strong, it really does not matter what you try and build up around it. Rome was not built in a day, but the great foundations made it possible to see what was built for centuries later.

"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want" says Professor Pausch. Outcomes, trial and error, the scientific method; each understand that there will be bumps in the road, but keep striving and never give up.

"Brick walls are there to show how much we want something." Love this quote by Randy Pausch. The more obsticles you face and conquer, the more work was needed and the better the satisfaction when done. Desire to be great and knock down whatever difficulties get in your way is what creates resolve and resolve creates determination and determination creates someone that will never settle. So, show who you are by actions, not words!

"Give em enough time and they will always impress you." I do not entirely agree with this as a whole, but, in a teaching situation, one has to go in believing in all your students. Each day is new and never expecting disappointment is key to success in handling every child.

"How you say something" is sometimes better than what you say. So, perception is key. Your kids should feel motivated, excited and eager to learn. The way you come across with each days lesson can determine each one of those emotions. So, be motivated, excited and eager yourself and your expression will probably instill those same feelings in your students.

Dreams! Never dim the light on anyone's dreams. On the contrary, add gas to it. No dream a child has is stupid because we can not see into the future and we never know what dream creates a future reality.

Having a sense of humor is another key not just for life, but for teaching. Let's face it, kids want to laugh and have fun and we are all kids at heart. So, be funny laugh a lot because a fun and happy class will produce learners well above an atypical classroom boring teacher setting.

"Do not have preconceived expectations." This is how teachers in so called terrible schools can have success where others have not. Go into every semester, every quarter, every month, every week and every day like your students are all prodogies and you will find there is a pearl in every oyster.
"Get students to be self reflective." Introspection will excite the mind and create growing minds towards their work. Is that not what we, as educators, desire? We can not be there 24/7, so let your students give their grades sometimes and let them figure out where they can improve.

"Head fake- having fun while learning something hard." Another brilliant way to give illusion to learning. If students are doing something that they feel a part of or they feel desire to do because it connects to them, they will learn when they do not even know they are doing so. This will give the largest gains in learning and knowledge over conventional methods any day of the week and twice on Sundays.

"Learn from students." Hey, just because we are teachers does not mean we can't still learn, especially from the people that see you everyday. Students are your ultimate teachers! So, listen to what they say, even when they do not talk and you will progress to new heights!

Lastly, Professor Pausch lets us know we need to have fun. Success is doing what you love! In the end, everything starts and ends with us. So, while we are there, we might as well have fun and therefore are kids will have fun. Learning can be fun, so let your students find that out by your example.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Colin,
    I really enjoyed your post.It was well organized and flowed gently. You made it so plain that even a fool would not error in reading it. I agree with you when you said that the video was sad. I cried when I watched it. On the other hand, it was inspiring, funny and uplifting. I also think that your choice of pics and quotes were right on point. However Colin, I do have one little discrepancy and that is for you to put which blog post assignment you are blogging about in your post. Keep up the good work, I see great things for your future!
    Tracy

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