Blog Assignment #6

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture was given at McConomy Auditorium at Carnegie Mellon University where he was a professor. Due to cancer, he was told he had three to six months to live and he gave his last lecture on September 18, 2007.  His lecture was about having dreams, achieving them, and helping others achieve their own dreams as well.  Randy Pausch was a very enthusiatic and inspiring professor during his lectures and he still maintained a positive outlook.   Throughout Pausch's lecture he talks about what people need to know in order to achieve their dreams and how to help others.

Pausch learned valuable life lessons and through his own experiences he was able to help others.  He mentioned a football coach who held practice one day without even bringing a football to the practice.  He wanted to teach the same skills to all of the players because not everyone on the team is going to touch the football during a game.  Pausch believed that leadership is a skill.  He believed that we should not just hear words, but that we should watch the actions of others.

Randy Pausch said that books were becoming a thing of the past because of new technology there are now virtual worlds.  Pausch encouraged the use of technology in our schools.  He said we should find ways to teach difficult material in fun ways.  He thought we could teach a lesson while at the same time they were learning something completely different and they were enjoying themselves.  Pausch said that we should always encourage kids to dream.

Pausch said we need to encourage kids to dream and to set the bar high.  As parents, teachers, coaches, and friends we need to "help others," "listen," and "find the best in everybody."  We should teach them to not complain about things, but to work harder.  We should teach them that things happen for a reason and not to give up, but find a way to get over that "brick wall."  Finding a way to get over that "brick wall" will just show people how much you want to reach your dream.

As teachers, Pausch said that we need to critique students in a way that they realize we are there to help them achieve the dreams.  He said it is not always what you say, but how you say it.  Pausch says it is ok if we do not know the answer, but we should help them find it.  He said we should "focus on others not yourself" and as teachers that should be our goal.  He made a very inspiring and encouraging lecture to those to help others and dream!