Blog Post # 6

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
Randy Pausch made a few things pretty clear. He believed that fundamentals are very important, and that we should not get wrapped up in the tiny details. He also believed that constructive criticism is a good thing, so we should never take it as a bad thing. Dr.Pausch also let us know that teaching is a journey learning along the way, and that we should never lose our enthusiasm. He advised us to try harder and smarter when we run into obstacles, and an obstacle does not mean that it is the end unless we quit.

Although Dr. Rany Pausch's last lecture was actually for his children, he still gave the rest of the world so much great advice.There are so many things that Dr. Randy Pausch passed on to us, that are relevant to being a great teacher. Dr.Pausch reminded us to be careful of how we put our words to other people because we might stop someone from doing something great instead of helping them to achieve their goals. He told us to always challenge everyone to do better, no matter how good they have already done. He also warned us to not be concerned with naysayers and critics because they might stop us from doing something great. According to Dr. Pausch, we should always give credit to the people responsible for good ideas or work, and we should never take the credit for work that was done by someone else. He also let us know that we should learn how to critique ourselves along the way and apply what we learn. There is always room for improvement.

Dr. Randy Pausch also made it clear, that while we should not disrespect rules or people in authority, we shouldn't be afraid to properly question them. He told us to never be afraid to learn from the students. They have a fresh new perspective that may add something wonderful to a project. According to Dr. Pausch, when we come to class we should be excited about what we are going to teach. Enthusiasm is contagious. He reminded us to always be willing to help others no matter what that entails. Dr. Pausch said to always be fair to your students because it is the right thing to do. It will make you a better person.

He also makes it clear that no one is a super hero, and that everyone needs help. The best ways to get this help is to be honest and fair to other people. Be sincere, not fake, and remember that everything is not about ourselves. Dr. Pausch warns us if we do something wrong than just admit it, and give a sincere apology. When you get help, let the ones who helped you know that you appreciate them. If things get really difficult, don't complain, just work harder and smarter. According to Dr. Pausch, whatever it is you decide to do, do it to the best of your ability. He says to look for and focus on people's strong points and their best attributes. Don't focus on their weaknesses because it will only bring them discouragement.

It is very easy to see how Dr. Randy Pausch was a great teacher. He genuinely cared about people. He believed in being just and fair. He had an open mind, and he was able to teach intuitively. He was smart to teach what he loved and enjoyed. One of the aspects that made him exceptional, is that he never quit. If he encountered a problem, he did whatever was necessary to overcome the obstacle.  He persued his dreams with passion and dedication. This blog post assignment was well worth the time, especially since we continue to learn from Dr. Randy Pausch.