Friday, March 29, 2013

Blog Post #10

Adventures in Pencil Integration

The cartoon in this post gives a good example of how many teachers are adamant about staying in the "traditional" teaching method using pencils, paper, and other items. I believe that Mr. Spencer is simply trying to show the pros and cons of using hand held objects for teaching tools versus the latest developments in technology. From what I can tell, it appears that Mr. Spencer seems to sway closer to the side of anti-technology. On one hand, I do understand how some may feel about old-world teaching strategies and materials. I do agree that are certain aspects of using traditional methods that help each child seem unique, such as their own handwriting. That is something that technology cannot remove from students. However, do we not sometimes have to let go of good things in life in order to get things that are even better? Although new forms of technology in classrooms may seem a bit overwhelming at first, they are easily learned if one looks at it as they would any other challenge - it just takes practice, patience, and dedication. Also, I do realize how expensive some of these items are, such as the iMac. While it costs a great deal of money, doesn't it save money and trees from being wasted in the long run? Aren't we ultimately saving money buying one item only once rather than buying countless packs of paper and pencils over the years? There is a good point to be made in this post arguing the pros of traditional teaching ideas. The fact is, though, that we as educators are here for one purpose, and that is to help children be ready to face the real world in adulthood and be successful in it. If we do not giving them the best tools out there to help them reach their fullest potential, then how can we say that we really want what's best for them? Just like many other times in life, we sometimes have to make sacrifices of mediocrity in order to step into the greater life that is waiting for us. When it comes to the world of education, letting go of old mindsets and embracing new tools in learning may be just the thing to help us move on to the next level.



Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

This post, which was also created by Mr. John T. Spencer, is a great way of showing the dangers behind slamming creativity in the ground and shutting the door in its face before it even enters the halls of any school. The speaker in this scenario is depicted by the principal to be a foolish man who is letting the children have fun and play games instead of learning the curriculum. The fact is, however, that the teacher is actually demonstrating his care for his students in the best way possible. Instead of boring them to literal death with lectures and memorization methods, he is actually getting their minds engaged in the material that needs to be taught. Therefore, the children are not memorizing anything, but actually learning and retaining knowledge that will be much less likely to depart from them in the future. Although the principal has good intentions (maybe), he has unfortunately been sucked into the vortex of mindless lecturing that rarely ever creates an intimate experience for each student. It is teachers like the one in Mr. Spencer's post here that need to be found throughout more classrooms in this country. While there are many educators and administrators that have the same negative mindset of creativity in schools as this principal, the evidence that project-based learning and promotion of creativity can catapult students into their absolute fullest potential is there. We just need to start shining the light on it.



Remember Pencil Quests?

I found the post entitled "Remember Pencil Quests?" by Mr. Spencer to be a bit humorous. In this article, the students are excited to be able to try something "new and exciting". They are so ready to break out of routine that they are completely oblivious to the fact that they have no real freedom here. The idea of getting to look up random pages and answer unsolved questions about the text is very exciting, that is, until the truth that it is not a real game, they cannot pick any location, and the map is predetermined for them slowly creeps in. The students never fully comprehend this until a much later time. As Mr. Spencer reflects on playing this game as a student himself, he is somewhat embarrassed of the teaching methods that have been used throughout history. The sad point that he is trying to make is that people who created ridiculous games like this one are the ones who are putting forth effort to think outside the box. He also wonders what his students will think as they look back one day on his class and the games he presented to them. As I think about this article, I realize that many teachers are stuck in the traditional rut of learning. Still, there are a few that I believe have come a long way from the pencil quest days, and they have really set the bar for fun and engaging learning environments.



Don't Teach Your Kids This Stuff. Please?

Dr. Scott McLeod does an outstanding job at making fun of people who view creative and project-based learning negatively in this post. Throughout my years in grade school, and even some time in college, I have heard every cynical comment that one could make about technology in schools. Cell phones, iPads, and even laptops were prohibited in certain classes. Naturally, you can just imagine the shock that ran through my body when I discovered that there are classes that actually promote the use of such items. Although I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent individual, I had never even imagined that classrooms such as these existed because the tools that they used were looked down upon as an abomination for as long as I can remember. I think it is safe to say that most teachers view students who are consumed with technology and internet use as "failures", believing that they are unintelligent because they do not condone to the traditional teaching methods. In reality, it is the technological children who are the leaders; they are stepping out to learn and grown in ways that some of us have never even heard of. Dr. McLeod is simply pointing out to us that it is students that never strive to learn for themselves who never break through exceptional barriers in the world, and will ultimately remain stagnant because of the simple-mindedness that they have been forced to receive through our basic educational systems.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Blog Post #9

Version 4 Post (2011-2012)

This blog post by Mr. McClung is a great example of how teachers are humans and easily make mistakes like everyone else. However, only a truly great teacher can recognize their own flaws, admit them, and plan on doing things differently in the future. Mr. McClung shows us in this post how the past school year was able to open his eyes and see things in a different light. In his blog post, Mr. McClung first describes how, for the first time, he became very concerned with his fellow educators thought of him, and whether or not they approved of his teaching methods. This is something that he never had an issue with because he always put the focus of his students having fun in learning above all other responsibilities. He realized that he had fallen victim to a sense of "peer pressure" and knew that it was time to remind himself of why he woke up and came to work everyday: to help children grow in a fun and constructive learning environment. Another problem that Mr. McClung saw in himself is that he finally noticed that he had become complacent with his use of the curriculum he was teaching. Instead of being creative and researching new ways to help keep each lesson fun and exciting so that the students would be engaged, he had become somewhat lazy and started recycling old lesson plans. When he remembered how much he resented school as a child and never enjoyed being a student, he knew that it was time to rekindle his fire for making learning fun and exciting. In the end of this post, Mr. McClung announced that he would be leaving the school at the end of that year to pursue an administrative position at another school. Although he was going to miss his students at his current school terribly, he was extremely excited to be taking on this position and to face new challenges.

Mr. Mclung's post stood out to me because I think that most educators are unable to see what they need to correct in themselves. It's easy to point out how students aren't putting forth their best effort, or how the school system won't invest in things that the classrooms need, but doesn't every great movement in a classroom begin with a great teacher? Just like a captain is the head of a ship, a teacher is the head of a classroom. If he or she is not being the leader in education (and, perhaps, in life) that these students deserve, how can he or she not expect to get results from his or her students that are anything short of terrible? This post has been helpful to me for my classroom in the future by pointing out mistakes that I might easily be tempted to make myself. Of course, it's easy to adapt to the mentality of needing your peers' and co-workers' approval on everything we do. Last time I checked, however, isn't it US who are ultimately rewarded with the joy our individuality and creativity bring our students? Yes, I thought so. Also, do we not see more positive results when we incorporate our schools and talents into our teaching skills? Last time I checked, students always become more engaged and eager to learn when a teacher tries their best to make lessons fun and exciting. These are two mistakes that are the snipers of creative and engaging learning, and I think they are more easily avoided when we turn our minds off of autopilot and fuel them back up with a key ingredient called passion. Unlike Mr. McClung, I do not presently have any desire to become an administrator (I do know that this could change at any time, though). However, I do admire his goals that he has set for himself, and I love that he is always looking forward to new challenges. This is the type of educator and person that I wish to be, and I hope that this same type of ambition will be contagious to my students. This blog post definitely gives some great advice to those hoping to become successful and effective teachers one day. It is something that I will definitely refer back to from time to time.

What I've Learned This Year (2008-09)

Mr. McClung's post here reflects on his first year of teaching, which started the previous fall. He explains how it was a great learning experience that he definitely received many important lessons on. In the beginning, Mr. McClung tells readers that he quickly realized that teaching was not all about him. He explains how he was so focused on himself, the delivery of the content, and what his peers thought of him, that he forgot how crucial it was to maintain student comprehension in his classroom. Flexibility is an aspect that Mr. McClung became very familiar with this year, as well. He explains that the lesson that you plan out and the one you actually demonstrate are always different, and he doesn't beat himself up anymore if a lesson doesn't go exactly the way he plans. The best thing to do, according to Mr. McClung, is to keep moving on, even when a lesson plan doesn't turn out just how you pictured it would. He also writes how communication has proven to be the most effective way to keep things running smoothly with your students and fellow instructors alike. Although this does seem pretty obvious, most people do not fully comprehend how much good communication can maintain order and balance in any working environment. He says that the best way to handle any issue with someone is to go to them and talk about it. Mr. McClung explains that being reasonable with the goals you set for your students is vital to their success in the future. While it is important to set goals for them, it is also important to remember that they are still kids at the end of the day. They can barely remember to do simple things at times, so keeping goals within their reach will be beneficial in helping them to never feel that they are incompetent. One part of this post that ties in greatly with what Dr. Strange is trying to teach us about technology is to never be afraid of it. Mr. McClung writes that while most educators are terrified of it, thinking it is out to make them miserable, it is actually here to help us succeed in the fast-paced world we live in today. He says that we should never knock it until we've at least given it a try. One of my favorite parts of this post is the part about listening to the student. Mr. McClung gives the example of how one of his students praised him at the end of the school year in a survey, writing, "I know my teacher cares about me as a person when he listens to what I say." He tells us that we, as educators, need to be more concerned and knowledgeable about the students that we are teaching, and not just feed them information. Mr. McClung concludes his post by explaining that when we are teachers, we should never stop learning with our students. He explains that we practically beg our students to learn what we are teaching them, but never take the time to soak up what is around us ourselves. He claims that we owe it to our students to become learners along with them.

There was so much truth to be found in what Mr. McClung says in this post that I could not be in more agreement with him. Teachers do, in my opinion, spend entirely too much time worrying about the delivery of the message and impressing their peers that student comprehension of the material ultimately becomes unimportant. To me, being a teacher without caring if the students are receiving anything beneficial from his or her classroom is absolute insanity. Any good educator should always put the needs of the child much higher above the image that they are creating for their peers, although it is good to keep a sense of professionalism without the expense of the child's learning experience. When it comes to being flexible, I feel that I may have some issues in this area more so than others. By nature, I always try to be organized and neat in everything that I do, and always have some form of a plan in mind. I will admit that I have slightly freaked out a little in the past over various things not going at all according to plan, which is why I am thankful for this portion of the post. It serves as a great reminder that things will usually never go the way that I plan them once I am actually in the classroom teaching, but it doesn't mean that I have been a failure. I am still a human, and when I make mistakes, it doesn't have to be the end of the world. If the students have learned and had fun doing so, I have succeeded in some way. Communication is something that can make or break a situation in the long run, and I feel that it is a major element in any successful classroom, school, and any other working environment. Unfortunately, I recently have fallen victim to drama in the workplace myself (I just said I was human and make mistakes, remember?). Because of this, however, I now have a greater appreciation for effective communication, and I know how important it is to try to communicate with someone when there is an issue of any kind. Even if you are the person in the wrong, taking the first step in communicating with someone, and having the right attitude about it, can quickly resolve most issues. Keeping reasonable goals within reach of your students is also something that I feel teachers should keep in mind at all times. Being reasonable with setting goals for your students is very important in allowing them to try hard without as much of a fear of failure. It is easy to forget that students are children; they make messes, forget things, and do not always do things the right way. Let's remember that we were just like this when we were young, so meeting them on their level and setting goals for them that are actually attainable are important when keeping them from feeling that they are not prone to failure. The fear of technology that Mr. McClung discusses is something that is not unfamiliar to me. I always imagined myself as a teacher who would stick to tradition and would never become efficient in technology. Thankfully, however, I now see things in a much brighter light. I have learned so much from this class that will benefit me not only in the world of education, but in many other areas, as well. It has helped me so much in this class, and I cannot wait to help my students develop a love and appreciation for technology like I have found. It will definitely make succeeding in this microwave-fast world very easy. When it comes to listening to students, I love the example that he used of his student's survey answer at the end of the year. Students can tell which teachers truly care about them and which ones are only there to collect a paycheck. Listening and paying attention to the needs of individual students will not only help engage them in the curriculum, but will allow them to have a great leader in their life that they can trust. Some of these children have no one else like this. The conclusion to this post sums up what all instructors should always aim to do, and that is be learners along with their students. I think one major problem a lot of educators encounter is that they try to let their students do all the learning while they sit back and watch them. If we are supposed to lead by example, shouldn't we always demonstrate a willingness to learn so that the students will be encouraged to do the same? I believe we should. It also never hurts to always be in search of knowledge for our personal gain, as well. People are never to old to learn anything, and it can only benefit us in the long run. This post had a wide variety of good lessons to be learned not only for educators, but for people in general. I hope that at the end of my first school year as an educator, I can look back and see how I've grown as a person, as well.



Sunday, March 10, 2013

Blog Post #8

This Is How We Dream Parts 1 and 2
After watching both Part 1 and 2 of This Is How We Dream, I feel that Dr. Miller gives great insight as to the road that the careers in English, reading, and writing are steadily traveling on. Although these videos were posted from 2009, I felt that they very much applied to our modern world today, and many of the ideas Dr. Miller shared did not sound very unfamiliar to me. Dr. Miller makes a statement in one of the videos that ideas are not meant for individuals, but to be shared. In my opinion, this could summarize the entire purpose behind both of these videos.

In Part 1, Dr. Miller emphasizes the importance of excellence in reading in writing. He points out that we are now living in what is possibly one of the greatest movements in communication and technology in history, and I could not agree more. I would never in my wildest dreams imagined that elementary school students would be blogging with people halfway across the world if someone had asked me three months ago. Now, however, I realize how far I was hidden in the dark about the growth and purposes in technology. When classes, business meetings, and other professional gatherings can be coordinated through web use, it is now more crucial than ever to become fully knowledgeable in the basics of reading and writing. If a person wants to be highly successful, however, it is almost necessary to become experts in these areas. There is one key element that unites us from all walks of life and all around the world, and that is effective communication. If we do not train ourselves to become skilled in communication using technology, our academic achievements, potential careers, and so much more could be in great danger.

In the aspect of sharing ideas, Dr. Miller shows how much can be accomplished by using network communication over the web. He demonstrates how he was able to write documents for newspaper articles and other projects by communicating with colleagues and students online. The project that told the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was fascinating to me. He showed audiences that it is possible to write articles and incorporate text, videos, and sound, and share it with others through blogging and other aspects of technology. He was also able to add music, and other great leaders in education and civil rights were able to add discussions to this piece of work. This reveals just how much life can be brought into projects with the help of the correct technological tools.

In every example that Dr. Miller gave, he showed how he and others were able to work together to not only get projects done, but cause them to be so much more moving in our hearts than if they were just written down in a printed book. This can relate back to Dr. Miller's opinion on sharing ideas. If not for video chatting, blogging, and other forms of communication, these new ways of learning, writing, and educating each other could not happen, and the world we discontinue to progress intellectually. Because Dr. Miller grew up surrounded by books, he has a tremendous amount of appreciation for writing and the change in this world that it can bring when done correctly. After watching these videos, I believe that Dr. Miller is simply trying to empower the fields of creative and effective writing and skillful technology use, and bridge the two worlds together. I now have a better idea for one of the fundamental values of my English class in the future.



Blog Post #12 by Carly Pugh

Carly Pugh's Blog Post #12 is the perfect example of what Dr. Strange is trying to instill in our minds throughout the semester. In this blog, Carly was a tremendous help in giving examples of how using parts of technology, such as YouTube videos, can help students learn. It also is a great way for teachers to set goals for their students, get inspiration for assignments and other class materials, and remind teachers why they get out of bed and come to their classrooms every morning. I could see many similarities between the videos she posted and the ideas that Dr. Miller present to us. He is simply trying to show how technology and using web videos and communication can help shape us into leaders and work together to make differences in this world. Although she did not directly say this, everything that Carly stated in her blog post can be referred back to this principle. I thoroughly enjoyed her post, and will keep her ideas in mind for my future as an educator.



The Chipper Series

The story of Chipper's roller coaster of careers is the perfect example of how students misunderstand the true meaning of procrastination. I cannot lie, I have been this same type of student more times than I can count. I blamed not getting my work done on time and everyone and everything else instead of taking full responsibility for my lack of effort. I like this video because, to me, it shows how students do damage to themselves in the long run by not getting their work done. If Chipper had just completed her work on time, she never would have had to bear the frustration of working dead-end jobs that never brought her success. I think that too many students are focused on their excuses of why they can't do something rather than the ways that they could have. The sad truth is this: the real world doesn't care that you were tired, had your boyfriend over at your house until 11:00 pm, or that you haven't been able to check Facebook all day. The bottom line is, you have to do what you have to do, whether you like it or not. In Chipper's situation, she had to go through many troubles simply to realize that they could have been avoided had she just gotten her work done on time. Although this video was comical, there was much truth behind the lesson Chipper learned in the end. This is good motivation to not procrastinate, and I hope that all students see the importance of submitting their work on time so that they do not have to go through the same situations as Chipper.

EDM310 for Dummies

This video reminded me of myself when I first began this class in January. I was beyond frustrated and thought it was impossible for me to succeed in this class. Thankfully, I consulted people who have taken this class before me and was able to improve with their guidance. EDM310 for Dummies is an excellent way to get the basics of this class down pat for anyone who feels just like I did those first few weeks. Some people may have no one to explain things about this class that might be a little bit confusing, so this video definitely serves a great purpose. Although we are striving individually to become learners on our own, there is comfort in knowing there are those out there who have been stressed by the initial shock of how much EDM 310 requires of students just as I and others like myself have been. I will be sure to refer to this video more often, and I urge those who are struggling in this class to do the same thing.

As a person who grew up laughing hysterically at sketch comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live and Mad TV, I have a great sense of appreciation for skits and know how effective they can be in relaying a message while still making people laugh. I have always enjoyed helping with skits every chance that I have gotten, and I would have had a blast working on either one of these videos. If I had a choice, however, I would love to work in a video about the importance of being passionate about education and making it a priority. I think this would be a great way to show the difference between teachers who genuinely care about their students and try with all their strength to help them grow, and those teachers who are there to simply get a paycheck. I would demonstrate this because I had way too many teachers in school who treated students this way, and if not for my 12th grade English teacher, I may never have been inspired to be a passionate educator myself. By creating a video such as this, I feel that it would better help students to avoid becoming half-hearted instructors at all costs.



Learn to Change, Change to Learn

This video is a collection of thoughts that are very much in agreement with the way I feel about the future of technology. Every person who spoke was connected to modern technology and education systems, and together they shared an amazing vision of the way education is changing and is becoming centered around bringing out the fullest potential in every student. For those who are completely unaware of how schools everywhere are becoming more involved in project-based learning and in sync with the skills and creativity of children, this video is a great eye-opener. Someone in the video made the statement that our world now has children captivated through devices such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Skype, etc., but the classroom, which should have them engaged the most, is the least up-to-date when it comes to technology. This is a scary thought, considering that it is ulimately teachers who train the entire work force of our world. If we, as educators, do not show students how to be prepared for the jobs and careers of the future, then no one will.



Edmodo

After looking through some of the different aspects of WEB 2.0 Tools, I was highly impressed with the Edmodo site and chose to create an account as a teacher through it. I enjoyed the short video tutorial that demonstrated how teachers are able to create accounts and add groups, much like the ones on Facebook. This device can also be linked to students' and parents' cell phones, which is beyond helpful considering how much texting has become a vital part of our daily communication. Teachers are able to make posts that students and parents can receive through text messages. If there are assignments or projects coming up, teachers are able to create groups for each assignment and then add students to the groups. In this way, communication about individual assignments are much less vague, and students, teachers, and parents alike are better able to all be on the same page. Parents can also be able to know about events coming up for schools, and pictures of field trips, projects, and other school events can also be uploaded through this site. Similarly to Twitter, Edmodo allows teachers to follow subjects as they would individual accounts, and can be updated in the news of each subject and post to these pages. Because I plan on teaching English and language arts, the first subject I followed was, not surprisingly, language arts. I also followed other subjects that could potentially be helpful to me one day, such as social studies, creative arts, and computer technology. This social networking site appears to be so helpful that I am already thinking of ways to incorporate this into my classroom that I don't even have yet! I'm definitely looking forward to taking advantage of this site with my future students.



Animoto

It took a little more searching than I expected, but the tool that I believed help create the WEB 2.0 Tools introduction video is Animoto. This is an outstanding tool to create videos and enhance them with features such as videos, photos, music, different text styles, and so much more. When I looked up the pricing for this tool, I found several great options. Videos lasting up to thirty seconds are free, with limited video styles and music tracks. The next option that was provided was that for only five dollars each month, full-length videos can be created that can have thirty plus video styles, and all are downloadable. Lastly, for thirty nine dollars per month, students and teachers are able to create twenty minute, multi-song videos, which are unbranded HD, pro-exclusive video styles, and can retain two thousand licensed music tracks. With all of these superb features, this does not seem like a bad deal at all.



PhotoPeach

One video tool that I discovered while searching through this site is PhotoPeach. This tool, in a nutshell, is a way to create and manage slides and slideshows through the aspect of social networking. This network provides a way for educators to easily create and manage student accounts, organize projects with tags and publish them as public pages to share with parents and the community, and create unlimited photo albums and customize them. In a world as visual as ours, this type of education tool can be helpful in sharing ideas with students in ways that better appeal to them. If they have a clear vision of something, they are more motivated to accomplish the goal, in my opinion. With this device, teachers are also able to download shows, upload music, and customize the transition effects between photos. This is also a very secure feature because students are unable to alter or delete teacher accounts because they will not have access to them. This seems like a fun, free, and easy way to collaborate technology and media into the classroom.



Thursday, March 7, 2013

C4T #2

C4T Post #1 We all seem to have trouble with getting things done or remembering things at the time that we need to. This issue was the basis for the article "I Do It When I Think About It (so here's how to think about it at the right time)". In this latest post under Get Organized, Dr. Frank Buck gives readers some very practical but helpful insight as to why we may struggle with this problem. Research shows that much of our forgetfulness and loss of memory develops because of stress. Because we are so busy, it is very difficult to remember things at the exact times that we need to. According to Dr. Buck, this is where technology comes to the rescue. In this post, he recommends using smartphones and other devices to set digital reminders for the things that we need to do/get done, and setting them for the correct deadlines. He explains that he carries a notebook or some type of device with him everywhere he goes. By doing this, he can write down and set reminders for every aspect of his to-do list that comes to his mind and not just let it pass away.
I completely agreed with Dr. Buck in my comment on his post. I openly admitted that I struggled to get things done on times a lot because my mind is always going different directions. By using a smart phone or some type of technology to help me make a more organized agenda and set correct reminders, I can not only get all of my tasks done when I need to, but can take a tremendous amount of stress off of myself, as well.
C4T Post #2
The post that I was assigned to read this week was entitled "Thoughts for 'Music In Our Schools Month'" by Dr. Frank Buck. Dr. Buck opens this post with a quote by John F. Kennedy about hope for the arts in the future. In the quote, Kennedy states, "I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft." Dr. Buck uses this quote to give an example of how crucial it is to encourage students to excel in art as they do in math or science. In this post, Dr. Buck makes a very interesting argument. He says that now more than ever before, schools are being encouraged to graduate students who are better than just memorizing data. This month is "Music In Our Schools Month", and Dr. Buck explains that music is something that is crucial element in helping children grow up well-rounded, and does not need to be overlooked. To give an example of positive feedback from encouraging student and art development, he posts a video at the end of the post of students in an elementary school choir in Staten Island. These students perform "The Star-Spangled Banner", and they weren't anything short of amazing.
I let Dr. Buck know who I was, and let him know that I felt the same way about music and art promotion in school systems today. I wrote that, like sports and intellectual clubs, the arts help students learn very crucial values in life, such as dedication, working as a team, and practicing. I also wrote that it brought a sense of joy in the students, as well. I told Dr. Buck how much I enjoyed watching the video of the elementary school choir, and how wonderfully the children stayed on the correct keys and harmonized. I ended with praising the girl who performed solo parts within the song, and let him know how amazing she was in my opinion. In summary, I let him know that music, to me, was something that I, like him, felt needed to be encouraged and promoted now more than ever.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Project #9 PLN

My Personal Learning Network (PLN) has been very interesting to learn about. So far, I have deleted a few of the bookmarks that were already on my board, such as BBC.com, MACY'S, and a Horoscope bookmark because I knew I would never use them. I rearranged everything from bottom to top in the order of which ones were most helpful in learning and for future references as a teacher. I added several note-taking and blog bookmarks. I also searched and found a few bookmarks and websites that would be very beneficial to me when looking for materials on literature and language arts. I have not quite gotten my whole profile set up the way that I want it yet, but I am constantly getting new ideas on how I want it set up. It is definitely a useful resource in multiple ways, and I am excited about using it in the future, both as a student and as an educator myself.

Blog Post #7

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture
Randy Pausch, one of the most intelligent and phenomenal professors of our time, gave many profound statements during his last lecture at Carnegie-Mellon. In the beginning of his speech when he is telling of his current medical condition, he says, "We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand." In my opinion, this was the setup for the basis of his entire lecture. Many of us have dreams and goals as children, but why do we let so many things stop us from achieving them? Even in a dark time, Randy Pausch explains several key factors that can be played out to help people make even their wildest dreams come true. While all of the elements in his speech were important, I felt that the ones which were most critical to his main focus were being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, being Captain Kirk, and being a Disney Imagineer.
When he speaks of being in zero gravity, Pausch says that it is very important to have a specific dream. This is very important to me because every goal or accomplishment that I have achieved in my own life have been due to being specific in setting my goals. Randy Pausch explains that he did not actually dream of becoming an astronaut, but when some of his students were able to fly in the "Vomit Comet", he was thrilled because he had always wanted to experience floating with no gravity. Naturally, he was devastated when he found out that faculty members were not allowed to fly with the students. Because he was also a web journalist, however, he was able to go with his students, representing a journalist from their hometown. After making negotiations, he was able to go with the students and reach Childhood Goal #1. In this example, he ends by saying how important it is to always bring something to the table. This is something that I feel more students and teachers alike need to learn how to better comprehend. In a world where everyone wants to get something for nothing, it is getting harder to find people who will work on their part to meet someone else halfway. Pausch's story of the zero gravity rocket serves as a great reminder that by holding up our end of the deal, we will receive some type of achievement reached.
Unlike becoming an astronaut, Randy Pausch did dream of playing in the National Football League. Although he did not become a professional football player, he tells us that he probably got more from having that dream and not reaching it than he did from reaching any of his other goals. When he was a boy, his first football coach, Coach Graham, taught him and his team the importance of learning fundamentals. He says that Coach Graham explained that you have to get the fundamentals down before you can do the fancy stuff. This is something that I hope to instill in my students one day, and I feel is very important for their success, regardless of what they do in life. While becoming intelligent, having good grades, and intellectual excellence is wonderful, if students do not learn the basics of my classroom, they will never be able to retain anything else. Another crucial point that Pausch made in this portion of the lecture is about constructive criticism, or "tough love". He tells how Coach Graham was very hard on him during practices. One day in particular he made a comment about it, and someone replied to him explaining that it was because he had not given up on him yet. This stood out to me because I can see how this plays out in classrooms and other scenarios everyday. I tend to be a kind and gentle person by nature, and I used to have a hard time giving constructive criticism to others in fear of hurting their feelings. This video lecture, however, caused me to change my mind. Pausch learned that day at practice that even though his coach was always hard on him, it was only because he cared about him enough to push him to do better. I feel that by giving positive, constructive criticism to my students when needed will let them know that I care and have not given up on them.
Randy Pausch quickly realized that being Captain Kirk would obviously never happen. As a boy, Pausch looked up to Captain Kirk on the television show Star Trek because, not only was he the captain of the ship, but he also had the most interesting equipment and "toys". Years later, the actor who played the role of Captain Kirk, William Shatner, traveled to the virtual reality center at the university where Pausch was employed to see the setup of the inside of Captain Kirk's ship. Pausch explains that, "It's cool to meet your boyhood idol, but it's even cooler when he comes to meet you." I found much value in this statement because I feel that it sends out much encouragement to those children who have idolized certain individuals. Although what they do may be very dangerous, exciting, and/or important, if students are able to live up to their fullest potential, they will be doing something even greater. By working hard and using his skills to the best of his ability, Randy Pausch was able to meet his childhood idol and impress him with his success. Instead of students being impressed by those we raise on a pedestal, I feel that we as teachers should raise up students to the point where their idols are one day impressed by them.
Becoming a Disney Imagineer was one of the hardest challenges Randy Pausch ever had to face. After going on a family trip to Disneyland when he was younger, Pausch knew in his heart that he wanted to help build and design rides and different aspects of technology that he saw there. However, he had more than a few setbacks. When he first sent applications to Disney in hopes of becoming an Imagineer, he was graciously denied acceptance. However, with perseverance, humility, patience, and a large amount of skill and intelligence, he was able to eventually work on a virtual reality project with the Disney Imagineers that turned out to be a huge success. By instilling these practices inside students' minds and helping them find their skills and talents and sharpening them, we are able to qualify them to be the perfect assets to the occupations of their dreams. While working on this project with Disney, Pausch was allowed to work with a man named Jon Snoddy, who was manager of the project. One major concept that Snoddy taught Jon was that everyone has at least a small amount of goodness in them; if we wait long enough, they will show us this good side. Upon hearing this in the video, I now believe that this is something every teacher needs to lectured on. Today's world makes it more than convenient to give up on people when they do not conform to our needs, wants, and mindsets. If teachers hold on to this negative way of thinking, however, who is left to believe in students? I feel that all children, no matter what type of situations they are in or what their personalities are like, have potential and goodness in them. If I keep pushing and believing in these students when everyone else gives up, I feel that I will eventually see positive results and see each child's life changed for the better.
While these are not all of the concepts taught by Randy Pausch in his last lecture video, these are the ones that stood out in my mind when thinking of my future role as an educator. We live in a world now that is very fast-paced, demanding, and can be harsh and confusing when a person is not prepared for it. We may not realize it, but the future of society is ultimately in the hands of teachers. Some instructors have not done their best in educating and encouraging students in the last few years; however, this can change. Randy Pausch was definitely someone who all educators can look up to, but his principles were not designed to end at the end of his last video or after his death. He taught us these things to not only help become better educators, but I believe to also open our minds and hearts, and look more carefully at humanity and how to really help improve students' lives and our own lives, as well.