Thursday, March 21, 2013
Blog Post #9
What I've learned This Year 2008-2009
The blog post What I’ve Learned This Year 2008-2009 written by Joe McClung is about his first year of teaching. He talked about his first year accomplishments as well as those things that he learned from. Reading his reflections gives you a firsthand look at his personal experiences. I think it is important to notice that he did not have a perfect first year and many teachers don’t have a perfect first year but he learned unlike some teachers. This blog post was encouraging and made me feel less worried about first year teaching. He gave great advice on how to read a class or crowd of people, this is a very critical and important lesson to learn and remember. Mr. McClung thought teachers were often too worried about pleasing the administration and staff rather than focusing on the students, and the lessons at hand. He included in his blog a reminder to teachers to be flexible, this is very good advice. Students’ lives and classroom disruptions are irregular and change on a day to day basis. Communication and interpersonal skills are very significant when building relationships with children and adults, with students, parents and staff members.
What I've Learned This Year Volume 4
What I Learned This Year volume 4 was Mr. McClung's fourth year reflective blog entry. He talks about how he had a struggle with trying to define himself as a teacher. He spoke about how he was so worried about how his peers viewed him and this was a first for him because in the previous years of teaching he has never worried about how his peers viewed him. If you spend your energy worrying about your peers opinions, you lose focus on your students. The goal as a teacher is not to be a people or even student pleaser, your goal should be to teach your students, make sure they are enjoying class, and help make them truly learn. It is very important to remember that focus. Mr. McClung gathered himself together and realized that it really doesn’t matter what your peers think because you are not there for them you are there for your students and to make sure they are learning. I am glad he realized that because you never want to change yourself as a teacher due to a peer as long as the children are enjoying you and they are learning that is all that matters. Mr. McClung also spoke on about not getting too comfortable. He has taught at the same school and subject for the past 4 years and he realized that he was using the same lesson plans and was not doing new things which means eventually the kids get bored and aren’t having fun in the class and when the kids are bored and not having fun they are not learning. Mr. McClung realized what he was doing and was not happy about it and then he got the opportunity to teach a different subject which he said is a great thing. He said it will be a challenge because he has to learn the material and do new lesson plans but that is a good thing so he can change things up. I really enjoyed reading these posts because they help me learn what to do and what not to do when I become a teacher.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
C4T #2
For my C4T #2 I commented on Mrs. Hadley's Blog Named Middle School Matrix which I really enjoyed reading because it was very interesting and unique.
Mrs. Hadley's first post that I commented on:
I’ve Missed This!
It has been a crazy year so far with lots of new things in my life: new work at school, new family member, new exercise routines. There have been all sorts of new balls to keep flying successfully in the air. Without realizing it at first, I let my writing slide to the side. I didn’t keep it as a priority, letting other jobs work their way to the forefront. There was a new meeting to add to the schedule or a baby to cuddle or a yoga class to attend. Each was immediate and of clear importance. None of the new activities were frivolous or insignificant, and they gradually took over my writing space.
What I have come to realize, however, is that they took over more than my writing. Without the requirement that I had put on myself to write on a regular basis, I slowly lost the intensity of my vision on my practice. When I knew that I had to write at least once a week, I looked at my teaching and my time in school in a different way. I was reflective every day, seeking for the moments when I was learning, when I saw my students and my practice in new ways. Every day was a time for growth, a time to become better at what I was doing. As I let other jobs take the place of writing here, I slowly lost that focus on my practice. I became less reflective, because I simply didn’t need to be. I did my job each day and let it go, quickly moving on to whatever was the next responsibility.
There will always be more tasks and activities in my life than I can easily do in a day or a week. There will always be more people with whom to interact and for whom to care. I have a rich and full life that fills all of the spaces that are there to be filled, and when I let it, can squeeze out the moments that I need for myself and for my practice. But I need this! I need to stop, claim time for myself, for my own growth and learning. I need to think about who I am as a person and as an educator. I have chosen to spend my life in a place of learning, and if I don’t make the time to learn and grow myself, then I will never be the educator that I want to be.
Learning takes time and space. It takes slowly down to look and to listen. It takes time to identify what went well and what needs changing. None of that, for me anyway, can happen if I don’t slow down, if I don’t require myself to make the time to write. Writing forces me to look and take ownership. I know that I see my students and myself as a teacher better when I am writing, because I stay present in the moment in a deeper way. I take more time to reflect on what has happened. I change my practice and begin to grow into a new person, a new teacher. I don’t expect tomorrow to look like today, because I am going to learn.
So it is back to blogging for me! My apologies to those who follow this blog for the silence. I have learned a lot from it. Of most importance, that I need to avoid it in the future!
My first comment:
Great post! I just started blogging this semester in school and I thought it was too much at first but now I really like it and enjoy it you for sure have to have time to do it though. Glad you have found time and are back blogging again!
Mrs. Hadley's second post that I commented on:
Design Thinking at IKEA
With two other teachers, I took a group of students to IKEA today to learn about their process for developing new products and for organizing and displaying them in the store. The field trip was part of a class in Entrepreneurship. We have been defining “entrepreneurship” as the process of taking an idea and making it a reality. It doesn’t have to be a business idea; it can be any idea that brings an inspiration to reality. We have been using Stanford’s Design Process, teaching the students to develop their plans through interviewing, prototyping and testing. The trip to IKEA was to help trigger their thinking around their specific challenge which is to design and create the ideal Middle School locker.
IKEA was a wonderful destination for a field trip. They don’t get many groups, but they were incredibly accommodating. One of their designers, Scott, met with us and explained the variety within their designs. He had a collection of trays and used them to illustrate how the price point, the function and the overall theme impacted how each of the different trays was developed. For an inexpensive tray, the materials and ability to easily manufacture it were key. They search for ways to make each piece as inexpensively as possible, finding plants that can make individual pieces for them. One of the ways they save money is that they are manufacture everything that they sell. They aren’t buying from anyone else. Scott also explained how they began to use flat boxing and home assembly to reduce the price as well.
Once the pricing and manufacturing decisions were made, Scott told how each tray could be changed to connect with the different, major themes that IKEA has. For example, a modern tray might get polka dots in bright and bold colors. A classically themed one could have Victorian roses. Scott held up examples of the trays, which quickly and easily illustrated how the simple change of paper underneath the laminate created a totally different product. He showed the most expensive tray, one that had a very modern and simple design, but was made with two different materials, wood and plastic. The students got to compare the different trays and recognize both their function and possible appeal to different customers.
Scott then took us on a tour of the second floor. We looked at a number of “rooms,” discussing how each was arranged, identifying the themes and functions associated with them. Scott told us that each room is created with a specific user in mind: a young single, a family with young children; parents and teens. While they could be used by other groups, when designing them, IKEA kept their focus on their specific user group. This was a great lesson for the students, to help them understand that none of this design should happen just based on their own impulses. Each design must meet the needs of a specific client.
The girls got to examine a variety of rooms, some arranged by price point and some by size: an apartment for $370 compared to one for $1,000; an apartment built to fit into 350 square feet compared to one with 750 square feet. With each comparison the girls identified what was similar and what was different? What was added or subtracted depending on the price or size? It presented them with interesting questions to consider and pushed them to think about how to solve problems, whether financial or based on space.
We then sent them off to explore the rest of the second floor, reminding them of their Locker Challenge. We encouraged them to explore how storage and space were handled. Because IKEA is arranged to have the customers actually open the drawers and sit in the chairs, it is a perfect place for this kind of investigation. We didn’t have to worry that the students were mishandling the furniture. They were free to open drawers and closets, peek behind and under beds, to find how IKEA had solved some of the problems of space. Because IKEA has clearly taken on the challenge of creating unique solutions to the challenges of decoration, storage and living, as they explored, they were continually excited by some new . As they wandered and explored, the students were so excited by the variety of solutions to different problems they found.
After about 30 minutes of exploring, we had them choose one object on which they wanted to focus. They made a detailed sketch and then described its function. We had them consider other uses for the product and to think about ways that it might be improved or used for another purpose. They all had a favorite piece from their exploration, so they quickly returned to it and began to sketch.
It was a very successful day, full of energy and excitement, as well as many lessons on how to think about design. It is definitely a field trip that I would recommend! A special Thank You to IKEA and to Scott for our visit!
My second Comment:
Wow!! This is an awesome field trip!! I would have LOVED to have went on a field trip like this when I was in school!! It seems like it was an unique and fun experience! It always important to learn about design and space and pricing!! I have always wanted to learn that! I am glad I got the chance to read this post so I can look more into this! Thank you for this interesting post!! Love it!
I really enjoyed Mrs. Hadley's Blog. It is very useful and interesting.
Mrs. Hadley's first post that I commented on:
I’ve Missed This!
It has been a crazy year so far with lots of new things in my life: new work at school, new family member, new exercise routines. There have been all sorts of new balls to keep flying successfully in the air. Without realizing it at first, I let my writing slide to the side. I didn’t keep it as a priority, letting other jobs work their way to the forefront. There was a new meeting to add to the schedule or a baby to cuddle or a yoga class to attend. Each was immediate and of clear importance. None of the new activities were frivolous or insignificant, and they gradually took over my writing space.
What I have come to realize, however, is that they took over more than my writing. Without the requirement that I had put on myself to write on a regular basis, I slowly lost the intensity of my vision on my practice. When I knew that I had to write at least once a week, I looked at my teaching and my time in school in a different way. I was reflective every day, seeking for the moments when I was learning, when I saw my students and my practice in new ways. Every day was a time for growth, a time to become better at what I was doing. As I let other jobs take the place of writing here, I slowly lost that focus on my practice. I became less reflective, because I simply didn’t need to be. I did my job each day and let it go, quickly moving on to whatever was the next responsibility.
There will always be more tasks and activities in my life than I can easily do in a day or a week. There will always be more people with whom to interact and for whom to care. I have a rich and full life that fills all of the spaces that are there to be filled, and when I let it, can squeeze out the moments that I need for myself and for my practice. But I need this! I need to stop, claim time for myself, for my own growth and learning. I need to think about who I am as a person and as an educator. I have chosen to spend my life in a place of learning, and if I don’t make the time to learn and grow myself, then I will never be the educator that I want to be.
Learning takes time and space. It takes slowly down to look and to listen. It takes time to identify what went well and what needs changing. None of that, for me anyway, can happen if I don’t slow down, if I don’t require myself to make the time to write. Writing forces me to look and take ownership. I know that I see my students and myself as a teacher better when I am writing, because I stay present in the moment in a deeper way. I take more time to reflect on what has happened. I change my practice and begin to grow into a new person, a new teacher. I don’t expect tomorrow to look like today, because I am going to learn.
So it is back to blogging for me! My apologies to those who follow this blog for the silence. I have learned a lot from it. Of most importance, that I need to avoid it in the future!
My first comment:
Great post! I just started blogging this semester in school and I thought it was too much at first but now I really like it and enjoy it you for sure have to have time to do it though. Glad you have found time and are back blogging again!
Mrs. Hadley's second post that I commented on:
Design Thinking at IKEA
With two other teachers, I took a group of students to IKEA today to learn about their process for developing new products and for organizing and displaying them in the store. The field trip was part of a class in Entrepreneurship. We have been defining “entrepreneurship” as the process of taking an idea and making it a reality. It doesn’t have to be a business idea; it can be any idea that brings an inspiration to reality. We have been using Stanford’s Design Process, teaching the students to develop their plans through interviewing, prototyping and testing. The trip to IKEA was to help trigger their thinking around their specific challenge which is to design and create the ideal Middle School locker.
IKEA was a wonderful destination for a field trip. They don’t get many groups, but they were incredibly accommodating. One of their designers, Scott, met with us and explained the variety within their designs. He had a collection of trays and used them to illustrate how the price point, the function and the overall theme impacted how each of the different trays was developed. For an inexpensive tray, the materials and ability to easily manufacture it were key. They search for ways to make each piece as inexpensively as possible, finding plants that can make individual pieces for them. One of the ways they save money is that they are manufacture everything that they sell. They aren’t buying from anyone else. Scott also explained how they began to use flat boxing and home assembly to reduce the price as well.
Once the pricing and manufacturing decisions were made, Scott told how each tray could be changed to connect with the different, major themes that IKEA has. For example, a modern tray might get polka dots in bright and bold colors. A classically themed one could have Victorian roses. Scott held up examples of the trays, which quickly and easily illustrated how the simple change of paper underneath the laminate created a totally different product. He showed the most expensive tray, one that had a very modern and simple design, but was made with two different materials, wood and plastic. The students got to compare the different trays and recognize both their function and possible appeal to different customers.
Scott then took us on a tour of the second floor. We looked at a number of “rooms,” discussing how each was arranged, identifying the themes and functions associated with them. Scott told us that each room is created with a specific user in mind: a young single, a family with young children; parents and teens. While they could be used by other groups, when designing them, IKEA kept their focus on their specific user group. This was a great lesson for the students, to help them understand that none of this design should happen just based on their own impulses. Each design must meet the needs of a specific client.
The girls got to examine a variety of rooms, some arranged by price point and some by size: an apartment for $370 compared to one for $1,000; an apartment built to fit into 350 square feet compared to one with 750 square feet. With each comparison the girls identified what was similar and what was different? What was added or subtracted depending on the price or size? It presented them with interesting questions to consider and pushed them to think about how to solve problems, whether financial or based on space.
We then sent them off to explore the rest of the second floor, reminding them of their Locker Challenge. We encouraged them to explore how storage and space were handled. Because IKEA is arranged to have the customers actually open the drawers and sit in the chairs, it is a perfect place for this kind of investigation. We didn’t have to worry that the students were mishandling the furniture. They were free to open drawers and closets, peek behind and under beds, to find how IKEA had solved some of the problems of space. Because IKEA has clearly taken on the challenge of creating unique solutions to the challenges of decoration, storage and living, as they explored, they were continually excited by some new . As they wandered and explored, the students were so excited by the variety of solutions to different problems they found.
After about 30 minutes of exploring, we had them choose one object on which they wanted to focus. They made a detailed sketch and then described its function. We had them consider other uses for the product and to think about ways that it might be improved or used for another purpose. They all had a favorite piece from their exploration, so they quickly returned to it and began to sketch.
It was a very successful day, full of energy and excitement, as well as many lessons on how to think about design. It is definitely a field trip that I would recommend! A special Thank You to IKEA and to Scott for our visit!
My second Comment:
Wow!! This is an awesome field trip!! I would have LOVED to have went on a field trip like this when I was in school!! It seems like it was an unique and fun experience! It always important to learn about design and space and pricing!! I have always wanted to learn that! I am glad I got the chance to read this post so I can look more into this! Thank you for this interesting post!! Love it!
I really enjoyed Mrs. Hadley's Blog. It is very useful and interesting.
Blog Post #8
This is how we dream
In these videos part 1 and 2, Dr. Richard E. Miller pronounces that we are in one of the highest periods for communication technology. He makes the point that with the internet we always have access to information. The new technologies that are marking their way through our society are very encouraging and will impressively improve the way our students learn. Dr. Miller also talks about the internet that has given us the power to cooperate on work and projects without ever actually having to meet in person. Everything can be handled through the internet which means that teachers can work and talk with other teachers from around the world and students from around the world can read each other’s blogs and talk and work together as well.
Dr. Miller also talks about how writing in the academy has changed and how writing in our culture has changed. This is the best change in human communication in human history. We now have the opportunity to communicate immediately. Dr. Miller states that we need to be involved in the work of knowledge now. He considered writing as a solitary activity. However, incremental change is where we work now, it is not so much in libraries anymore. We carry our laptops and our desk is our workspace. It is now possible to work together using technology. We not only have to use text, but we also can use images and video. It is amazing how much technology is changing and I really did not think about it or realize it until I took EDM 310. It is unbelievable how much it has and is changing!!
Carly Pugh blog post #12
Carly Pugh did an incredible job with this post. It is a very creative and motivational assignment that also provides a lot of freedom in the workspace. It is kind of like having a playlist of music that describes your mood, but instead it's videos that describe your goals and thoughts on teaching. Carly had said in her post that instead of making her students to the same-ole-same-ole read a book then write an essay on it, allow them to research! Just like Dr. Miller stated in his videos about writing with multi-media, there are tons of ways for students to access information. With this assignment, I can show my teaching techniques through videos. This post was definitely an asset to my list professional blogs, videos and people to follow. I think Carly nailed it when comparing her post to Dr. Richard Miller’s video. Everything she wants to incorporate into the classroom is what he was saying our classrooms would soon be like. Her ideas were so creative and gave me something to go off of as a student and a future educator!
The Chipper Series/EDM 310 for Dummies
Both of these videos were very artistic and useful! These types of videos are great for applying into our future classrooms. They could be used for presenting a new concept in a school subject like science or math. They are not only great for explaining more in depth, but they are also wonderful for engaging for students. It is way more entertaining for students to visually watch something be clarified than have it just taught to them orally. Both videos were awesome and very helpful!!
Learn to change, change to learn
This video talks about the significance of change in our schools. Students need to learn how to be modern students. If they learn by doing and practicing rather than memorizing facts and reciting them, they need to know how to find those facts on the web, make sure they are correct, back the facts up with learned knowledge and learn how to communicate it. Nearly everything I learned while I was in school was memorized and forgotten as soon as I turned the test in. This type of learning certainly did not prepare me for college or my education career. This new teaching method, will truly prepare students for college, real life, and a successful intellectual journey. Even from my time being in high school not that long ago, everything is much different now. Therefore, I have to learn to change, and change to learn so that way my students will be taught properly to survive in their thriving technological world.
Scavenger Hunt 2.0
The tool I found like Facebook and Twitter was Classroom 2.0. This is a network for those who are interested in Web 2.0, and Social Media in the classroom. It is a free community supported network. It is an online community for teachers. They have their own blogs, they can post, and comment to other teachers also. I think this would be an awesome tool to have once I become a teacher. It would be nice to be able to interact with other teachers from all over and get ideas that they are using in their classroom with the Web 2.0.
Prezi gives students and teachers a free license. It allows you to have 500mb of storage space, all of your presentations will be private, and you get to use your own logo instead of Prezi's logo.
The video tool that I chose was Animoto. I have never used it so I searched it to see what it was like and it is extremely cook and unique. It allows you to take your pictures and video clips and create a video. You can style your video like the music and add some words if you would like. It also allows you to share it online like facebook, email, twitter or whatever you would like. It is really cool and I would love to use it.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
C4K February Summary
Tacoriya
Tacoriya was my first C4K comment. She is in Mrs.Millers 10th grade class. In her post she talked about Tom Walker and it was a interesting post. She also put a picture in her post and I thought that was pretty cool as well.
Tacoriya Post:
Tom Walker Tom Walker was a greedy man, he was afraid of the devil. Tom Walker and his wife were both misers; they were so miserly that they even conspired to cheat each other."Tom Walker: The protagonist of "The Devil and Tom Walker." Described as "a meagre miserly fellow," he is probably Washington Irving's most despised (or least likeable) character. Despite his many unsavory characteristics, he is also memorable. Initially, Tom Walker rejects Old Scratch's offer, but he eventually gives into the Devil's "conditions"with conditions. Tom Walker also seem to be a confused and scared person when it came down to Old Scratch which was another name for the devil.
My comment:
Chelsea Hadley February 10, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Nice job!! Your description about this book is well. It definitely sounds interesting and makes me want to read it now. I also like the picture you put in your post it makes it even more interesting! I hope you enjoyed reading "The devil and Tom Walker" hopefully I will have the chance to read it soon! Good luck and your doing a great job at blogging!!
Andrew M.
My second C4K comment was Andrew M. He is from Mrs. Balestrins 2nd grade class. His post was pretty cool to read because he talked about his class celebrating 100 days of school which I thought was interesting.
Andrew M. Post:
I only had 7 kids in my class. We celebrated 100 Day!!!.We went to the Gym 2 to times.I finally I got to go into the change room. There were to giant mats.I thought it was cool.
My comment:
Chelsea Hadley (Guest)
February 15, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Oh wow only 7 kids?? I don’t think I have ever went to class and there were only 7 kids but it sounds like it would be alot of fun!! Also that is awesome your class celebrated 100 days of school which means it is close to the end of the year!! I hope you enjoyed celebrating 100 days. Keep up the good work. Great post!!
Jon
Jon was my 3rd C4K comment and he is from Mrs. Millers 10 grade class as well. I really liked what Jon had posted because it is very respectful.
Jon's post:
Feb 26 I like to dress classy not trashy. I have respect for myself. I have respect for my older people. Posted 5 days ago by jon crawford
My comment:
Well how Jon's blog is setup I can not figure out how to view my comment but I really liked this post because he has respect for himself and older people and wants to represent himself well. I like this because people esp. old people like to see young people dressed nice. Also when you dress nice it makes you feel good about yourself and I feel like you will have a better day if you dress nice and feel good about yourself. Always dress nice and have respect for yourself!
I really enjoyed February's C4K students post that I read and commented on them it is really cool that children so young are blogging and learning all this technology because when I was in school I never heard of blogging with your class. I myself have never blogged until EDM310 class but I really enjoy it and would like to keep doing it in the future!
Tacoriya was my first C4K comment. She is in Mrs.Millers 10th grade class. In her post she talked about Tom Walker and it was a interesting post. She also put a picture in her post and I thought that was pretty cool as well.
Tacoriya Post:
Tom Walker Tom Walker was a greedy man, he was afraid of the devil. Tom Walker and his wife were both misers; they were so miserly that they even conspired to cheat each other."Tom Walker: The protagonist of "The Devil and Tom Walker." Described as "a meagre miserly fellow," he is probably Washington Irving's most despised (or least likeable) character. Despite his many unsavory characteristics, he is also memorable. Initially, Tom Walker rejects Old Scratch's offer, but he eventually gives into the Devil's "conditions"with conditions. Tom Walker also seem to be a confused and scared person when it came down to Old Scratch which was another name for the devil.
My comment:
Chelsea Hadley February 10, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Nice job!! Your description about this book is well. It definitely sounds interesting and makes me want to read it now. I also like the picture you put in your post it makes it even more interesting! I hope you enjoyed reading "The devil and Tom Walker" hopefully I will have the chance to read it soon! Good luck and your doing a great job at blogging!!
Andrew M.
My second C4K comment was Andrew M. He is from Mrs. Balestrins 2nd grade class. His post was pretty cool to read because he talked about his class celebrating 100 days of school which I thought was interesting.
Andrew M. Post:
I only had 7 kids in my class. We celebrated 100 Day!!!.We went to the Gym 2 to times.I finally I got to go into the change room. There were to giant mats.I thought it was cool.
My comment:
Chelsea Hadley (Guest)
February 15, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Oh wow only 7 kids?? I don’t think I have ever went to class and there were only 7 kids but it sounds like it would be alot of fun!! Also that is awesome your class celebrated 100 days of school which means it is close to the end of the year!! I hope you enjoyed celebrating 100 days. Keep up the good work. Great post!!
Jon
Jon was my 3rd C4K comment and he is from Mrs. Millers 10 grade class as well. I really liked what Jon had posted because it is very respectful.
Jon's post:
Feb 26 I like to dress classy not trashy. I have respect for myself. I have respect for my older people. Posted 5 days ago by jon crawford
My comment:
Well how Jon's blog is setup I can not figure out how to view my comment but I really liked this post because he has respect for himself and older people and wants to represent himself well. I like this because people esp. old people like to see young people dressed nice. Also when you dress nice it makes you feel good about yourself and I feel like you will have a better day if you dress nice and feel good about yourself. Always dress nice and have respect for yourself!
I really enjoyed February's C4K students post that I read and commented on them it is really cool that children so young are blogging and learning all this technology because when I was in school I never heard of blogging with your class. I myself have never blogged until EDM310 class but I really enjoy it and would like to keep doing it in the future!
Project #9 Personal Learning Network (PLN)
For my PLN, I created a Symbaloo account. I have really enjoyed Symbaloo so far. I plan on using it for a long time and for my career. It is so helpful to have all the websites you need right there in front of you all on one page. Another thing that is really neat is that you can group tiles together and put them in categories. This is a great tool to keep you organized. I know it is definitely going to help me stay organized. Now that I have a Symbaloo account I am going to start adding all the useful websites on there that my teachers give me so by the time I am ready to teach it will all be right there for me. I really like Symbaloo!
Blog Post #7
In the video,Randy Pausch's Last Lecture, I was absolutely surprised by the passion Randy exhibited throughout the whole lecture. When I imagine a man who is very sick and don’t have long to live I picture the total reverse of Randy. I visualize a man who is feeling sorry for himself and sitting at home thinking of what to do or what could have been. I admire how he comes right out and tells the class all the facts and how he is very accepting of what has happened to him. This lecture is about Dr. Pausch’s childhood dreams, enabling the dreams of others, and lessons learned.
Randy Pausch's childhood dreams were: Being in zero gravity, playing in the NFL, authoring an article in the World Book Encyclopedia, being Captain Kirk, winning stuffed animals at the fair, and being a Disney Imaginer. He was able to experience zero gravity with a student group. He never played in the NFL but he did play football and learned several valuable lessons from it. He did write for the World Encyclopedia, and he became like Captain Kirk by being a leader in a virtual reality project. He worked on a virtual reality program at Disney. It was a virtual Aladdin flying carpet ride. They asked him to become a permanent “imaginer”, but he said no and became an imaginer consultant. Dr. Pausch achieved many of his childhood dreams but not all of them but that did not stop him or even bother him. The most outstanding part of the lecture that he talked about was about the brick walls he speaks of. He says “brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things”. Usually when I notice a ‘brick wall’ I turn around and go the other way thinking that what ever I was trying to accomplish was not suppose to happen. After hearing what Dr. Pausch has to say about “brick walls” I have a new perspective of obstacles. If you want something bad enough, you should go after it. Just because there is something standing in your way does not mean there is not a way around it, you just have to find it. This is very inspiring and I could definitely use this theory.
The next thing Dr. Pausch talks about in his wonderful lecture is helping make the dreams of others. He touched the class he taught at Carnegie Mellon University. What I took from him on teaching his class is that they were having fun while learning. While in the middle of their projects they were actually learning the systems they were using without even knowing it. I find this very remarkable and helpful. I think this is the way learning should be because a lot more students wouldn’t dread going to school. I have had teachers before that are so boring and only lectures and that makes you absolutely dread going to their class everyday and you shouldn’t feel like that. I also feel like if they are having fun while learning that they will learn a lot more and not even know it and not dread going to school or to one of their teacher’s classes.
In the last part of Dr. Pausch’s speech, He talks about lessons learned. The character of parents, mentors, and students help us accomplish our dreams. The thing that stood out the most to me in this part is how he said that our students will shape us. It is unbelievable to think that we learn more from our students sometimes than they learn from us. This video was astonishing and I am so glad I had the opportunity to watch this video. It motivates me to be the best teacher I can be. Shape their futures, promote their dreams and believe in them, even if no one else does. Most of all we have to have fun and help others.
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