Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Wow. Originally, I thought this was going to be a very sad, sappy lecture given that it truly was Pausch's last lecture ever. Everyone who attended the lecture knew that Pausch was battling cancer and that Pausch would likely lose his battle. Pausch opens the lecture by addressing just that. He had cancer. He had been invited to give a last lecture. By Pausch outright address what was on everyone's mind, he lightened the mood a bit. He also challenged people to know what you can change and what you can't change and to go from there.
When Pausch talked about his time at ETC, he talked about field trips to Pixar and the real life application of the programs, such as helping the fire department. Students learn more and learn easier when they can not only have fun but also see a real life application to their studies. I know that this is true in my own studies. If I can see a way that I can really use what I am learning, I learn it quicker, easier, and more willfully.
Pausch also talked about "Alice", a program to help children use technology. Children can create their own movies and video games. This program not only teaches computer programming skills, which is in higher demand everyday, but also makes students work some with storytelling and creative writing. "Alice" is a "head fake", meaning that it causes students to learn without realizing they are learning. Pausch says that students will "have fun while learning something hard".
Pausch later talks about creativity and life tips. Teachers should also teach some form of life tips in addition to their coursework. He says to give kids freedom. He uses an illustration about painting a bedroom and how he was allowed to paint his bedroom how he wished when he was a child. He painted an elevator on one wall, a submarine, things he would like to have or was interested in. Let children be creative and give them freedom to create how they want.
Perhaps the greatest bits of knowledge that Pausch gives to others are to keep your arrogance in check, truly sell education like a salesman would do, never lose childlike wonder, and to help others. However, the theme that underscores all of Randy Pausch's last lecture is to have fun!