2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty asked to give their 'last' lecture
The Collegio
Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Campus Life
When Jason Wright, a senior in education from Columbus, saw a presentation on "The Last Lecture" at a conference for residence hall assistants, he knew it was something he wanted to bring to the Pittsburg State University campus. At 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, six members of the PSU faculty who have been asked to imagine that this is their last opportunity to talk to students, will share their best advice. The lectures will take place in the Dellinger Hall Underground.
The last lecture series is based upon the question, 'If this was the last lecture you would give, what would you say?'" Wright said. "It's more about life skills, less academic."
Around the country, students like Wright have been inspired by the story of Randy Pausch, a member of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, whose "last lecture" has generated national attention, including millions of hits on YouTube and Facebook. The Last Lecture series, in which faculty are invited to imagine what they would say to students if they knew they were about to die have become popular on college campuses.
For Pausch, his lecture in September 2007 was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old professor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer, had been told by doctors that he could measure the rest of his life in mere months. Pausch titled his lecture "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams."
Today Pausch's inspiring lecture can be found on YouTube and other social networking sites. It has been translated into several other languages and is being made into a book.
Wright says that students should come to the lectures to learn things they wouldn't learn.
"You can hear from faculty life lessons that they're not going to teach you in class," Wright said.
Julie Samuels, director of PSU's Honors College and a member of the faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, says she is thinking of her own legacy as she thinks about what she wants to say to students.
The last lecture series is based upon the question, 'If this was the last lecture you would give, what would you say?'" Wright said. "It's more about life skills, less academic."
Around the country, students like Wright have been inspired by the story of Randy Pausch, a member of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, whose "last lecture" has generated national attention, including millions of hits on YouTube and Facebook. The Last Lecture series, in which faculty are invited to imagine what they would say to students if they knew they were about to die have become popular on college campuses.
For Pausch, his lecture in September 2007 was more than just an academic exercise. The 46-year-old professor, who had been battling pancreatic cancer, had been told by doctors that he could measure the rest of his life in mere months. Pausch titled his lecture "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams."
Today Pausch's inspiring lecture can be found on YouTube and other social networking sites. It has been translated into several other languages and is being made into a book.
Wright says that students should come to the lectures to learn things they wouldn't learn.
"You can hear from faculty life lessons that they're not going to teach you in class," Wright said.
Julie Samuels, director of PSU's Honors College and a member of the faculty in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, says she is thinking of her own legacy as she thinks about what she wants to say to students.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Angela Robinson Markley
posted 2/28/08 @ 11:11 AM CST
Dr. Orville Brill would be the ideal person to present this type of lecture. His close relationships with students over the years has given him so much insight into living life and making good choices. (Continued…)
Post a Comment