The Last Lecture: University Should be a Big Head Fake

Today is the last day of the taught semester at DCU. My last lecture was delivered yesterday. It wasn't about digital marketing. It was all the things I hoped my students learnt when they thought they were learning about digital marketing.

Randy Pausch kinda ruined last lectures for many of us in academia. He just did too good a job but at the same time he is a rosetta stone, a reference point and a springboard for the rest of us to do better. Everyone should read his book or watch his video at some time.

 I found a nice image online summarising Randy's key learnings.

In addition to paraphrasing Randy, hopefully, I passed on some added value, not least:

1. Everything is connected but sometimes it's hard to see the pattern.
2. You can't cover all the bases....and that's okay.
3. Question everything....and don't stop trying to find the answers.
4. Obey with caution. Disobey with respect.
5. Stretch yourself.
6. Hormesis. Some toxins taken in small doses, not only induce tolerance in the recipient but even act as a kind of medicine.
7. Education is a journey from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence. It involves time and stress.
8. Take every opportunity today. You don't know whether it or you will be there tomorrow.
9. "Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young." - that goes for your work, classmates, your personal life but also your teachers and lecturers!
10. Any test worth taking represents a significant opportunity but also has significant challenges.

Anyhow there's my Forrest Gump post for 2015.