Tom Igoe - Teachers Make a Difference - Red Burns & Randy Ward

The speaker reflects on two major influences in their life: Red Burns and Randy Ward. Red Burns, a founder and mentor, taught the importance of empowering others, arguing for one's beliefs, and generosity. She pushed the speaker into teaching, which they grew to love. Randy Ward, an undergraduate advisor, instilled a sense of curiosity and the idea that a designer must know everything. His teachings emphasized the importance of understanding history and cultural context in design. Both mentors significantly shaped the speaker's approach to teaching and learning.

What was one of the key lessons Red Burns taught the narrator?

• To always agree with authority

• To empower others through their work

• To focus solely on personal success

• To avoid arguments at all costs

How did Red Burns influence the narrator's career in teaching?

• By discouraging them from teaching

• By suggesting they avoid teaching

• By forcing them to teach a class

• By offering them a managerial position

What was Randy Ward's philosophy on being a designer?

• To ignore cultural contexts

• To know everything about the subject

• To avoid extensive research

• To focus on one specific area

What did Randy Ward encourage the narrator to do when learning about a new design?

• Ignore historical context

• Focus only on technical skills

• Explore all aspects of the subject

• Avoid asking questions

Which two individuals were the biggest influences in the narrator's life?

• Randy Ward and a colleague

• A family member and a colleague

• Red Burns and a family member

• Red Burns and Randy Ward