U.S. News has a useful article about failure that is specifically geared towards STEM teachers, but can certainly be applied to all educators. It’s titled STEM Students Must Be Taught to Fail. Here’s an excerpt:
Source: shareasimage.com via Larry
Alfie Kohn has a different perspective in Do kids really learn from failure? Why conventional wisdom may be wrong.
I personally believe we need to have a balance — focus on setting up our students for success and after they build sufficient self-confidence –and after we have lessons explicitly teaching the value of mistakes and failures and how to rebuild from them — encourage them to take risks that may very well end up that way. And, then, help them develop the skills to constructively reflect on those mistakes and failures.
I’m adding this post to The Best Posts, Articles & Videos About Learning From Mistakes & Failures.
Mr. Ferlazzo,
Great post. I too picked up on Alfie Kohn’s article. A balance needs to be made.
This inspired me to really think how we can turn “failure” into “information”. http://teachingaheadofthecurve.blogspot.com/2012/10/turning-student-failure-into-information.html
A new blogger I just met made a great point about assessment. We need assessment for learning, not merely assessment of learning.
I love your posts. Keep them coming!
Gary Johnston