I’m doing some research on what is the most effective kind of feedback on what we as teachers can give to our students. I’ve been somewhat familiar with Carol Dweck, who has done great research on how to help students develop a “growth mindset” instead of a “fixed” one. Very simply put, we should praise effort instead of intelligence.
Daniel Sadicario on Twitter suggested an article about her work titled How Not to Talk to Your Kids.
I also found a good online recorded interview with Ms. Dweck that Will Richardson did with her and posted on his blog.
Both are worth checking-out.
Larry,
Great topic. It really prompts some thought in me and I think we all have to do more, can do more, as teachers.
I like the “praise the effort” but I’d go further. Not just effort but “noticing” their own effort”. I find that the key to education, is getting students to “see themselves learning” and it is this feedback that is so effective for long term anything….
I’d also ask teachers what they think about “praising finishing the task”. I’m dead against that – unless a student really has a problem in this area. Finishing is not the goal of anything…IMO.
Thanks for the articles,
David