“Failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

“There are two words for learning. One of them is a failure.”

You have experienced times of significant intellectual struggle when you found yourself wrestling to understand a concept, skill, or other cerebral challenges. And you have experienced that sweet moment of success, that “Eureka!” moment, that eudaemonistic euphoria of the breakthrough. That moment makes the struggle worthwhile, leaves you feeling that you have earned the knowledge, and builds your self-image as a lifelong learner.  

This week we talk about Productive Struggle!

Lessons Learned

Dennis – You don’t have to know how to use a technology tool or device 100% before you let kids use it.

Chris Carter – I can easily miss emotional realities that are right in front of me. A smiling student is no guarantee of a happy student. I have to always have my “subtle clues” lens on as often as I can train myself.

Notes & Links

Productive Struggle vs Destructive Struggle (PDF)

http://www.shaker.org/Downloads/ProductiveStruggle.pdf

Productive Struggle for Deeper Learning (PDF)

http://www.wagglepractice.com/app/uploads/2015/12/2131A_Productive_Struggle.pdf

How Productive Failure Leads to Better Learning

http://lifehacker.com/how-productive-failure-leads-to-better-learning-1759959637

How to Design a Classroom Built on Openness and Trust

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/09/08/how-to-design-a-classroom-built-on-inquiry-openness-and-trust/

Math & Inquiry: The Importance of Letting Students Stumble

https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/02/03/math-and-inquiry-the-importance-of-letting-students-stumble/

Overcoming the Fear of Being Wrong: 20 Ways to Help Your Students

http://www.opencolleges.edu.au/informed/features/overcoming-the-fear-of-being-wrong/

Why Making Mistakes is What Makes Us Human

http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/09/02/making-mistakes-is-what-makes-us-human/

8 Ways Smart People Use Failure to Their Advantage

https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/04/12/8-ways-smart-people-use-failure-to-their-advantage/#7ab75d094489

Strategies for Learning from Failures

https://hbr.org/2011/04/strategies-for-learning-from-failure

“Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.”  -Dr. Laura

Example from BreakoutEDU experience –   As a teacher it is SO difficult to see students struggle with a puzzle and NOT do anything to help them.  You ask if they want help, and they say “No, I want to figure this out myself.”  This is what happens when learning is engaging and taps into their natural curiosity.