The Unexpected Benefit of Celebrating Failure
It was difficult to get into this video, at first. That was until Astro Teller mentioned a shift in how the production of a car can change the world. He says "sometimes shifting your perspective is more powerful than being smart". This spoke volumes to me not only as a student, but as a hopeful educator. More often than not, our ideas and the way in which we collect information is wrong, all because we are seeing it from the wrong angle. This is advice that was stayed true for a vast amount of time. For me, working at a summer camp and being the director of our youth program, I am always shifting my perspective to better understand the kids I am mentoring. Shifting my perspective becomes even more vital as I am the head counselor for the youngest boys group at the same summer camp. In the span of eight and ten years old, my boys are operating on a completely different level than most of the other kids at camp. In order for me to relate to their life experiences, I have to be on their level. The power in shifting ones perspective is important not only for professional life, but with everyday life. Towards the end of the video, Teller notes the lifelong question of, "what will happen if I fail?" He goes onto explain that people are pressured into failing faster. There is this notion that failing has to be this rushed experience which is meant to be scary, when in reality, failing is often times a drawn out experience. In, shirt everyone will fail. Teller spoke of countless examples where failing was necessary for any sort of advancement. In the end, isn't that all anyone strives for? We all want to succeed. However, a harsh reality is we must fail before succeed. Then, and only, then will we begin to appreciate the hard work it takes to get to where we are now.
What are the many ways we "punish" students and teachers in schools? How might we move away fro punishment in schools?
ReplyDeleteProfessor Doyle!
DeleteGreat question. Some of the ways I believe we punish revolves around things the students are unfamiliar with. For example, if a child has a problem understanding a math equation, or an abstract concept, teachers force them to reapply their thinking. This neither helps the teach nor the student. By forcing them to reapply their initial plan of action, the student isn't learning from his or her mistake. They are simply repeating the steps they used beforehand. It's a fruitless cycle. To this, teachers are being punished as well. They are not being taught how to address the situation. I fell teachers are taught how to deal with certain issues on a base level analysis. Meaning, they address the problem on the surface, and move on. In reality, they should be working with the student to identify the root of the problem. Then, and only then, can the teacher, as well as the student progress simultaneously.
I like that you mentioned how a shift in perspective can have just as large an impact on our success (or failure) as "being smart". I think this is an import idea to bring into the classroom, as it challenges students to think dynamically and creates new ways of thinking.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how you mentioned that we need to dispel the notion that failing needs to be a rushed experience since we all will fail at some point. As you said failing is a natural experience that occurs all the time. After all the only way to learn from experiences you need to fail first and then change your perspective to achieve your goals.
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