Re-framing Failure

 I want to re-frame failure. Without knowing it, we as a society are stuck in an antiquated cognitive theory environment on learning that focuses on outcomes, like grades, SAT scores, and prestigious colleges. Ironically this focus on outcomes is actually making our kids less motivated to learn. Research by Dr. Carol Dweck is actually demonstrating our student's intelligence can increase merely by focusing kid's attention on the belief that intelligence can increase if we focus of the process. When students struggle in their learning, we shouldn't tell them the answer, or blame outside factors, or say well you are just bad at that subject. Instead we should show enthusiasm for the difficulty. This embracing of challenges is referred to as a "growth mindset." True learning cannot happen without errors or failure. So when a student struggles, this is an opportunity to strategize. 

The act of strategizing is the learning.

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Your brain is like a muscle, and like a muscle when you stretch it or flex it with weight, the muscle tears a little bit and new cells are built in new empty space. The brain actually gets bigger, heavier, and more efficient when it is exercised with difficult thinking tasks.

So the next time your children/students get frustrated, you need to get enthusiastic, and let them know this the opportunity for some deeper learning, brain growth and strengthening. Don't tell or show them how to do it, say let's brainstorm some strategies to get over this hump? What resources are available? What are your options?

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Eventually, strategizing will become their default setting, and cut you as the adult out of the process. That sounds scary, but ultimately that is our job as parents and teachers to get our children/students to be independent, problem solvers.

Resources for deeper learning...

Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn

Mindset: The Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink