fear of failure
students worry they cannot find a job after finishing school.you must encourge students to keep trying even if they fail on the first trys.
Mary, great point and students that focus on being perfect is a form of a learning disorder as their anxiety to be perfect detracts from the performance in the classroom. What actions do you take to identify any learning disorders within your own classrooms?
James Jackson
In my experience with students who have a fear of failure, I think it can go one of two ways. Some students who have a fear of failure, can also be perfectionist and worry too much about getting the assignment done and not as much about doing it the correct way. I also find that some students who are perfectionist, even though they they do not want to fail, do not turn in assignments, because it is not "perfect enough" in their own eyes. The fear of failture can be both a motivator as well as paralyzing for some students.
Robert, all things take time but failure is part of learning. The classroom is a contained and controlled environment where students can fail with levels of safety and learn from their failures. The more they are willing to try and possibly fail the better they will learn and the faster they will accumulate knowledge.
James Jackson
Audra, students need to know how assessments assist in the learning process. Like a carpenter takes a measurement to know how much wood is needed to frame a house, you as the instructor need methods to measure your effectiveness as an instructor and what topics may need more attention in the classroom. As your students become more familiar with how tests are used and the value to them and the learning process they will come to appreciate them and even look forward to them.
James Jackson
I deal with this to some degree with every class. A student afraid of screwing up or not getting the right answer. To releive this fear they have another student do it for them or just give them the answer and in their own minds they themselves did the task right got all the answers right. When I first pick up a new class during my intro I cover this. I tell students that they are here to learn and you can learn alot from scewing something up and that I do not look down on them for it. The only mistake one can make is not learniing from the screw ups and doing the same wrong thing over and over. Strive not to screw up, but if you do, identify it, make it right, and make sure not to do it again. That way when you go out into the real world you will not make that screw up there when it really counts. Its all part of learning.
I teach a technical / artistic field and constantly remind students that it takes motivation, persistence and time to get a job. If they keep that in mind it will work in the end.
While a fear of failure can certainly motivate some to try hard to accomplish their goals and tasks, it can also have negative effects. Stuents who have a fear of failure may have a fear to try. They can also become extremely frustrated with their progress and become demotivated.
Scott, great message to be sharing with your students. For some students however the feedback they receive from their instructors may be the only positive reinforcement they receive. Are there any other support techniques or groups your students can use?
James Jackson
Bob, what are some of the techniques you use with your students to explain how to overcome their fears of testing? Thanks for anything you can share.
James Jackson
I try to impart on my students that their fears are mostly self created. Also that being prepared in life and mastering their skill sets will be noticed in the job markets...Paul T. Rougemont
I see this in with my students also. I tell my student that they should never second guess themselces. When corrections test or quizzes I see they initally put the right answer then cross it out put the wrong one. Even after they hand in their test and they look at their notes, they discover that thier first answer choice was right and they changed it. I had one student ask me for her test back because she realized she changed an answer that was right. When I told that I cannot give it back to her she started to cry and reported me to my supervisor.
This is a topic I see fairly regularly in my classes. My advice to the students is to do the best you can and don’t give up. Bettering your education will give you an advantage in the job market. Learning everything you can about the subject, going above and beyond to learn more than the minimum will help keep the job once you get it. As an instructor I try to motivate them to be the best they can be!
If you have no fear over thing you may become too over confident. Thee can be too much fear as well. As long as we explain how to overcome these fears the student will suceed.
This is the fear in most schools now. We have our students to provide each other with motivational talks and sayings.
good point. I feel that, just like with everything else, the best way to succeed at something is to continue to do it over and over again. Success is purely measured on your drive towards that goal. Teaching the last class before my students move on to externship, I find this topic to ring true.
Great topic!! I always share some of my own fears with the student's to help alleviate their own before entering the industry. I also like to share with them a favorite quote of mine "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
Thanks,
Chef Fersch
Gary, great topic. The job market is tough but for students there are true opportunities as they will be hired at beginning salaries which is very attractive to companies looking to cut costs of their operations. Good grades, good attendance and good references will be essential to qualify for these position so for students this requires them to focus on school, come to class on a regular basis, make good grades and build great relationships with those that can be good references. This is also a great time to focus on building a profile on LinkedIn and begin reading up and participating in discussion groups in their related fields. Networking is a must and can assist students greatly in their eventual job search.
James Jackson
