Failure is always an option.
I try to show all students that at the moment they are having troubles or doubts, that this is only because they are new at what they are attempting. I try to explain that I have done this, "once or twice", and that they are just getting started. But I try to finish with a comment on experiance and its out come. I usually follow up with Thomas Edison and the light bulb.(If the student knows who he is)Edison found over 1000 ways not to make a light bulb before he and his team got it right. You got to keep trying if you believe.
When my students tell me they are having a hard time mastering an activity, I tell them that's why they're taking the class -- if they already knew how to do it, they wouldn't need the class, would they?
When something they do doesn't come out right, I tell them it was a wonderful opportunity to see something go wrong, figure out what it was, and figure out if it can be fixed, so that when they're out there on their own and they run into a problem, they'll be equipped to deal with it. Failure teaches us much more than success.
I assume you're saying that mistakes in the lab are less expensive than in the workplace and our role is to help students avoid mistakes in the future.
i like to say we are here to make the mistakes so that when we do get that job we know what not to do, we learn from making mistakes thats what you good at what you do, you know the wrong and right ways.
James as you have stated Failure is always an option... Many Manufactures would not be here if they did not fail! Soichiro Honda failed many times before success. I tell our students that they will not get it at first... that is why they are here to learn and fail then succeed!
I think this idea is right on the money. I alway tell my students that is it good to feel aprehensive about an upcoming task, job, event...it let's them know that they are reaching for something great snd pushing themselves to the next level.
I also like the Edison comparison but, in the industry I work in, too many failures would get them (students) fired or at worst, get someone killed. Students make a choice on whether or not they have what it takes to do this line of work or to find something they are comfortable with. I enjoy taking them out of their comfort zone and show them how to conquer their deepest fears. Most can do it, some cannot.
Failure is a big part of life, and the sooner we make students realize it and diminish the stresses that go with that the sooner we remove one of the many concerns we have with retention. All through school kids are allowed to pass or succeed due to the concept that failure will diminish them mentally. That is simply not true. Failure is the way we gauge how well we did in achieving some goal, and if we never fail how do we know that we've set our goals high enough, or better yet how do we know that we challenged ourselves at all to learn? Failure isn't always bad, it can be a huge learning tool, and we need to use it as that instead of sheltering ourselves from it.
Are you talking specifically about lab work or does your point apply to lecture related material too?
I like the Edison comparison, although we would not like our students to try something 1000 times the wrong way, it does show that if at first you don't succeed, try again. The students sometimes expect this to be easy to learn, especially the ones that have had life handed to them thus far. I think it is stressfull for them to find out some things require more effort than they thought. I try to prepare their expectations of a tasks dificulty, and I always try to be carefull of stating something will be easy. I find if I say "this will be easy" and the student has a hard time with it, the student usually feels worse about themself for struggling with an easy task.
yes I do the same,if I see some students not happy with the tests or subject I tell them the ways that I deal with the state tests that are always apart of this field.try to explain how to learn to take a test without looking to far into the test,if that makes any sense.I let them know I also have a tuff time taking tests.ITS NOT JUST THEM
Yup, I try to remind students that they are learning and can expect to make mistakes. Making mistakes is one way us humans learn. Not everyone should expect to do new things perfectly the first time,otherwise they would not need be in our school.
Failure is part of life. It is sometimes what makes or breaks you. Finding your weakness is an essential way learning were you need more attention.
I agree. I too try to impress upon my students that what they are learning is all new to them. At this stage it is OK to not get it completely right. They will learn with further experience and as long as they believe in themselves they will be successful.
