Get Your Students Hired
I have had that experience as well. Many of my students are afraid to even try, especially in lab, for fear that they will fail or look bad in front of their peers. It is during those times that I feel I become a cheerleader to help them overcome those fears and realize that we all make mistakes and that is how learning occurs.
Many of our students are first time college students from their families. In addition to being students, they work and are parents. These students place so much pressure on themselves to do well and set a good example for their children that they lose the focus of learning. They place too much emphasis on grades and not enough on learning. A less than acceptable grade is a failure to them. A few failures on a test equals a failure in school; this leading to their withdraw from school.
You make an interesting point, David. I wonder how those students make a distinction between quitting and failing.
I see that also where students would rather quit than fail but I see it as the same.I also see that they are not sure of themselfs or can't think of the answer if it is outside the box.
Unfortunately, most of the world is accustomed to viewing grades as an indication of skill, Richard. There have been efforts to go to a competency/portfolio type of reporting but it hasn't gotten much traction. Has your institution considered something like that?
I feel that we place too much emphasis on grades, especially in the eyes of the students. This can contribute to their fesrs.
While it may be true that we can learn from our mistakes, Jose, I'd rather avoid the pain.
That may depend on one's half full or half empty perspective, Kevin. I've seen people who have gotten pretty complacent after overcoming adversity.
i think we as humans seem to remember more about the struggles and how we get out of them than we do the good times.
Kevin, I think I need more information. Why do you believe that failure is part of learning?
I think the motivation behind overcoming failure or fear of failure for a student is both intrinsic and extrinsic. School staff needs to provide mentoring and support but a student has to be ready and open to learn/grow.
No question that this is an important for students to master, Gary. Do you find that some grasp the concept quicker than others? What techniques do you use to present the concept?