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HARVARD CONTRIBUTOR Mistakes and Learning By: Maleka Donaldson Gramling Harvard Graduate School of Education What is a mistake? Mistakes happen when there is a mismatch between one’s expected and actual performance 1 . Although each of us is familiar with making mistakes, we do not experience mistakes in the same way. How we define a mistake, how important a mistake feels, and how we eventually respond to a mistake can vary greatly depending on the person and the circumstances. This means that when two people make the same mistake in similar circumstances, one might feel sad or angry, while the other stays calm and immediately gives it another try. Moreover, when the same person makes an identical mistake in different situations (e.g., in front of the class at school or at home alone), he or she might respond to it completely differently. Even though the way we respond to our mistakes is subjective and situational, it has a powerful influence on our behaviors and learning. What exactly is happening to us? The brain and the body have a physiological reaction when we don’t get the expected outcome – neurons fire in particular patterns 1 , heart rate slows, and the palms might sweaty 2 . We also experience an emotional response, which is influenced by the type of feedback we receive and our disposition toward mistakes based on prior experiences and personality 3 . Often, during the learning process, making a mistake might feel like a very negative emotional experience. If children feel threatened by mistakes, they may be less willing to try again 4 . That is unfortunate because researchers have found that making mistakes, and subsequently receiving corrective feedback, plays a powerful role in helping learners to remember new information and get better at acquiring new skills 5 . So what can educators do to make the most of student mistakes? • Urge students to expect to make mistakes when they are learning Maleka Donaldson Gramling holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Harvard College and two Master of Education degrees from Harvard Graduate School of Education, concentrating in Human Development & Psychology and in Learning & Teaching. Her doctoral research focuses on teachers’ responses to student mistakes, and aims to help teachers become more metacognitive about their feedback interactions with students. something new. In order to improve, they need to practice, and it is not likely that they will always get it right the first time. • Emphasize effort, not outcome 6 . Effort and hard work are what help students learn so you should encourage them be persistent and ask for feedback if needed. • Give prompt, very specific feedback framed in a positive way 7 . As someone who already knows a lot about what they are trying to learn, a teacher’s feedback can enhance student understanding 8 Bottom line, students need to understand that if they aren’t making any mistakes, chances are they aren’t learning. References 1 Gehring, Goss, Coles, Meyer, & Donchin, 1993; Kim, Iwaki, Imashioya, Uno, & Fujita, 2007 2 Hajcak, McDonald & Simons, 2004 3 Weiner, 1985; Smiley & Dweck, 1994 4 Fredrickson, 2001; Tomaka, Blascovich, Kelsey, & Leitten, 1993 5 Pashler, Cepeda, Wixted, & Rohrer, 2005; Huesler & Metcalfe, 2012 6 Dweck, 2006 7 Hattie & Timperley, 2007 8 Vygotsky, 1978 16 www.KidsStandard.org Publication INC.
We have activities for all ages, skill levels and interests. Stars & Stripes Kids Activity Center offers SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! Gymnastics (Ages 1-18) Tumbling (Ages 5-18) Dance (Ages 2.5-16) Karate (Ages 3-18) Warrior Training (Ages 5-17) Piano (Ages 5-Adult) Preschool Competitive Cheerleading Competitive Gymnastics Birthday Parties Summer Camps Panda Warriors 5-7 yrs. Monday 5:30-6:15pm Friday 4:30-5:15pm Friday 6:15-7:00pm Saturday 1:45-2:30pm Sunday 11:30-12:15pm Eagle Warriors 8 & up Co-ed Monday 4:30-5:30pm Sunday 1:30-2:30pm Tiger Warriors 8 & up Girls Monday 6:15-7:15pm Friday 5:15-6:15pm Saturday 11:45-12:45pm Sunday 10:30-11:30am Dragon Warriors 8 & up Boys Monday 7:15-8:15pm Friday 7:00-8:00pm Saturday 12:45-1:45pm Sunday 12:30-1:30pm Full Class Descriptions Online Schedule available at www.StarsandStripesKids.com 4630 White Lake Rd. Clarkston, MI 48346 248-625-3547
Page 1 and 2: www.kidsstandard.org ISSUE 7 | NOVE
Page 3 and 4: EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2015-2016 Editor
Page 5 and 6: FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHEN FAILURE MEANS
Page 7 and 8: INTERVIEW Interview with Kevin Kast
Page 9 and 10: ART On top of creating Advertising,
Page 11 and 12: Sloan Museum, Longway Planetarium &
Page 13 and 14: EDITOR’S PICK Who are these famou
Page 15: KIDS CORNER Conquering the Stride C
Page 19 and 20: EDUCATORS By: Glenn Gualtieri Princ
Page 21 and 22: FEATURE Spooky similarity! • Abra
Page 23 and 24: PARENT’S CORNER Growing Through F

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