Positive Failure From andResilience
Most students do not like failing, however, research suggests that we can benefit from learning to master ‘positive failure’.
Theme: Mental Resilience
Use: Activity
Pupil type: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5
Type: Document
Implementation timeframe: Quick Win, Manageable
Most students do not like failing, however, research suggests that we can benefit from learning to master ‘positive failure’. Positive failure is defined as ‘a failure after appropriate investment that leads to further learning and development (Arnott, 2013, p. 4).
Therefore, when a student fails at something, it is important to help them to embrace the situation as an opportunity to learn. Ask them “what aspects did work?”, “what did not work?”, “what did you learn?” and “how will this change the way you do things next time?”.
This way they can use it as an opportunity to do things differently next time and have a better chance at success.
Seeing failure as an important step towards achieving goals can become a superpower over time so help students to practice it as often as you can with both small and big failures alike.
Think of ways you can embed positive failure into your curriculum.
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