Learning thrives with support from everyone.

Learning thrives with support from everyone.

Students, parents, and colleagues can all face challenges when learning. This blog offers ideas for talking about mistakes and creating space to grow.

How people respond to failure can affect whether someone feels confident enough to try again. Instead of criticism, a calm conversation about what was difficult and what support they need can make a difference. A parent can talk with their child about which parts of the material they’re struggling with, while a colleague can share an approach that works for them. This article offers ideas for turning mistakes into opportunities to learn, rather than a source of shame.

Interested in this topic? Read more: How to Learn from Setbacks and Challenge Myths About Education Want to find out where you stand personally? Take a short test at the end of the page and gain a better understanding.

How does this apply to you? Choose the answers that describe you best:

Imagine that you have failed at something that mattered a lot to you. What will you do first?

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What thoughts come to your mind when you hear the word "failure"?

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You received feedback that you messed something up. What worries you the most?

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Which of the following sentences is closest to you?

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How would you react if you had to publicly present something that you haven't completely finished yet?

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What helps you most often to overcome failure?

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When something doesn't go according to plan, how does your energy change?

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Which image would best capture your relationship with your own mistakes?

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When you watch someone else fail, what do you think?

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If you had one message for your future self after another failure, what would it be?

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Failures as a springboard: How to learn and grow after setbacks in learning

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