Beliefs about Learning

Given the right set of circumstances anyone can learn.

We learn better when we are happy.

Old Formula – “You Just Have to Get Through It” Work HardSuccessHappy New Formula Work HappyWork Harder Success

Failure (and stress) are highly necessary parts of learning.

Wait a minute! You just said we need to work happier to learn better but then said we have to fail to learn. How can those two claims co-exist?

We learn better when the primary motivation is internal vs. external and when we look at each task as “formative” instead of “summative”

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation "Wow, you did really well at these problems. You got 8 -- that's a great score. You must be really smart at these problems." ”Wow, you did really well on these problems. You got 8 -- that's a really high score! You must have worked really hard on these problems." What kind of problems would you like to work on next, problems that are pretty easy so you'll do well, problems that you're pretty good at so you can show that you're smart, or problems that you'll learn a lot from even if you don't look so smart? Dweck, Carol S. “Person vs. Process Praise.”

Summative vs. Formative Assessment Summative Assessment * Happens at the end of something… a reading chapter, a unit, etc. * Meant to give an ultimate, final assessment of student’s success at that thing. * Often assesses more than one thing at the same time. * End product of the assessment is a “high stakes” grade given by the teacher. The grade “counts.” Formative Assessment * Happens during the unit and is a process rather than a single event. * Worked on by both teacher and student * The end product is adjustments to either curriculum or student work process. * Low stakes. Doesn’t “count” in the traditional ways.

Curiosity and Persistence Learning requires… OR * The Ability to Fake It

Learning is Social.