Fady Morcos is an Associate Professor of Practice at The American University in Cairo. He is a faculty member at the Center for Learning and Teaching, with focus on instructional design and teaching innovation strategies. Fady is currently the director of Scientific Thinking, with teaching emphasis on critical thinking and scientific reasoning. He is a lifelong learning advocate and human-centered design evangelist. Fady is the recipient of NASA JSC Exceptional Software Award, and NASA Space Act Award for Innovative and Creative Development. Fady holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the University of Southern California, in Space Mission Design and Spacecraft Design, respectively; and a PhD. in Astrodynamics from The University of Texas at Austin.
Fady Morcos
Designing Opportunities for Productive Failure
Quote from the presentation
Recently, everyone is talking about fixed vs. growth mindset. Growth mindset is the view that intelligence and abilities can be developed with effort. While a fixed mindset is the conviction that they are fixed traits with little room for improvement. Research has shown that students with a fixed mindset will tend to avoid challenges, while those with a growth mindset will embrace them, in due course developing grit, a significant predictor of perseverance and success.
At the heart of the growth mindset paradigm is the notion of productive failure. Research has shown that moments of struggle (cognitive demand) provide opportunities for deeper learning. Those same moments have the potential to physically alter our brain, strengthening neural pathways and building our intelligence.
To build grit in students, we must make them feel comfortable to take risks, make mistakes and fail, at least in early attempts. Our assessment and grading practices should match our philosophy of productive failure. We have to intentionally design for those moments of struggle into our course structure.
This interactive short talk will showcase opportunities for productive struggle in Scientific Thinking, along with student feedback and reflection on challenging formative assessment episodes that follow productive struggle philosophy.
15
Download Presentation
Download Presentation