Eclectic Technology

Failing forward is a new term that has come into the field of education. We know that learners fail, and many see failure as an end point. Others see failure as a lesson learned and move forward. This post provides 21 ideas that you may find useful in your classroom, as you rephrase failure for learners, allowing them to see that what we have viewed as failure is part of the road to success.

Each of the 21 ideas is explained with a brief description and then the question "How does this promote failing forward?" is asked and answered, with an example. Below are three of the ideas. Click through to the post for more.

* Design iterative work.

* Connect students with communities

* Recognize it with badges, feedback and celebration

You may find one or two ideas that you would like to implement quickly, or consider looking ahead to next year and how some of these ideas might help learners become more successful.

We want our students to demonstrate that they know how to think, to understand that they have the ability to ask questions and find answers, answers that may not be available through Google (esp. if we are asking them to research). In short, we want them to use metacognitive skills.

But how do we teach them these skils? The image above, from teachthought, provides 15 questions that may help students create the habits that students need to learn. Below are three of the questions. Click through to the post for the entire list, as well as some great discussion.

* Is this idea important to me? To others? Why or why not?

* Is there a “part” of this new idea I can take and “pivot”? Create something new and fresh?

* What real-world models–examples–relate to this that can help me understand this further?

Consider posting these questions in your classroom and using them when appropriate with students.

Many of us discuss Bloom's taxonomy with students (although we may not refer to it using that terminology) but how many of us talk about Habits of Mind with our students. This post explores how we can use habits of mind to help our students providing suggestions as to how you might help your students learn them.

To see the full poster of the Habits of Mind: http://indysintriguingideas.edublogs.org/files/2010/08/16HabitsofMind1.jpg

Do your students have habits of mind that will help them be successful? Here is one list that might give you some ideas. There is also a video that was created by students at the Cornerstone Academy for Social Action where the rules are put into a mashup.

Mark Gleeson takes an infographic that he learned about on Scoop-it and brings the discussion of leadership and leadership building into the classroom, by taking each of the eight leadership qualities in the infographic and discussing them at three levels (quoted below from the post):

* Peer Leadership (School Leadership teams/Curriculum leadership teams or individuals)

* Teacher-leading-Class and

* Student Leadership

The eight leadership qualities are:

* Courage

* Humility

* Accountability

* Trustworthy

* Communication

* Conviction

* Collaboration

* Aligned

What made this post valuable to me was his discussion on each of the eight qualities within the framework of the three levels of leadership that are in our schools. You may find yourself asking questions about leadership in your school or district, and wondering how you might use this information within your classroom (or school if you are an adminstrator).

Are you using Costa and Kallick's Habits of Mind, or are you interested in learning more about them? This website provides an in-depth look at each of the sixteen habits of mind. It also looks Thinking Routines that are related to the Habits of Mind. The home page provides visuals for each of the sixteen habits of mind. When you click through to a page you will find the following sections:

* What does it mean?

* Why does it matter?

* When should you use it?

* A video that provides an example of the habit of mind

* 5 Top Strategies

* 5 Question to ask about your Thinking

* Thinking Routines

If you are new to the Habits of Mind five are listed below.

* Thinking Interdependently

* Thinking about your Thinking

* Creating and Innovating

* Using all your Senses

* Responding with Wonderment

Click through to the site to see the other habits of mind and to learn more about each.

The Habits of Mind come into play when you think about how to solve problems. They are not performed in isolation. When a problem arises you are drawn to the skills necessary to solve it. As teachers we may choose to use the Habits of Mind as we consider skills we want our students to learn and to use in the classroom. For more information on the habits (with a more thoughtful discussion on each of them) check out Chapter 2 of the book "Learning and Leading with the Habits of Mind" available on the ASCD website at http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/108008/chapters/describing-the-habits-of-mind.aspx.