Avoiding Fear of Failure in STEM Education

Somewhere too many young learners turn a corner from excitement to frustration for STEM activities. Learn how

to structure STEM programs for 100% success.

Susan S. WellsPresident-Elect 2015-16 for ISTE Mobile Learning Network

Founder, TechTerraTM

http://www.susanswells.com http://www.camptechterra.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanswells wellssusans@gmail.com

@wellssusan

Somewhere young learners turn a corner on excitement for STEM activities. Most begin school excited about everything STEM. And yet too soon kids are divided, too many begin to fail.

STEM becomes a club they just don’t belong in and are not smart enough for or don’t have high enough grades for. And this happens for many kids before they even leave elementary school!

What is STEM?STEM refers to the academic disciplines of

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. They are focused together because of their deep connections to the real world. Students learn most effectively with this kind of interdisciplinary and applied focus.

UC Berkeley professor Martin Covington defines the Fear of failing - If a person doesn’t believe he or she has the ability to succeed—or if repeated failures diminish that belief—then that person will begin, consciously or not, to engage in practices or make excuses in order to preserve his or her self-worth both in his or her own eyes and in the eyes of others.http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_help_kids_overcome_fear_of_failure

When we consider world-famous inventor Thomas Edison we might name him a grandfather of STEM education. Edison said some things that impact our thinking today regarding tinkering, experimenting, data collection and failure…

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” ― Thomas A. Edison  “When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this - you haven't.” ― Thomas A. Edison “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” ― Thomas A. Edison

Every student can soar with STEM!

Three ways we can help our elementary students avoid fear of failure in STEM education….

#1 - Students participate, hang in there! Adults, find paths for accessible participation, collaborative, cooperative, communicative hands-on learning environments! Try, persevere, once you’re in, you’ll be able to get an idea of the pieces and parts you enjoy and you’re great at. And they’re there!

#2 - Help students learn mindfulness and self-compassion in their own work as they succeed and as they fail. Young people, and all people with these skills, recover more quickly. They adapt to the ebb and flow of trial and error and the notion of experimenting.

#3 - Build positive relationships. Caring is motivational. Attachment leads to motivation.

The curriculum of Camp TechTerraTM is inspired by Makers Ed and Project-Based Learning--

Makers Ed

The goal of Makers Ed (Makers Education) is to create more opportunities for young people to develop confidence and creativity, and to spark an interest in science, technology, engineering, math, the arts, and learning as a whole through making. Project-Based Learning

Project-based learning is a dynamic approach to teaching in which students explore real-world problems and challenges. With this type of active and engaged learning, students are inspired to obtain a deeper knowledge of the subjects they are studying.

Let’s keep kids grounded in trying and tinkering not simply searching for a correct answer. Let’s help kids follow Edison’s lead to 10,000 experiments.

Susan S. WellsOutreach Coordinator for K-12 Education, Shodor,

National Resource for Computational Science Education 

President-Elect 2015-16 for ISTE Mobile Learning Network

Founder, Camp TechTerra TM and TechTerra TrainingTM,

bringing together technology and nature in STEM-based discovery

Consultant on educational technology for K-12http://www.susanswells.comhttp://www.camptechterra.com@wellssusanwellssusans@gmail.com

Thank you!