2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

EDUT 5324 Making Mistakes Meaningful for Students AND Teachers

Making Mistakes Meaningful for Students AND Teachers

When Bob Ross said “mistakes are happy accidents,” it was easy to believe in the context of painting, but why is it so hard to accept in the context of our teaching? Perhaps, the school system appears not to welcome failure, as evidenced by high-stakes testing and class rank. Or, because we teach students to learn from mistakes, but often fear them ourselves. In this course, you will reflect on your relationships with failure and mistakes, both personally and professionally, including the barriers faced—from fear, to perfectionism, to burnout. You will then analyze and collaboratively problem solve mistakes at the classroom and school levels. By the end of the course, you will develop a mistake-welcoming classroom by creating lessons and activities for students (and yourself!) to navigate and reframe risk-taking. Learn to embrace mistakes and transform risks into opportunities to rise!

Credits

1-3