Teachers v Pupils: differing views of failure

Psychology in the Classroom

How students and teachers navigate and prioritise different learning processes after encountering impasses during learning can be complex. Recognising that failure moments can be multifaceted, today’s episode explores how classroom discourse reveals varied valued learning processes, such as problem-solving, preventing future issues, and developing troubleshooting skills. The research being discussed identifies five valued learning processes in debugging: resolving the immediate issue, preventing future bugs, developing skills for novel problems, engaging with authority, and calibrating self and collective efficacy. It explores the tensions between pursuing different learning outcomes and how these decisions are negotiated between teachers and students. It also addresses the classroom culture, including fostering growth mindsets and addressing racial inequities in learning environments.

DeLiema D, Hufnagle A, Ovies-Bocanegra M. Contrasting stances at the crossroads of debugging learning opportunities. Br J Educ Psychol. 2024 Feb 16. doi: 10.1111/bjep.12666.