Hello colleagues, Yesterday we got about a foot of snow in my part of Pennsylvania,and today it's so beautiful and sunny! I actually love shoveling snow on such a day!
In this ASCD video, author Art Costa discusses the “Habits of Mind,” i.e., thinking flexibility, persisting, asking questions, etc. that are needed to develop and enhance 21st Century Skills. The author makes the point that classrooms that are mainly evaluative where teachers consistently provide either praise for right answers or correction for wrong answers create a judgmental environment that impedes the kind of risk-taking behavior needed to expand critical thinking skills.
I have learned that praise can actually be counterproductive. When we praise our students --or our own children-- for things that are actually easy, this can result in their lacking the confidence needed to try harder tasks or contribute creative ideas. As Costa suggests, students need confidence to take risks to push their learning forward. A non-judgmental classroom environment fosters the kind of risk-taking students need to engage in. Responsible risk-taking behavior flourishes in a non-judgmental atmosphere.
What is your reaction to these ideas? Do you agree with Costa’s opinion about the need for responsible risk-taking behavior to deepen critical thinking and other 21st Century Skills?
How can we provide useful feedback to students that avoids creating a judgmental atmosphere in the classroom?
Cheers, Susan
SME, Assessment CoP