Failing Forward: Celebrate Those Mistakes!

A wildly important goal that I have relating to technology integration is helping educators use technology to enhance the educational experience. I see so many teachers that feel the definition of technology integration is making a digital choice board with 10 different hyper-linked websites that transport each student to some website claiming they are the best tool for differentiation and progress monitoring when in reality it is just a website that turns flashcards into a game or race. There is no unique design or experience, just a website that teachers create accounts for with the intention of customizing lessons and evaluating data to drive instruction, which never happens. It drives me insane. Technology integration should involve the use of digital platforms in order to create an end-product that has a meaningful impact on learning experiences. I absolutely view myself as an individual with a growth mindset. I know that I always want to learn and grow in any facet. I work diligently every day to try and teach the staff on my campus how to use technology in a way that is engaging, efficient, and effective. More importantly, I strive to foster a love of learning, not only in our students but for each employee.

In my current position, I feel like I have the ability to create effective techniques for the betterment of the campus without any push back. My creativity is never stifled, I have complete autonomy, the opportunity to master my craft, and a true purpose  (RSA, 2010). This is a fabulous environment for one with intrinsic motivation and a growth mindset. This may sound ridiculous, but there are no factors that get in the way of my wildly important goal, and I am convincing more and more people to integrate technology in a meaningful way. In fact, many teachers have made their goal to be Google 1 and 2 certified by the end of the year. They come to the library every Tuesday after school to learn new ways to engage students through digital platforms, and it makes my heart happy. But sometimes, I feel like a complete failure. Initiatives I try to implement go wrong, some ideas that I try to materialize never come to fruition like I see it in my mind, and sometimes I have poor organizational skills. So, what do I do? Give up! Nah, just kidding. I, like most people, am not a fan of failure. This may be my weakest point in attaining a true growth mindset. I do take things personally when they do not go the way they are planned. However, when I do fail, I analyze each step along the way to find a different approach for the future. I am sure to bounce ideas off of others in order to see different points-of-view. Do not get me wrong, I am no stranger to pity parties and self-loathing sessions when things go wrong, but I do circle back and modify for the sake of improvement.

According to Dweck (2016), false growth mindsets can hinder the progress a student can achieve over time. In order for me to avoid this trend, I will have to remember to tell people the truth and not give them a false sense of success. This can be a hard pill to swallow, especially when all you want to say is, "You tried so hard today, and I can see your potential." I will have to be honest and give feedback that is useful and can be applied. I tested this view recently when my daughter was moved down to the "B" volleyball team. She had many excuses, but in the end, I told her that she needed to work on her skills and improve her mental willpower. She seemed shocked that I did not join in on her blame game. Then we formulated a strategy to improve her skills through private lessons and conditioning schedules. Celebrating failure is a new concept in our household that we use to improve ourselves. 

Even though I feel every network is essential in the Universal Design for Learning, I feel a strong connection with the Affective Network. All of our greatest achievements are derived from our "why". Why do I get up in the morning? Why do I choose my career path? Why am I taking this class? Why do I do what I do? The answer is different for everyone, but it is what motivates you to learn something new, organize thoughts, or attempt to solve problems. Without the "why", there is no purpose for the other networks. When the "why" is understood, failing forward and celebrating a mistake as a learning experience becomes second nature. Each failure is an opportunity to work harder toward achieving a personal best. In the words of one of my fabulous students teachers from ages past, "Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best!"

                                                       References: Dweck, C. (2016, January 11). Recognizing and Overcoming False Growth Mindset. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from Edutopia website: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/recognizing-overcoming-false-growth-mindset-carol-dweck RSA. (2010). RSA ANIMATE: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc&feature=youtu.be&list=PLOs0lcCMEHfKWAfRRmVNhb0jEMBz2i2a_