📚 **Productive Failure | Concluding the Introduction: My Forays into Failure**
“Productive Failure is all about design, science, and a mantra for life… Its true power is unleashed when we internalise it as a way of thinking, knowing, and being in this world.” Prof. Manu Kapur
In the session, we explored the core ideas of Productive Failure. The author defines it as:
🔹 A Design – A way to intentionally structure learning experiences so failure becomes a step toward more profound understanding.
🔹 A Science – It explains how, when, and why this approach works, backed by research.
🔹 A Mantra for Life – When embraced regularly, it becomes part of how we think, reflect, and grow.
The discussion reminded us that failure isn’t something to avoid—it’s a valuable companion when learning something new.
✨ Real growth happens when we’re willing to struggle, reflect, and try again.
Ambassador The Teacher’s Academy
Jai Hind!
ReplyDeleteI don't aspire to learn tons of things at a time, rather I believe in learning one thing and practice the same first n jump onto another - be it in my class or real world.
So, that one specific learning which I'll try to practice comes from the statement given in the book 'Productive Failure' n that is "The solution to the paradox ties in realising that the first job in teaching is actually not to teach".
There are a few more cognitive and worth applying practices emphasised during the culmination of the session were -
To build trust amongst children
The most risky thing in life is not taking risk (try things, plan failure, fail again, learn n succeed - even if we don't succeed we're still a step ahead of our old version, since we' d have learnt sth. from the trails n failures)
Inclusion of music, art & poetry in teaching learning process for making it more impactful n interactive
There isn't any wrong answer (we must appreciate even for the efforts of the child made to answer our questions)
Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThrough exploring the concept of productive failure, I've come to understand that failure isn't an endpoint but a stepping stone to deeper learning and innovation. I've learned that embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, and reflecting on failures can lead to profound growth and understanding. This mindset shift has encouraged me to approach problems with curiosity and resilience, fostering a more adaptive and creative approach to learning and problem-solving.
The chapter highlights the importance of viewing failure as a stepping stone to success.The author also emphasizes that struggling with challenges can lead to deeper understanding and being resilient .
ReplyDeleteIn school, we are often taught that making mistakes is bad. But Kapur shows that when we try solving difficult problems on our own—even if we get them wrong—we learn more. This is because our brain works harder to understand and connect ideas.
ReplyDeleteI remember times in class when we had to figure things out without help. It was hard and sometimes frustrating, but I learned a lot from those moments. Kapur’s ideas made me realize that failure isn't something to fear—it’s part of how we grow.
Using this in classrooms means giving students space to explore, make mistakes, and learn from them. Instead of just giving answers, We can guide students to discover ideas on their own.
Kapur's message is clear: failure can lead to success if we learn from it.
I am sure Dr Manu Kapur will be glad to see this book being put to great use, thank you.
DeleteReading the first chapter felt surprisingly personal. Manu Kapur opens up about his own struggles and setbacks, and it immediately made me think harder. He doesn’t glorify failure, but he also doesn’t shy away from it instead, he shows how it’s a natural and even necessary part of learning.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found powerful was how he challenged the way we’ve been taught to learn — always aiming for the right answer, the correct method, the perfect outcome. But he makes a strong case that learning is often messier than that. I started thinking about the times I’ve learned the most and honestly, it was when things didn’t go as planned. I stumbled, reflected, and only then did I really understand.
This chapter made me pause and rethink how I look at my own failures. Maybe they weren’t setbacks, but setups for better learning, deeper thinking, and real growth. I’m now genuinely curious to see how Manu Kapur builds on this and how this idea of "productive failure" can be used not just in classrooms, but in everyday life too.