Persistence, Resilience, Resolve, Determination
Resilience is a positive trait that helps an individual cope with stress and adversity. Perseverance, persistence, resilience or grit are all synonyms for how a student might cope with setbacks. Educators work to develop resilience in our students. I am interested in the views shared by Chee Chee Leung, who believes that students might be able to become more resilient, as both learners and people, if they are allowed time and ‘head space’ to think through difficult problems on their own.
The research referenced was conducted in 2006, with Leung asserting that having a sunny disposition may not only be good for the soul, it may also help in the classroom. A Melbourne researcher has found that optimism is a key ingredient for success in school Mathematics. Students who perform well with unfamiliar Maths problems have the drive to persist with difficult tasks, even when previous attempts had failed.
“These students saw the setbacks as temporary and specific,” said Gaye Williams, a Maths education lecturer at Deakin University. “When they couldn’t solve a problem they didn’t just stop and say, ‘I’m stupid’. They persisted.”
Dr Williams’ findings are based on the study of eighty-six Year 8 students in Maths classrooms in Australia and the United States in 2000 and 2001. Her research, completed through the University of Melbourne, was named the best educational PhD for 2006 by the Australian Association for Research in Education.
The study also found that students who solved difficult problems on their own — without the help of other students or teachers — often gained a better understanding of the Maths concepts than their classmates. “It gives them pleasure in their work with Maths, and a far greater understanding of what the Maths is they are working with, and therefore will enable them to use it in their everyday lives,” Dr Williams said.
She said this suggested that in some cases, teachers should give students time to struggle through a problem, and refrain from telling them how to solve it.
“You’ve got to build resilient children,” she said. “By doing this, teachers not only increase student ability to solve unfamiliar problems, they also build adolescent wellbeing, which can help reduce the risk of depression.”
This idea of working hard with determination, despite setbacks, was reinforced by our Guest Speaker at last Thursday’s assembly. Ms Kate Golder, (Old Girl 1988 and current parent) spoke at our International Women’s Day assembly, sharing her story of her study and career path after completing her education at Somerville House. Her presentation featured many key takeaways for our Senior School students. Thank you, Kate for helping us understand it is important to persevere in pursuit of the right career path.
Mrs Kim Kiepe
Principal