Lecture Notes on Grit and Education

Introduction

• Speaker: Petra Petrovic
• Transition from management consulting to teaching at NYC public schools.

Observations in Teaching

• Took note of differences in student performance:
  • Strong performers without high IQ.
  • Smart students underperforming.
• Conclusion:
  • Every student can learn math with effort.

Shift to Psychology

• Left classroom to study psychology.
• Focus on understanding success beyond IQ.
• Explored various challenging settings to find predictors of success.

Research Contexts

• West Point Military Academy: Predicted cadet retention.
• National Spelling Bee: Predicted advancement in competition.
• Rookie Teachers: Identified teachers likely to remain and be effective in tough neighborhoods.
• Private Companies: Understood which salespeople would thrive.

Key Finding: Grit

• Definition of Grit:
  • Passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
  • Stamina and commitment over years.
• Grit vs. Other Characteristics:
  • Not social intelligence, looks, health, or IQ.

Grit in Education

• Conducted studies in Chicago public schools:
  • Grit questionnaires for high school juniors.
  • Found grittier students were more likely to graduate.
• Grit's Impact:
  • Significant predictor of success, particularly for at-risk students.

Challenges in Building Grit

• Common inquiries from parents and teachers on how to cultivate grit:
  • No clear scientific method to instill grit.
  • Talent does not equate to gritty behavior; often inversely related.

Growth Mindset

• Introduced by Carol Dweck at Stanford University.
• Definition:
  • Belief that learning ability can improve with effort.
• Impact of Growth Mindset:
  • Students understand failure isn't permanent, leading to increased perseverance.

Call to Action

• Need to explore and validate ideas to build grit.
• Emphasis on resilience in education:
  • Be willing to test, fail, and learn.
• Conclusion:
  • Importance of fostering grit in students for long-term success.