Lecture Notes: Understanding Grit in Education

Introduction

• Speaker's personal experience transitioning from management consulting to teaching.
• Observations from teaching seventh grade math in NYC public schools:
  • IQ was not the only determinant of student success.
  • Hard work and perseverance were key factors in learning challenging material.

Key Observations

• Educational Understanding:
  • Need for a better understanding of student motivation and psychology.
  • IQ is not the sole predictor of success in education or life.

Research and Findings

• Transition to graduate school to study psychology.
• Research focus:
  • Who is successful and why in challenging settings?
• Research settings included:
  • West Point Military Academy
  • National Spelling Bee
  • Rookie teachers in tough neighborhoods
  • Private companies' salespeople

Major Findings

• Grit as a predictor of success:
  • Grit is more important than social intelligence, good looks, physical health, or IQ.
  • Defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
  • Involves stamina and long-term commitment.
• Grit in education:
  • Study in Chicago public schools showed grittier students were more likely to graduate, regardless of other characteristics.

Implications and Questions

• Importance of grit across various contexts:
  • West Point, National Spelling Bee, schools, and at-risk students.
• Lack of knowledge on how to build grit:
  • Common question from parents and teachers with no clear answers.
  • Talent does not equate to grit.
  • Grit often inversely related to talent.

Developing Grit

• Growth mindset as a potential solution:
  • Developed by Carol Dweck at Stanford University.
  • Belief that learning ability can change with effort.
  • Encourages perseverance through challenges.

Conclusion

• Need for further exploration and testing of ideas to build grit.
• Importance of being persistent in efforts to improve student grit.
• Call to action to be gritty about making kids grittier.