Lecture Notes: Importance of Grit in Education and Life

Introduction

• Speaker: Petra Petrovic
• Background: Former management consultant turned teacher.
• Key Experience: Taught 7th-grade math in NYC public schools.

Observations in Teaching

• Noticed that IQ wasn't the only factor in student success.
• Strong performance in students wasn't necessarily linked to high IQ.
• Belief that all students can learn challenging material with effort.

Shift to Psychology

• Moved from teaching to study psychology to understand learning better.
• Focused on motivational and psychological aspects of education.

Research on Success Factors

• Conducted studies in various challenging environments:
  • West Point Military Academy
  • National Spelling Bee
  • Rookie teachers in tough neighborhoods
  • Private companies assessing employee success
• Main finding: Grit emerged as a strong predictor of success.

Understanding Grit

• Defined as passion and perseverance for long-term goals.
• Involves stamina and dedication over years, akin to a marathon.
• Not related to social intelligence, good looks, physical health, or IQ.

Studies on Grit

• Studied grit in Chicago public schools:
  • Administered grit questionnaires to high school juniors.
  • Found that grittier students were more likely to graduate.

Challenges in Building Grit

• Lack of scientific understanding of how to develop grit.
• Talent does not equate to grit; many talented people lack follow-through.
• Grit can be unrelated or inversely related to talent.

Growth Mindset

• Concept: Developed by Carol Dweck at Stanford University.
• Belief that learning ability is not fixed and can improve with effort.
• Learning about brain adaptability encourages perseverance despite failure.

Conclusion

• Need for more research and testing of ideas to build grit.
• Willingness to experiment and learn from failures is essential.
• Emphasis on being gritty in efforts to develop grit in children.

Final Thought: We need to be gritty about getting our kids grittier.