By
Snehal P
Generation Y students find it difficult to process failure. Gen Y
students are also known as Millennials. This is because most of the
students born in the late 1980s to 2000 are termed as Gen Y. This
generation is blessed with lot of positive traits especially in the
technological abilities and in working as a team. One significant
drawback that lies with this generation is of processing the failures.
They struggle a lot when they have to cope with failures. Here is an activity that can help them to reevaluate their performances and learn from the mistakes committed. A Marshmallow challenge is an engineering design challenge assigned to the students which helps the students to learn from their mistakes.
Introduction to the Marshmallow activity:
This activity is a simple challenge where small groups of students are assigned a constructive activity to erect a structure within a span of 18 minutes. They are given only 20 spaghettis or sticks, one yard of tape and string and a Marshmallow. The rule states the one needs to have the marshmallow at the top f the structure. Once the activity commences, students have to be encouraged to maintain a healthy competition and adhere to the rules specified. Just have a walk in the room to know how the students co-ordinate, motivate, criticize and interact within themselves.
Teaching the students to process failure once the structure collapses:
On completion of the 18 minutes the students have to ensure that they have a structure erected with a topping of a marshmallow. Most of the structures are likely to collapse. So the teachers have to measure the height of the erected structure if there are any remains. Thereafter, you can initiate a discussion on the said activity.
Students need to focus on the design that can work out best. You can provide them with guidelines on the procedure of planning and executing the task assigned. It is seen that the Millennials crave for success and credit and this would rather be a tough time for them to accept. They may not accept the reward of failing as it hurts their sentiments. But you can focus on explaining them on how they can learn from their failures and have a strong structure erected. This also helps them to understand the benefits of failures as one can identify their drawbacks, the needs of the projects, the need of innovation and focusing on the unseen challenges.
This activity will surely help the students to understand the importance of learning from their mistakes.
They struggle a lot when they have to cope with failures. Here is an activity that can help them to reevaluate their performances and learn from the mistakes committed. A Marshmallow challenge is an engineering design challenge assigned to the students which helps the students to learn from their mistakes.
Introduction to the Marshmallow activity:
This activity is a simple challenge where small groups of students are assigned a constructive activity to erect a structure within a span of 18 minutes. They are given only 20 spaghettis or sticks, one yard of tape and string and a Marshmallow. The rule states the one needs to have the marshmallow at the top f the structure. Once the activity commences, students have to be encouraged to maintain a healthy competition and adhere to the rules specified. Just have a walk in the room to know how the students co-ordinate, motivate, criticize and interact within themselves.
Teaching the students to process failure once the structure collapses:
On completion of the 18 minutes the students have to ensure that they have a structure erected with a topping of a marshmallow. Most of the structures are likely to collapse. So the teachers have to measure the height of the erected structure if there are any remains. Thereafter, you can initiate a discussion on the said activity.
Students need to focus on the design that can work out best. You can provide them with guidelines on the procedure of planning and executing the task assigned. It is seen that the Millennials crave for success and credit and this would rather be a tough time for them to accept. They may not accept the reward of failing as it hurts their sentiments. But you can focus on explaining them on how they can learn from their failures and have a strong structure erected. This also helps them to understand the benefits of failures as one can identify their drawbacks, the needs of the projects, the need of innovation and focusing on the unseen challenges.
This activity will surely help the students to understand the importance of learning from their mistakes.
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