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The Science of Learning From Failure
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:25
Abstract
We can learn from failure. But, what does “failure” mean? And, what, how, and why do we learn from failure? This course covers research from the cognitive, educational, and learning sciences that addresses the role of failure in human learning. Students will critically examine how failure affects thinking, knowledge, creativity, problem-solving, and motivation.
Objective
Students will: - Critically read and analyze articles on research that addresses failure in learning - Participate in in-class problem-solving activities around research in failure - Discuss and reflect upon topics in both online and face-to-face formats - Engage in activities through the online platform - Complete a final paper on a subtopic related to failure in learning By the end of the course, students should be able to: - Demonstrate a critical understanding of the role that failure plays in learning - Discuss how and why failure can benefit learning - Discuss how and why failure does not facilitate learning - Apply understanding to a related sub-topic
Content
We learn from our mistakes, or rather, we hope that we do. Another way to say this is that we can learn from failure. But, what does “failure” mean? What, how, and why do we learn from failure? This course covers research from the cognitive, educational, and learning sciences that addresses the role of failure in human learning. Students will critically examine how failure affects development of knowledge, creativity, problem-solving, and general thinking and learning. More specifically, they will have the opportunity to question and evaluate the potential relationships between the facets around failure within individual, interactional, cultural, societal, and global contexts through seminal readings and problem-solving activities. Students from any discipline are welcome to this course to learn more about how failure can be harnessed to improve our knowledge, capabilities, innovations, teamwork, and contribute to the larger global world.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DZ , DS , SHE
- Frequency
- Semesterly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 60
- Signup End
- 30.09.2020
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
The Science of Learning From Failure
Groups are selected in myStudies.
Because we work interactively, the first two sessions are important.
This course will be held in two groups (one in English and one in German): max. 30 participants per group.
The lecturers will communicate the exact lesson times of ONLINE courses.
|
|
2 h weekly |
Offered In
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GESS Science in Perspective (Only the topics listed in this paragraph can be chosen as GESS Science in Perspective. Further below you will find the "type B courses Reflections about subject specific methods and content" as well as the language courses. 6 ECTS need to be acquired during the BA and 2 ECTS during the MA Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (Suitable for all students. Students who already took a course within their main study program are NOT allowed to take the course again.)
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Educational Science for Teaching Diploma and TC (These are the general course offerings of the programmes Teaching Diploma (TD) - categories Educational Science and Compulsory Elective Courses - and Teaching Certificate (TC) - category Educational Science.)