Flipping Failure
Metacognitive Strategies to Spark Grit and Growth
TES 2025
Presenters
LINDSAY LUTMAN
Instructional Designer
UCATT
SHERILYN KEATON
Professor of Practice
Systems & Industrial Engineering
Teaching Exchange Symposium 2025
PollEV.com
llutman094
The Challenges
Cognitive, behavioral, emotional - each domain reinforces or challenges the others.
When one weakens or strengthens, it sets a cycle in motion that shapes learning, actions, and emotional resilience.
1. THE SNOWBALL EFFECT
Learners were struggling to advance their knowledge and skills. Basic concepts were not understood, making it difficult to keep up as the complexity of the course progressed.
3. ANXIETY & STRESS
Learners were exhibiting and communicating increased levels of anxiety and stress, particularly around exams.
2. TRANSACTIONALISM
Conversations were grades-focused rather than learning-focused. Learners were primarily concerned with what they needed to do to “get the grade.”
A Big Idea Example from a Course
hopelessness. It’s suffering
“It isn’t suffering that leads to
you think you can’t control.”
Angela Lee Duckworth
How Might We…
Cultivate a learning culture that �(1) emphasizes learning as a journey and (2) provides learners with meaningful control over their learning process so they are motivated by growth rather than grades.
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Post-Exam Learning Opportunity
(PELO)
Excerpt from Saundra McGuire
“What to Do After the Test Is Returned Most students don’t realize how much valuable information their returned tests contain. When many students get a test back, they typically put it out of sight, especially if the grade is lower than they anticipated. But you should analyze all of your returned tests and quizzes, reflect on what you missed and why, and develop a plan for improvement. “
McGuire, Saundra Yancy. “Teach Students How to Learn: Strategies You Can Incorporate into Any Course to Improve Student Metacognition, Study Skills, and Motivation”. Stylus Publishing, 2015.
Student Prompt
Post-Exam Learning Opportunity
What you need to do:
That’s it!
Pros
and
Cons
Pros:
Cons:
I enjoyed the online exams as well as the existence of the PELO despite me not using it (it helped me not become stressed about doing super good on the first try as I can learn from what i did wrong and correct it).
Outcomes: Qualitative
Your PELO gives us an opportunity not only to gain missed points back but a sense of accomplishment for finally understanding what we didn’t previously.
Outcomes: Qualitative
There is something about having a student “teach” the material that they missed that helps build confidence in the material. It could also be the way a shy student finally speaks to the teacher and breaks an invisible barrier that had previously prevented them from seeking out help.
Outcomes: Qualitative
The PELOs really helped as a study guide. Knowing that I was having to defend my corrections for a significant grade improvement really encouraged me to do a deep dive into the material. It can be so defeating when I would be doing a lot studying on an exam to only get a suboptimal grade. By doing the PELOs it represented hope that I was still in the fight (able to pass the class and learn).
Outcomes: Qualitative
I myself may not be shy but even I get intimidated sometimes in a one on one situation when I am at a massive disadvantage because I’m in need of help. It can cause feeling of shame and anxiety to be so vulnerable. Your PELO changes the dynamic of normal office hours environment.
Outcomes: Qualitative
Outcomes:
Quantitative
Outcomes:
Quantitative
(Source Data)
3-2-1 Reflection
3 THINGS
That I learned this week
2 THINGS
That I still have a question about
1 THING
That I enjoyed this week
Offers Students…
A chance to recall what they learned, explore more information on topics they were unclear but interested about, and then leaves them with something they found enjoyable in their latest lessons.
Offers Instructors…
What the students are absorbing from the lessons, where they may still have questions, and just as importantly - what we are getting right!
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Reflect
Post-Assessment �Learning Opportunity
3-2-1 Reflection
Collaborate
Thank You
lindsaylutman@arizona.edu
keatons@arizona.edu