Tag Archives: openminded

Cultivating Academic Humility (Part II): Allaying Anxiety

Have you ever had the experience where you are so sure of an erroneous understanding that you practically persist and argue to hold on to it in light of counterarguments? Often, in the classroom, I observe students that are so … Continue reading

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Cultivating Academic Humility (Part I): The Doorway to Curiosity, Innovation, & Passion

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” –Albert Einstein. It is no coincidence that one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century spoke these words. Hearing Einstein’s name often conjures up the … Continue reading

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On Struggle (Part 2): Embracing the Evolving Mind

At the core of productive struggle is a practice in which the mind accommodates new experiences and ideas by first allowing room for the questioning, and if necessary, loss of pre-existing notions. This practice is simply represented in the following … Continue reading

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On Struggle (Part I): Befriending Struggle

Struggle. This one word often invokes frustration, annoyance, and hopelessness among students. But why? I always ask my students: What’s so bad about struggle? Tell me about it! What’s the big deal?  In fact, I just asked these questions to … Continue reading

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