TED Failure: Think BIG! - Why Failure is Important

In his TED Talk about failure, intelligent technology expert Astro Teller reflects on the importance of dreaming big, and not being afraid of the possible outcomes. In fact, in the seemingly competitive industry of science and technology that Google dominates, his team is encouraged to fail. The power and potential of a project goes unrecognized without an active attempt to make it happen. Teller's teams at GoogleX dream up some incredible ideas; those ranging from a cargo ship that would combat the lack of shipping infrastructure, to an innovative way to provide universal internet connection. One of those projects failed, but that does not mean that their creative thinking was unsuccessful. Instead, it gave them the motivation and the knowledge to tackle the next big idea. It propelled them into discovering the technology of the future.

As future educators, we can learn a lot from Teller's experience with failure. Instead of viewing failure as a consequence, we need to view it as a sometimes necessary occurrence in the path to success. There is a stigma associated with failure that we have been conditioned to view as a sign to give up. By tackling the tough problems first, students will have more time to plan accordingly, and the rest of the project will likely run smoothly. It is our responsibility as educators to spark a discussion about failure. In our classrooms, failure needs to be looked at with a hopeful mindset. By changing our definitions of failure, we are creating a better environment that is more conducive to learning for all students.