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How can error benefit your STEM project?

A social entrepreneur explains how embracing mistakes along the way is fundamental to project-based learning.

When working on a STEM project (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), students and teachers must constantly overcome challenges. This type of learning requires teams to continually try new things and inevitably encounter mistakes. However, facing the frustration of failure and recognizing the value of these mistakes in achieving the final outcome is not always easy. It is only through experimentation that one arrives at a solution, and this moment offers a wealth of learning.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Latam platform interviewed Alexandra Infante Perales to get to know her advice on the importance of error. She is the co-founder and CEO of IKIGAI, a social lab focused on developing corporate social responsibility programs and a technical partner of the program in Peru.

It is essential to understand that mistakes are part of the learning process for both students and teachers. Encouraging an environment where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth can help reduce the fear of failure, she explains.

According to Perales, creating a safe classroom environment for students to make mistakes encourages those who try new things, even when the outcome isn’t what they expected. “This can motivate others to participate without fear,” she adds.

The project “Innova – Una Sociedad Inclusiva” (Innova – An Inclusive Society, in English) would not have progressed had students not been willing to make mistakes. The idea was to use 3D printing to create braille keys and insert them into keyboards as a low-cost accessibility tool. However, the team could not find a standard key design and had to test them individually several times until they achieved a result that satisfied users. The initiative was a finalist in the 2023 Solve for Tomorrow competition in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.

Critical thinking development

After a project doesn’t go as planned, Alexandra Perales believes it is important to reflect on what happened in the project evaluation. According to her, the team should ask: What went well? What didn’t work? What could we have done differently?
“When a project doesn’t go as expected, it is important to be willing to adapt. Encourage your students to reflect on what happened and how they could improve. Collaboration can bring new perspectives and solutions,” she advises. Perales also emphasizes focusing on the process rather than just the result and celebrating small achievements along the way, as this helps maintain students’ motivation and enthusiasm. Additionally, “it highlights the importance of skills gained and knowledge acquired during the project”, she emphasizes.

Treating mistakes naturally also teaches students to deal with failure constructively, developing resilience, perseverance, and real problem solving abilities. This was the case for the team behind the project “SPP Sustentável” (SPP Sustainable, in English), which won the 2023 Solve for Tomorrow by Popular Vote in Brazil. Before applying for the program, the team presented their idea in internal competitions. They finished second in a university competition but initially struggled with negative feedback, which caused insecurities. But what could be a demotivating factor, thanks to the incentive of their mediator teacher, made the students improve the points criticized and not give up. As a result, the project matured into Solve For Tomorrow.

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