Return to Newsletter | Revised 2-20-02
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Bureau for Students with
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A project funded by the Georgia State Improvement Grant
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On-Line - Fall 2000
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How many times have you completed a task for a student simply because you can get it done faster, with less effort or less mess? At times, completing a task for a student is necessary due to time constraints. However, constantly completing tasks that your students are capable of performing on their own or with assistance can create a condition known as learned helplessness.
Learned helplessness is defined as a condition wherein a person believes that no matter how hard he or she tries, failure will result. In other words, when tasks are constantly done for a student, he or she begins to believe that his or her effort is inadequate to succeed at the expected task. As a result, most students will become reluctant to complete a task, particularly a challenging one.
As a result of learned helplessness, students often appear to others as lazy or incapable. However, a student will most always live up or down to the expectations that others have for them. Thus, if a person expects great things from a student, great things will result. Unfortunately, however, if a person expects little from a student, little will result. Ultimately, a lack of expectations will have a negative effect on a student's self esteem.
Here are several tips for combating learned helplessness:
- set high expectations for your students
- let your students know that you see them as capable individuals
- encourage your students to try it on their own
- provide multiple opportunities for student trials
- positively reinforce the student's efforts
- if completing the entire task is not a possibility, encourage the student to complete the parts that he or she can do
- encourage the student to try a bit more with each success
- if you must complete a task due to time constraints, let the student know that he or she will be expected to do the task when time is not an issue
- allow your students to see you struggle with a difficult task
- by Dawn Swinehart
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