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jmtedjeske 's review for:
Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
by Adam M. Grant
Success is more than reaching our goals — it's living our values. There's no higher value than aspiring to be better tomorrow than we are today. (p. 233)
Hidden Potential explains how to "improve at improving" yourself and others. (p.7) The book is organized into three sections. It begins by describing the character traits associated with growth. The discussion then turns to the external structures that contribute to motivation. It concludes by examining how larger systems can expand opportunity. Like other reviewers, I found the first and second sections to be most valuable.
This review provides takeaways from the book that can be applied to teaching and learning.
Learning Styles
Fans of learning styles would have us believe that verbal learning is good for one person and auditory learning is good for another person. But learning is not always about finding the right method for you. It's often about finding the right method for the task. (p. 31)
The theory of learning styles was popularized during the 1970s. The idea is that an individual's learning style determines how they acquire and retain information most effectively, and that students learn best when they are taught using a method that matches their style. For example, visual learners learn by seeing ideas represented in images, while verbal learners learn by reading and writing.
Even today, most teachers think that they should tailor their instructional methods to the learning styles of their students. However, despite the widespread belief in learning styles, studies show that people do not perform better when their instructors or study habits align with their preferred learning style.
Grant acknowledges that people may have preferences for learning styles but notes that these preferences can change over time. And as is true in other areas of life, what you like may not be best for you. In fact, Grant claims, "[s]ometimes you even learn better in the mode that makes you the most uncomfortable, because you have to work harder at it." (p. 28)
The discussion of learning styles includes a review of scientific studies, such as one where some students listened to an article while others read it. Listeners enjoyed the task more, but readers scored higher on a quiz about the article. Similarly, even though most people are taught new languages by focusing on comprehension, much evidence shows that the best way to learn a new language is by speaking it. Grant concludes that rather than matching teaching to individual learning styles, we should try to find the right approach based on the type of learning that needs to occur.
Character Skills
"If you're comfortable, you're doin' it wrong." -- Ted Lasso (p. 31)
Grant views character as a set of skills that can be learned. He identifies three essential character skills for sustained growth: seeking discomfort, being a sponge, and becoming an imperfectionist.
Using your skills before you're confident can lead to discomfort. But as Grant emphasizes, you learn by doing. This can be tough in teaching because students tend to be grade-oriented. Not to be cynical, but learning is often a secondary consideration. Unfortunately, even if it helps them learn, student discomfort will likely result in blowback on course evaluations.
Being a sponge means not only seeking information but also filtering it appropriately. Rather than asking for feedback on what you already did, Grant suggests asking for advice on what can be improved. To implement this in teaching, try to provide forward-looking advice in addition to backward-looking critique.
Finally, becoming an imperfectionist means keeping high standards while allowing for minor mistakes. This requires the ability to make judgment calls. I struggle with this in my teaching. Some things lend themselves to objective grading, and I lean on those items in assessments even if they are not the most important skills for students to master.
Grant has created a short free online quiz to identify your area of strength and your area for growth for these three character skills. (You can Google it.)
Finland's Education System
In Finnish schools, a popular mantra is "We can't afford to waste a brain." (p. 158)
The book's last section includes a chapter examining Finland's public education system, considered one of the best in the world. Many factors contribute to Finland's success, but I'll focus on the impact of culture.
Grant emphasizes the profound cultural differences between America and Finland regarding education. He sees culture as a combination of practices, values, and underlying assumptions. Assumptions shape our values, and those values guide our practices.
The U.S. education system's culture is based on a winner-takes-all philosophy. The underlying assumption is that success results mainly from innate ability. Thus, we seek to identify and invest in students who show early promise.
In contrast, Finnish education emphasizes opportunity for all. The underlying assumption is that intelligence comes in many forms and that every child can excel. Therefore, educational equity is a priority for the Finns. They aim to guarantee that every student can access great teachers and individualized growth plans. And it pays off: Besides scoring high overall, Finland has the smallest achievement gap in the world.
Grant emphasizes that a growth mindset applies to teachers as well as students. Teachers must see all students as having potential, not just those who show early promise.
Conclusion
I enjoyed this book. It is easy to understand and holds your attention. I felt like there were too many stories to illustrate principles, but that is very common in this type of nonfiction. Highly recommended.