How can we equip students to deal with uncertainty?

As part of TBL’s 4S framework, application exercises ask students to make a specific, constrained choice, but that doesn’t always make the solution clear-cut. For many students, uncertainty still lingers, and that can be unsettling. At the same time, ambiguity is an essential part of preparing students to think critically and make thoughtful decisions in real-world situations.

Which student reaction to uncertainty do you most want to learn how to address?

  • Students shut down and won’t engage in discussion.
  • Students quickly guess the “right” answer and miss deeper learning opportunities.
  • Students argue without reaching any consensus.
  • Students demand immediate clarification, removing the ambiguity.
  • Students say “I don’t know” and do not pursue the next step.
  • Others (please elaborate by commenting)
0 voters

Let me know your thoughts in the comments. If you’d like practical strategies for equipping your students to navigate uncertainty, register for my upcoming workshop with my colleague, @jaredvanhooser: “Team-Based Learning and the Chamber of Ambiguity.

— Dr. Morgan Hoeft

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Students are uncertain the steps they can take to resolve uncertainty. Which resources can they use for gaining insight, knowledge, or judgment relevant to a specific uncertainty? Which uncertainties remain uncertain and do not have a “best” answer even for experts?

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