Pièce de Résistance

Contributed by:

Musostudy

Intended Learning Outcome:

To identify why a mistake was made

Tool:

In French Pièce de Résistance means the most important or exciting thing. At the end of each session identify an important or exciting piece of learning by celebrating the best mistake made and discuss what can be learnt from it.

The best mistakes are those that show a learning path. For example, when a fast run on the guitar was fumbled because the fingering pattern was incorrect or when the minor 3rd of D is wrong because you flattened the 3rd without working out whether it was a natural, sharp or flat first.

Activity:

In the concluding part of a session celebrate the best mistake made in the session.

Ask students to say why it is the best and what they have learnt from it.

How:

Explain why making mistakes is an important part of learning.

Repeat this regularly so students don’t feel singled-out and they understand the importance of mistakes.

If possible you may have students all repeat a similar exercise to try and not make the mistake and experience trying the correct technique.

Examples:

Large Group Teaching:

This will work with all group sizes.

Online Teaching:

Success:

Students aren’t afraid to make mistakes and use them to highlight their learning.

Next Steps:

Links to other activities:

Acknowledgements:

Resources:

Image for use on slides etc.: www.musostudy.com/resources/2E/piece-de-resistance.jpg