Read more in the Indian Edition of the book by Dr Manu Kapur

Productive Failure by Learning Forward India Foundation

Masterclass 2025, cohosted by Gurdeep Kaur and Sandeep Dutt, focused on reading, reflection, and building meaningful relationships with teachers from 15 schools. We brought insights from the book "Productive Failure" by Manu Kapur into our classrooms, engaging educators from the Sunbeam Group of Educational Institutions, The Doon School, and our Good Schools Alliance members, prompting them to think critically.

In The Doon School classrooms, we were inspired by a community-based initiative that explored Productive Failure and addressed a common question among educators: How do we design it collaboratively, week after week?

The Good Schools Alliance (GSA), a network dedicated to joyful and rigorous learning and teacher agency, established The Teachers Academy to tackle this question. Every Saturday evening, educators from GSA schools convene for a focused 45-minute master class—not to follow a script, but to explore ideas collaboratively. This series began with a shared reading of "Productive Failure" and has evolved into a community of practice in which teachers read, experiment, reflect, and adapt the concept to their unique contexts. The guiding principle is straightforward: try tomorrow, stumble safely, learn publicly.

From this community, three micro-cases emerge, each demonstrating how a slight design adjustment can transform confusion into competence. For more details, visit www.HappyTeacher.in

Read more in the Indian Edition of the book by Dr Manu Kapur.

The Jugaad version is now available!

Introduction: My Forays into Failure: Introduction Part 2

 📚 **Productive Failure | Concluding the Introduction: My Forays into Failure**

“Productive Failure is all about design, science, and a mantra for life… Its true power is unleashed when we internalise it as a way of thinking, knowing, and being in this world.” Prof. Manu Kapur

In the session, we explored the core ideas of Productive Failure. The author defines it as:

🔹 A Design – A way to intentionally structure learning experiences so failure becomes a step toward more profound understanding.

🔹 A Science – It explains how, when, and why this approach works, backed by research.

🔹 A Mantra for Life – When embraced regularly, it becomes part of how we think, reflect, and grow.

The discussion reminded us that failure isn’t something to avoid—it’s a valuable companion when learning something new.

✨ Real growth happens when we’re willing to struggle, reflect, and try again.

Gurdeep Kaur
Ambassador The Teacher’s Academy

Session Summary:

Sandeep led a discussion on the concept of productive failure, emphasizing its role in learning and growth, and encouraged participants to read the book "Productive Failure" to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. The team also discussed the importance of understanding the critical features of a problem before attempting to solve it, learning from failure, and the need for safety measures when designing failure experiences. The conversation ended with plans for the next session, the importance of note-taking for future reference, and the need for teachers and students to collaborate in Hindi and English to spread the joy of learning.

Introducing Productive Failure - opening session for the Saturday Masterclass for 2025-26

What if failure isn't the opposite of success but the very path to it?

This Saturday, we're not just reading a book —  

We're challenging a mindset.

Join us for a thought-provoking Masterclass as we dive into Dr Manu Kapur's groundbreaking work:  

📘 Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing

Whether you're an educator, a leader, or a lifelong learner —  

This session will shift how you approach challenges, growth, and learning.

Let's move from fearing failure to harnessing it.  

💬 We're ready to fail better.  

Are you?

About Manu Kapur, summarised using AI

Manu is the Director of the Singapore-ETH Center and a Professor of Learning Sciences at ETH Zurich, where he also leads The Future Learning Initiative. Previously, he was a Professor at the Education University of Hong Kong and held positions at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has a strong passion for mathematics, having taught it at the college level and led Singapore’s team at the International Mathematical Olympiad.

Manu holds multiple degrees including a PhD in the science of learning from Columbia University, where he also earned a Master of Science in Applied Statistics and a Master of Education from NIE, Singapore. He focuses on enhancing human learning through his theory of Productive Failure, aimed at improving mathematical education. His research has influenced Singapore’s national mathematics curriculum and garnered extensive media attention, securing around US$13m in funding.

He has directed significant educational programs, received visiting professorships worldwide, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Additionally, Manu has served as an associate editor for leading journals in the learning and cognitive sciences.

Session recording available on our YouTube Channel @MyGoodSchool