Kindness, creativity, productive failure, and agency: an exploration with an example from educational research

In this chapter, Ed Creely argues that failure is a key to building a range of competencies that are valuable for navigating uncertain futures. In a classroom driven by kindness, failures are treated not as setbacks but as stepping stones to growth. Students learn that it is okay to stumble and make mistakes; in fact, it’s an integral part of the learning process. Ed demonstrates through an example of mathematics teaching, that a pedagogy of kindness enhances creativity as it emphasises encouragement over criticism and allows learners to express themselves freely without the fear of being reprimanded for unconventional ideas or for trying new approaches that may at first fail. Considering failure as a strength in learning potentially expands students’ horizons and is therefore a vital component of a pedagogy of kindness because it allows students to become agential and affords them the opportunity to be self-directed and lifelong learners.