Increase Student Efficacy. Increase Student Success: Lessons from Harry Potter's Professor Sprout!

Professor Sprout

What's the effect of believing in yourself? Well, there is a lot of research that has shown the positive effect of teacher efficacy. In like manner, student efficacy is just as important. So what is efficacy? It's one of those buzzwords that unless you have researched it yourself, you may be wondering, "What is that?" Efficacy, simply put, is believing something can be done by someone. In other words, if we believe that we can teach and students can learn, they will. On the other hand, if we don't believe in ourselves as teachers and in the ability of students to learn, students will learn a lot less. Other terms that you may have heard are: student agency or student movement or student confidence. All of these are terms and beliefs are important not only in the social emotional wellbeing of students but also academic success.

So how do we build student efficacy? How do we encourage students to believe in themselves? This post is another one in a series of posts about lessons we can learn from the Hogwarts teachers in Harry Potter. Today, we will be looking at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry's Professor Sprout.

Professor Sprout is described as a squat little witch who taught students how to use plants and foliage in the Hogwarts greenhouses. Although most of the classes taught at Hogwarts carried a considerable amount of danger, the number of poisonous, dangerous, and downright deadly plants that students experienced in Herbology was jarring. One instance that comes to mind involves mandrakes. These shrieking plants would kill you if you heard them as they were pulled from the Earth.

We may not be teaching students things that could be fatal if they make mistakes, but students still seem to have a high amount of anxiety in learning, practicing, and applying new concepts. However, Professor Sprout was able to teach her class in such a way that even the most accident-prone, risk-averse student, Neville Longbottom, was able to be an enormous success. His success even led to him becoming a Herbology professor as an adult wizard.

Here are five lessons that we can learn from Professor Sprout about how to empower students to believe in themselves, try new things, and fail forward:

1. Demonstrations. Professor Sprout didn't just tell her students how to handle a Mandrake; she showed them, often wearing earmuffs herself to emphasize the danger and the necessary precautions. Demonstrations are powerful for building student efficacy because they provide a concrete model of success. When students see the process broken down and executed correctly, it demystifies the task and makes it seem achievable. This visual evidence can significantly reduce anxiety and increase a student's belief that they, too, can master the skill. By seeing the steps and the potential pitfalls navigated successfully, students gain confidence to attempt the task themselves.

2. Clear instructions. In the high-stakes environment of Herbology, clear and concise instructions were paramount. Sprout undoubtedly provided specific guidance on handling delicate and dangerous plants. Clear instructions are crucial for fostering student efficacy because they provide a roadmap for success. When students understand exactly what is expected of them, the task feels less overwhelming and more manageable. This clarity reduces ambiguity and the fear of the unknown, allowing students to focus their energy on learning and applying the steps, rather than trying to decipher vague expectations. Well-defined steps empower students to take ownership of their learning and believe in their ability to follow through.

3. Encouragement. Even Neville Longbottom, who often struggled in other subjects, found success and encouragement in Herbology under Professor Sprout's tutelage. Encouragement plays a vital role in building student efficacy by validating their efforts and highlighting their progress. Positive reinforcement, even for small steps, helps students develop a growth mindset and believe in their capacity to improve. Sprout's belief in Neville, despite his initial clumsiness, likely fostered his self-belief and motivated him to persevere. When students feel supported and their efforts are acknowledged, they are more likely to take risks and persist through challenges, strengthening their sense of efficacy.

4. Activate prior knowledge. While the plants in Herbology were often novel, Professor Sprout likely connected their properties and care to broader botanical principles or even everyday experiences with plants. Activating prior knowledge helps build student efficacy by providing a familiar foundation for new learning. When students can connect new concepts to what they already know, it makes the new material feel less daunting and more accessible. This connection allows them to build upon existing understanding, increasing their confidence in tackling new challenges. By tapping into their existing knowledge base, Sprout empowered students to see themselves as capable learners.

5. Student-centered lessons. While the examples in the books often focus on the whole class, Sprout's patience with Neville and her focus on practical, hands-on learning suggest a student-centered approach. Student-centered lessons empower efficacy by giving students agency and control over their learning. When students are actively involved in the learning process, making choices and exploring concepts in ways that resonate with them, they develop a deeper understanding and a stronger sense of ownership. This active participation fosters a belief in their ability to learn and apply knowledge independently. Sprout's hands-on approach in the greenhouses likely allowed students to learn by doing, fostering a sense of competence and efficacy.

Remember, you may be the teacher or have the class that one student experiences success in when they fail in other classes. Use these tips, others from TeachThisTeacher, your colleagues and your own expertise to build student efficacy. Because we all know that the student confidence Neville Longbottom gained in Herbology contributed to his enormous growth as a student and an individual. Our students won't have to stand face to face with He-who-shall-not-be-named, but they will need confidence to stand up to many difficulties in life. Let's do our best to build them up!