Mechanisms of memory and pedagogies of failure

In its Latin origins, “to fail” (fallere) holds two distinct movements: To trip, and to fall. To trip is to have the regular movement of our steps come up against an obstacle that stops us in our tracks; to fall is to lose contact with the ground in an uncontrolled movement away from stability. In either a trip or a fall, our progress towards our intended destination is interrupted. Perhaps in education we might consider our destination to be the successful achievement of a learning goal, or more accurately the continuing successful progress towards that goal, step by step.