Podcast Points: Baylor Ed.D. Leader Shares Importance of Grit, ‘Productive Failure’ and Innovation in Online Learning

As a first-generation college and now leading researcher on student grit and coping, Laila Sanguras, Ph.D., has plenty to share with parents and teachers as they encourage their students to succeed in school. Sanguras serves as graduate program director of Baylor’s Ed.D. program in Learning and Organizational Change and lecturer in Curriculum & Instruction in the Baylor School of Education. As a guest on the Baylor Connections podcast, Sanguras spoke about her passion in opening doors, providing opportunities and breaking down barriers to help students succeed.

Podcast Points with Laila Sanguras, Ph.D.

Grit: Building Resilience Through Passion and Perseverance

• Sanguras emphasizes the importance of helping students develop this critical trait, which is essential for overcoming challenges both in academics and in life. Drawing on examples from her work with students and educators, she highlights how grit can be cultivated through consistent encouragement and by setting ambitious, yet achievable, goals.
• But it’s more than just perseverance, Sanguras said. It’s about having a passion that drives you to keep going, even when things get tough. “As educators and parents, we have the unique opportunity to instill this mindset in students, preparing them to face the inevitable obstacles that life will present.”

Productive Failure: Learning and Growing from Challenges

• Sanguras explores the concept of productive failure, which encourages students to view challenges and setbacks as valuable learning opportunities rather than as purely negative experiences. Distinguishing between productive and unproductive failures can lead to significant personal and academic growth.
• “A successful endeavor doesn’t always mean achieving the goal; sometimes, the greatest success comes from the lessons learned along the way,” Sanguras said. “By embracing productive failure, students can build resilience and a deeper understanding of their capabilities, which is crucial for long-term success.”

Online Learning Innovation: Creating a Virtual Baylor Community

• A key project for Sanguras involves integrating Baylor’s signature sense of community into the online learning environment, with a commitment to creating an online space that mirrors the close-knit, supportive community Baylor is known for.
• For example, Sanguras is championing is the inclusion of online students in Baylor’s fall civil discourse series through live streaming, interactive Q&A sessions and virtual discussion forums, giving online students an opportunity to engage directly with the content and contribute to the conversation.
• It’s more than just making events accessible, Sanguras emphasizes. It’s ensuring that Baylor online students are “ participants in the intellectual life of the University, developing the skills and perspectives they need to succeed in an increasingly complex world.”

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION

• Listen to the full conversation with Laila Sanguras, Ph.D. on the Baylor Connections podcast.

ABOUT BAYLOR CONNECTIONS

Baylor Connections with host Derek Smith goes in depth each week with Baylor leaders, professors and more, discussing important topics in higher education, research and student life. Baylor Connections airs on Fridays at 11 a.m. CT on KWBU 103.3FM in Waco. The podcast also is available online or by subscribing to Baylor Connections on iTunes.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally rec