Problems Take Time - A Life lesson

One misconception students often have that bothers me is that if they can't figure out how to learn something quickly, in the first few tries, it somehow says something negative about their intelligence. So in the computer lab one thing we have been working on are simple problem solving games that require thought, but take time to solve - usually the whole class period. On some of these games there are multiple levels and I always tell students before they ever see the game - "this is hard, and this will take time, but you can do it."
They hear me say it, but rarely do they completely believe me. I'm certain to continuously encourage them and tell them it does not matter what level they finish on, but that the only requirement is THEY DO NOT GIVE UP!
What's amazing to see are students who get to the point of frustration, some to the point of tears, won't give up, but show an unwillingness to stop playing the game. Games and gamification are emerging teaching methodologies according to the annual Horizon Report, which yearly identifies emerging trends in educational technology. Students are able to maintain concentration far longer when playing a video game than if they were asked to do some other type of learning activity so why not leverage that in school?
My goals are by having students engage with these types of learning opportunities they build stamina for learning and develop a growth mindset where they authentically believe they can conquer any problem given time and teamwork (sometimes they are allowed to work in groups or teams) and that it translates to the regular classroom.
In processing these experiences I always reference the Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur), who invented the control system for the airplane and talked about how they tested dozens of wing shapes until they found the one that gave them lift. It took a good seven years for the Wright Brothers to invent a fully functional flying machine. Problems worth solving take time. What if they had given up? Encouraging our students to never give up in a worthwhile pursuit! Watch Steven Johnson explain his research about creativity, innovation, and where good ideas come from and see if you don't agree in the video below!
photo credit: DonnaGrayson via photopin cc