ABSTRACT
Identifying and remediating student errors are one of the core functions of teachers. The way a teacher treats student errors can determine whether students learn to embrace difficult challenges, or whether they become risk averse and avoid them. The first step toward addressing student errors is to understand the types and causes of errors, of which there are four types: slips, lapses, mistakes, and violations. With slips, students have the requisite knowledge or skill to perform a task, but accidentally commit an error while performing it. Lapses, also referred to as errors of omission, occur when an action is missed due to a lapse of attention or memory. With lapses, students may have the requisite knowledge or skill to perform a task but have forgotten the answer or missed it due to distraction. Violations often appear to be errors but are distinct in that students knowingly and deliberately break the rules.
