Power of the Growth Mindset

First of all, let me state that I thoroughly enjoyed all of the materials for this week’s discussion and found them to be quite interesting. When it comes to the idea of growth mindset, this is how I would answer the following questions:

How do you interpret the message of "yet"?

In viewing the two video clips and learning about the concept of “yet”, the message of “yet” presents a message of hope and possibilities. Unlike the fixed mindset that makes learning definite and final, the “yet” growth mindset lets learners know that experiencing setbacks does not make them failures or prove that they “just don’t have it”. Rather, that tiny word “yet” at the end of sentences makes the learner feel that he/she still has a chance. They still have a chance to learn and to grow. And it is that feeling of still having a chance that is so important to successful learning. According to an article published in the Journal of Developmental Education entitled Unsuccessful and Successful Mathematics Learning: Developmental Students’ Perceptions, research has shown that “students’ perception of success capability is highly influential to student performance.” (Howard & Whitaker, 2011). With the message of “yet”, learners still feel that they are capable of succeeding which motivates them to keep trying and pursuing their goals.

How will adopting the growth mindset change the way you learn?

The more receptive response to criticism and negative feedback is the primary way that I believe adopting the growth mindset will change the way I learn. It will help me to view criticism as a self-improvement tool rather than as an attack.

Consider the how the growth mindset can change the acceptance of feedback.

Because the growth mindset is more focused on the steps taken rather than the goal itself, the idea of failure becomes almost nonexistent to the learner. Failures start to be viewed as stepping stones that help learners reach their potential. As a result, learners can become more open, positive, and accepting of feedback because they know this will only help them get them closer to learning goals.

Can the growth mindset help limit some of your own or your students' preoccupation with grades?

Yes, because students become more focused on monitoring self- improvement and progress rather than measuring themselves against a rating system. As an educator, the growth mindset can also help limit some of my own preoccupations with grades. It allows me to focus more on ensuring that students are growing in their understanding of the concepts being taught rather than just memorizing information to get a good grade.

What resources (content, video, media, etc.) might you use to learn more about the growth mindset?

In order to learn more about the growth mindset, I intend to view more videos by Carol Dweck as well as other scholars who are proponents of the growth mindset. I also plan to research more of the studies Carol Dweck conducted that were featured in her presentations. Lastly, I would like to find videos and/or classrooms demonstrating the teaching of the growth mindset to students.

Review the graphic below and compare and contrast the Fixed Mindset to the Growth Mindset.

The first item I viewed was the fixed mindset and growth mindset graphic. What immediately came to mind when viewing the graphic was power. These two mindsets seem to be a battle between feeling “powerless” versus feeling “powerful”. I noticed that with the fixed mindset the external factors have all of the power. External factors like challenges, obstacles, criticism, and success of others greatly control fixed mindset learners and determine whether or not they continue to pursue learning. If they do not encounter these factors, they will more than likely stay on their learning mission. However, if they do encounter these factors, they will more than likely quit their learning mission before reaching their potential. Releasing control of their actions to outside factors makes fixed mindset learners very powerless in their own learning. In contrast, growth mindset learners have power over their learning and are in full control. Regardless of what challenges, obstacles, criticisms, or successes of others they may encounter, growth mindset learners do not allow these factors to deter their pursuit of learning. They will still continue on their mission to learn and actually use these factors as more fuel to keep going. This puts them in full control of their learning and makes growth mindset learners very powerful in their own learning.

Reference

Howard, L. & Whitaker, Martha. (2011). Journal of Developmental Education