In the article , Teachers, Parents Often Misuse Growth Mindset Research , Carol Dweck , a Psychology Professor from Stanford University , believe that “too many students are hobbled by the belief that intelligence is a fixed trait”. In a fixed mindset , people believe that intelligence or talent is something that your are just born with . Someone with a fixed mindset would stop trying if they come across a challenge , most because they think their not good or smart enough to complete it. According to Dweck this isn’t true . She believe that your brain is like a muscle that can grow stronger. Someone , with a growth mindset believe that with effort , hard work and dedication. Carol Dweck believe that having a growth mindset is key to being successful academically, students with a growth mindset will look at their failures differently than someone with a fixed mindset. Those with a growth mindset will look at their failures as a learning experience and would learn and put in more effort next time . Someone with a fixed mindset would try to avoid the conflict that led to their failure and just give up. She has proven that students with growth mindset perform better than those with a fixed mindset.
Now , how can you adopt a growth mindset ? Dweck explain to us the major impact parents and teachers have on a children's mindset. She theorize that “parents' well-intention ed praise contributes to the formation of unproductive fixed-mindset thoughts” This is because if you tell someone that they are smart and they come across a difficult challenge , they will try to avoid the problem in order to keep their image of being smart. So , the best way to praise a student is to say things like “Wow , you studied more and you grades on test is hard” or “ You did great , now let's see what we can do to make it better next time” Your mindset can determine your future. As I’m thinking about my earlier school years , I mostly had a fixed mindset. However , if I’m having trouble in a class and there’s is a good chance I could fail. My mindset would change into a growth mindset because I really don’t want to fail. For example in my chemistry class in my junior year of high school , I wasn’t studying for my test as much as I was suppose to and i spent most of the time in the class fooling around on the iPad given to us for the school year so , I ended up failing the first quarter. For the last 3 quarters I had to flip the switch and focus on the class so i could do good in it. I moved myself in the front of class , studied harder, stay after school for extra help and I ended up getting a low B. ( my first quarter failure really hurt my final grade.) My failure forced me to change and work harder. If I kept my fixed mindset , i would had just fail the class. When it came to math , I always had a fixed mindset. I always thought I was naturally bad at math. I just tried to do whatever I can to just get a passing grade even if it was just a C and I would be content with it. I never made a real effort to get extra help and receive a higher grade because I thought I was bad at math. As of now , I believe my mindset is a mix between fixed and growth. I go in every class thinking I’m gonna do good in it. When I thought I was bad at math , I didn’t go to a math class thinking I’m gonna fail. I knew I had to put in extra work for me to pass but I was willing to ask question if I was having problems in it. I know that I will be able to perform a lot better in math now. There are multiple ways to improve and I can’t say I suck at it if I don’t go out my way to do better.
1 Comment
Megan Nestler
2/27/2017 07:29:53 pm
I completely agree with the fixed mindset on math! I used to think that too. College made me realize you'll only show improvement based on the effort you put in. Do you think if someone told you that before that it would've changed your mindset?
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WoodyHey guys , Woody here. This is where I'm going to blog about different things. ( I also enjoy memes )
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