Growth vs.Fixed Mindsets in Learning

The Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets in Learning podcast presented by professor of psychology, Carol Dweck was truly interesting. As explained by professor Dweck, the growth mindset is the belief that throughout a person's life they can become smarter. She related the growth mindset to body building. When someone learns new things they are strengthening their brain by using it. The fixed mindset, however, is the belief that a person is born with a fixed I Q, and they cannot get any smarter.

Carol Dweck has written a book and been a part of conducting studies on the growth mindset. In one study, two groups of students attended an 8 week session workshop. The first group of students were taught the growth mindset and study skills. The second group was taught only study skills. The teachers who taught the students during regular hours were not told which students participated in which group. The teachers said they had no trouble pointing out which students were placed in the growth mindset and study skills class. They also said the grades of the students in the first group improved, but the students in the second group who receive only study skills showed no grade improvement. A reason given for this is that the students in the first group learned how to learn from their mistakes and learned how to apply the method to their work, where as the students for the second group merely learned study skills.

As a teacher I hope to spur my students forward by teaching them that learning will help them to become smarter, more successful students. When students are told they can become smarter throughout their lifetime by studying and challenging their minds, I believe it will encourage them to work harder in their studies. Utilizing the growth mindset in my teaching career will enable me to become the best teachers I can be.