Growth Mindset & Fixed Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities and intelligence can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and experience. This belief is based on the idea that our potential is not fixed, but rather is something that we can continue to cultivate and expand throughout our lives. People with a growth mindset tend to be more open to challenges and setbacks, because they view these as opportunities for learning and growth. They also tend to be more resilient and persistent in the face of challenges, because they believe that their efforts can lead to improvement.

Here are a few ways to cultivate a growth mindset:

Practice self-reflection: Take time to think about your goals and the progress you have made towards them. Consider what you have learned and how you have grown as a result of your experiences.

Seek out challenges: Look for opportunities to learn and grow, even if they may be difficult or uncomfortable at first. Embrace challenges as a chance to stretch your abilities and develop new skills.

Be open to feedback: Use feedback as a learning opportunity, rather than seeing it as a personal attack. Ask for feedback from others and try to see things from their perspective.

Embrace failure: Don't see failure as a personal setback, but rather as a chance to learn and improve. Look for the silver lining in difficult situations and try to see them as learning opportunities.

Focus on the process: Rather than obsessing over the outcome, focus on the steps and effort it takes to get there. This will help you stay motivated and engaged, even when the going gets tough.

Here are a few signs that someone may have a fixed mindset:

They see intelligence or abilities as fixed traits that cannot be changed.

They are resistant to learning new things or trying new things because they believe their abilities are fixed and cannot be improved.

They are easily discouraged by challenges or setbacks, because they see them as a sign that they are not capable or intelligent.

They are more concerned with looking smart or avoiding mistakes, rather than with learning and growing.

They are more likely to give up in the face of challenges or failures, because they don't believe they have the ability to improve.

Keep in mind that everyone has a mix of fixed and growth mindset qualities, and it is normal to sometimes exhibit fixed mindset behaviors. The important thing is to be aware of these tendencies and to try to cultivate a growth mindset.

Here are a few ways to teach growth mindset to children: Use language that promotes a growth mindset: Rather than saying "You're so smart," try saying "You worked really hard on that and it paid off." This helps children see that their efforts and hard work are what lead to success, rather than innate intelligence.

Encourage a love of learning: Help children see that learning is fun and rewarding in and of itself. Encourage them to ask questions and seek out new knowledge and experiences.

Praise effort, not ability: Instead of praising children for their natural abilities, focus on praising their efforts and progress. This helps children see that their abilities can be developed through hard work.

Encourage persistence: Help children see that setbacks and failures are a normal part of the learning process. Encourage them to persevere and try again, rather than giving up.

Provide opportunities for growth: Give children opportunities to take on challenges and stretch their abilities. This can help them see that they are capable of more than they realized.

Carol Dweck is a Stanford University psychologist and researcher who has extensively studied the concept of mindset. Dweck's work has identified two main types of mindset: fixed mindset and growth mindset. According to Dweck, people with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities and characteristics are fixed and cannot be changed. They are more concerned with looking smart and avoiding failure, and they may be resistant to learning new things or trying new things because they believe their abilities are fixed.

On the other hand, people with a growth mindset believe that their abilities and characteristics can be developed and improved through effort, learning, and experience. They are more open to challenges and setbacks, because they see them as opportunities for learning and growth. They are also more resilient and persistent in the face of challenges, because they believe that their efforts can lead to improvement. Dweck's research has shown that having a growth mindset can lead to increased motivation, resilience, and success in various areas of life.

There has been a great deal of research on the benefits of a growth mindset. Here are a few examples:

A study published in the journal "Child Development" found that children who had a growth mindset about intelligence were more likely to persevere in the face of challenges and to show increased motivation and achievement over time.

A study published in the "Journal of Applied Psychology" found that adults with a growth mindset were more likely to engage in learning opportunities and to show increased job performance over time.

A study published in the "Journal of Educational Psychology" found that students who were taught a growth mindset intervention showed increased motivation and achievement in math compared to students who did not receive the intervention.

A study published in the "Journal of Personality and Social Psychology" found that individuals with a growth mindset were more likely to recover from failure and to show increased resilience in the face of challenges.

These are just a few examples of the research that has been done on growth mindset. Here are a few in-class activities that you can use to teach growth mindset to students:

The Three Rs (Resilience, Responsibility, and Reflection): This activity involves having students reflect on a challenge they have faced and how they were able to overcome it. Students can then share their experiences with the class and discuss the resilience, responsibility, and reflection they demonstrated in overcoming the challenge.

Growth Mindset Word Search: Create a word search with words related to growth mindset, such as "persistence," "effort," and "learning." Students can work in groups to find and discuss the words in the puzzle.

Growth Mindset Scenarios: Present students with scenarios that involve challenges or setbacks, and ask them to discuss how a person with a growth mindset might approach the situation.

Growth Mindset graffiti wall: Create a graffiti wall in the classroom where students can write or draw examples of growth mindset in action.

The Four Cs (Curiosity, Confidence, Collaboration, and Creativity): This activity involves having students work in groups to come up with ideas for a project or problem-solving task. Students can then present their ideas to the class and discuss how they used curiosity, confidence, collaboration, and creativity in the process.

Here are a few language phrases that you can use to promote a growth mindset:

"I'm not sure yet, but I'm willing to try and find out."

"I made a mistake, but I learned from it and will do better next time."

"I'm not good at this yet, but I'm willing to practice and improve."

"I'm not sure I can do this, but I'm willing to give it a shot and see what happens."

"I'm not sure how to solve this problem, but I'm willing to brainstorm and come up with some ideas."

Using language that promotes a growth mindset can help students see that their abilities and characteristics are not fixed, but rather are something that they can continue to develop and improve over time. It can also help students become more resilient and persistent in the face of challenges, and more open to learning and growth.