Growth v. Fixed Mindsets in Learning

During this video the interviewee describes the difference between what she called a "fixed" and "growth" mindset. She explains a "fixed" mindset to be of a student who believes that their basic intelligence is a fixed trait and that there is nothing they can do about how smart they are. They often avoid certain activities that may show their intelligence.

Other students, with "growth" mindsets want to grow and develop as a student by learning as much as they can and striving to be a better student. Her idea was to teach this type of mindset to half of a classroom of students in a workshop, and the other half simply teach a study skills class. During the "growth" workshop, she explains to students about how the brain is like a muscle, and that it gets stronger the more it is used. She found that the students that attended the workshop about the "growth" mindset had the most improved grades by far then the other group of students.

I firmly believe and agree with the video in that students and all learners of all ages can improve their learning skills through practice, curiosity, and the belief that they can learn anything. One thing I thought of when viewing this and thought to be a good example of this idea was of something I learned in my Education in a Diverse Society Class. First of all, many female girls are acquiring the "fixed" mindset when it comes to math and science. This belief of girls not being as good at math and science as boys is instilled by our own society. Evidence shows that girls do not lag behind boys in math and science until about the 4th grade. This proves that something changes in these girls lives...not that they are not as smart as the boys. Also, from what I learned in that class is that students coming from a low socio-economic status often adopt this mindset as well, but for all areas of school. If we teach girls, and those of lower socio-economic backgrounds in particular this type of mindset at a very early age, student achievement would result in a more even playing field. I do, however, believe that all students could benefit learning a "growth" mindset. This will be something that I try to instill in all of my future students and within myself! One of the concluding statements of the video was that it is impossible to be a good mentor without a "growth" mindset....and I agree.