Dear Scholars,
How do you see yourself...Do you think you can more than you think you can't?
Do you think that hard work is not not worth the struggle?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Did you know...
Belief that you can become smarter and more talented opens the doorways to success. That’s what twenty years of research has shown
Carol Dweck of Stanford University. She has identified two opposing beliefs about intelligence and talent, beliefs that strongly impact our ability to learn.
Though the fixed mindset has traditionally held sway, many recent studies show that the growth mindset better represents our abilities. Our brains are much more elastic than previously thought, constantly growing new connections. IQ and talent are not fixed, but are mutable based on experience and attitude.
In her book Mindset, Dweck outlines the dramatic effect that these opposing beliefs have on learners:
| Fixed Mindset | Growth Mindset |
| Wants to prove intelligence or talent. | Wants to improve intelligence or talent. |
| Avoids challenges for fear of failure. | Engages challenges to improve. |
| Gives up in the face of tough obstacles. | Persists in overcoming obstacles. |
| Avoids hard labor. | Sees labor as the path to success. |
| Treats criticism as an attack. | Treats criticism as an opportunity. |
| Feels threatened by others’ success. | Feels inspired by others’ success. |
As you can see from this chart, the fixed mindset leads to many of the learning and discipline problems in school, while the growth mindset leads to optimal learning.
Homework: Please bring a copy of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green to class with you by 10-27-14.
