What is Growth Mindset?
Growth Mindset was first discovered by Carol Dweck, it refers to people who know the importance of effort, and believe that ability is a skill that is learnt, and not inherited or inflexible. These people overcome challenges and difficulty rather than give up. Those who do not have this Mindset instead have a ‘Fixed Mindset’. They put in less effort and don’t believe ability can be taught to anyone, so therefore are less likely to succeed and give up more easily. (Hochanadel et al, 2015)
However a Mindset can be altered and it is only a matter of choice as to which Mindset a person adopts. A Growth Mindset parallels success with effort, whereby ‘a persons true potential in life is unknown’. Only through continuous effort and hard work can a person accomplish success and achieve their full potential. (Dweck, 2006)
How is this useful in education?
Growth Mindset allows students to stay motivated and try harder to succeed and constantly improve their abilities. Similarly it allows students to learn that natural talent isn’t the cause for success but hard work is. Therefore any student is capable of success in whatever field they put the most effort and hard work into, no matter the challenges and set backs that they face. This teaches students not to give up but to persevere, as eventually achievement and success will follow. This Mindset can then be applied for students in the future and their career following on from school and/or university.
References:
Hochanadal, A et al. (2015) ‘Fixed And Growth Mindset In Education And How Grit Helps Students Persist In The Face Of Adversity’ Journal of International Education Research, Volume 11, Number 1. Pg47-50. (accessed 4th February) https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1051129.pdf
Dweck, C. (2006) ‘Mindset The New Psychology of Success’ Mindset 3, TheBusinessSource.com. (accessed 4th February) http://ebsp.s3.amazonaws.com/pdf/mindsett.pdf
Mindset Works (2017) ‘Dr. Dweck’s discovery of fixed and growth mindsets have shaped our understanding of learning’ (accessed 4th February) https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/M
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