There’s a catchphrase, “Having a Growth Mindset” buzzing around these days. It seems banal at first thought, but after pressing in, it is very thought-provoking. A growth mindset drives motivation and achievement. These are two things we want to see in our students so they can be successful in their futures. How can we understand this tool so we can capitalize on its application increasing achievement? Let’s begin to unpack this concept in the context of education.
Mindsets are beliefs about yourself and your most basic qualities, your intelligence, talents, and personality. Everyone is born with them and these things can either be in a mode of growth or fixed in position.
The fixed mindset creates an emotional loop where one needs to prove itself over and over. They have been told/evaluated that they are at a certain level and it can’t change. So every situation calls for a confirmation of their intelligence, personality, or talents to be accepted or rejected. Every situation is evaluated: Will I be successful or not? Will I look dumb or smart? This loop becomes the driving force to just maintain.
This growth mindset is based on the belief that your efforts can cultivate your basic qualities. Even though people possess traits at different levels, everyone can change and grow through effort and experience. A person’s genuine potential is unknown; it’s not static or fixed. What can be accomplished with years of dedication, effort, and education is impossible to foresee. So with the growth mindset, making choices to better their lives rather than continuously proving one’s greatness, stretches the individual. Why hide deficiencies; it’s time to overcome them. This ability for expanding yourself and staying with it, even when it’s not going well, is an indication of the growth mindset.
This growth mindset, as well as many other tools, are used to support your learner. A comprehensive approach to learning and academics helps students be confident and successful long after high school. If you are caught in that fixed loop and it’s time for a change, use live chat on our website or give us a call at 602.674.5555.