MW: You Should Know: Applying a Growth Mindset

A key trait for being a successful educator is adopting a growth mindset to all your experiences. Sometimes, this is easy and obvious. Other times - especially when the experiences is difficult - it can be more challenging.

Personally and professionally, I strive to see things through this lens, which is important for you to know as a student in my class. I will seek informal feedback on your experiences in the course from time to time during the semester. When I do that, I am seeking to learn and grow professionally (and sometimes personally). If you have unsolicited feedback that you would like to share, I welcome it! I sincerely value your perspectives, and I really do want your honest opinion about whatever it is.

Focus on Growth

Photo by Hello I'm Nik 🎞 Links to an external site. on Unsplash Links to an external site.

Fixed mindset: Intelligence is static. Leads to a desire to look smart and therefore a tendency to …

…tend to focus on the experience itself, rather than learning.
… avoid challenges.
… give up easily.
… see effort as fruitless or worse.
… ignore useful negative feedback.
--- feel threatened by the success of others.

As a result, they may plateau early and achieve less than their full potential. All this confirms a deterministic view of the world.

Growth mindset: Intelligence can be developed. Leads to a desire to learn and therefore a tendency to …

…seek to learn from all experiences.
… embrace challenges
… persist in the face of setbacks.
… see effort as the path to mastery.
… learn from criticism.
… find lessons and inspiration in the success of others.

As a result, they reach ever-higher levels of achievement. All this gives them a greater sense of free will.

You can read more about fixed vs. growth mindsets (including a neat graphic) by clicking here. Links to an external site.