The Power of
Mindset
Karen Durocher
Responsive Instruction, RI
October 29, 2016
Are people born smart?
Learning Outcomes
Build a shared understanding about growth and fixed mindsets
Explore the impact of your own mindset on learning
Explore how you can foster a growth mindset in your students
What is it that you are
good at?
How did you
get to be
good at
this?
What obstacles, if any, did
you encounter?
What did you do
when you faced those obstacles?
What has given you
satisfaction about this
experience?
With a partner, discuss one or more of these questions:
Think about something
that you do well.
What is it that
you had difficulty
with?
How did you
handle the
challenge?
What obstacles, if any, did
you encounter
?
What did you do
when you faced those
obstacles?
What did you learn
about yourself
through this experience?
With a partner, discuss one or more of these questions:
Think about a time you were asked to learn something new and
challenging.
What kind of MINDSET does your student have?
FIXED Mindset
I was born with my intelligence and it won’t
change
If I have to work hard to learn, I must not be smart.
If a task is hard, I won’t try it because I might fail.
GROWTH Mindset
I know “failure” is a part of learning and it’s ok to take
risks.
I take on challenges and look for solutions to problems.
I understand effort and practice help me learn.
What kind of MINDSET do YOU have?
What kind of MINDSET leads to more learning?
Dr. Carol Dweck Stanford University
Leading researcher in Social and
Developmental Psychology
People are
made,
not born.
Dweck’s Research
Measured brain activity with electrode cap.
Students asked a series of challenging questions.
After answering, they waited to see if they got the answer right or wrong.
After another second, they learned what the correct answer was.
Fixed mindset students’ brainwaves indicated stronger attention on
being RIGHT OR WRONG.
Growth mindset students’ brainwaves indicated stronger attention on UNDERSTANDING THE CORRECT ANSWER.
Contributions from Neuroscience
All of the areas of the brain that control motor
functions, communication, problem-solving
are made of cells called NEURONS
Neurons transmit information around the brain.
Thinking and learning help neurons GROW
and form new connections.
The Good
News:
Mindset
can be
changed.
Fostering a Growth
Mindset: 5 Tips
1. Offer feedback on hard work, persistence, and
learning from mistakes
2. Offer feedback on hard work, persistence, and
learning from mistakes
3. Encourage your students to embrace challenges
4. Growth mindset is a life skill
5. Celebrate practice, persistence, and hard work
What is one thing you may do/say
differently to help build a growth
mindset for your students?
Whether you think you can, or
you think you can't—
you're right.
-Henry Ford