Get out there and grow your brain!
Before we dive in and approach our ever-growing brains, please take this little poll.
Don't worry, we aren't judging you based on your poll results, but it is important to understand that different individuals approach the same problem in different ways. Though there are hundreds of answers to the question above, many answers will fall into two basic categories. These categories represent two groups of thinkers: those who think with a fixed mindset and those who think with a growth mindset. Which type of thinker are you? Let's find out.
Just incase you thought only students and children were affected...
Mindset research
The brain is truly one of the most remarkable organs in the body. It is capable of everything from controlling automatic responses such breathing to shaping how we understand intelligence. While no one person will ever completely understand the magnificence of the brain, we can all work toward understanding that it is an incredible organ capable of adapting, growing, and strengthening under the right conditions. That's right, intelligence is NOT fixed even if a person's mindset is. Neither mindset is necessarily wrong as individuals on either side have been known to be successful, BUT there is strong evidence that suggests that a student will develop a healthier approach to learning and understanding concepts in the long run if they learn to think with a growth mindset. This is because individuals who have adopted the growth mindset tend to learn how something is done, how to improve, and what they need to do in order to learn in general. Individuals with a fixed mindset have a preconceived notion of what it means to be intelligent and the moment that they struggle they assume that they are no longer smart. Students with a fixed mindset are more likely to cheat, lie about grades or progress, and choose easier tasks to make themselves appear "smart". Students with a growth mindset are more willing to accept that they must work harder, study differently, or adopt new approaches to problems in order to overcome them in the future. This focus on the process is what will facilitate overall growth in intelligence- hence "growth mindset".
If we truly want to succeed and we want our future generations of impressionable children to succeed in everything that they value, we need to understand what is necessary for this success. I care deeply about ensuring that my students have a successful educational career- and I don't mean that they have to get straight As. I want my students to feel empowered and have faith in their abilities. Contrary to popular belief, we do not need to shower children with such phrases as "wow! You did really well so that means you are smart" as an ego boost. In the long run, this type of praise will eventually lead to destruction of a child's sense of self and intelligence. These sorts of praises help guide people into a fixed mindset leaving them to to question whether or not they are smart based on how easily a child grasps a concept. "Over 80% of them [parents] thought that it was necessary to praise their children’s intelligence in order to give them confidence in their abilities and motivate them to succeed." Want to learn more? Read Boosting Achievement. Research on the power of mindset suggests that praises are great if geared toward rewarding the process of learning as opposed to the outcome. Instead of saying "You did well, you must be smart!" try saying "You did well, I can tell you put a lot of effort into this!". These two phrases may sound the same to you, but they make a huge difference to the learner.
So let's go back to that first poll
Which of these students exhibited the fixed mindset and which one exhibited the growth mindset?
more mindset research
While the above comic is an extreme representation of fixed and growth mindsets, it is important to understand that there is a lot of variation between thinkers in the same group. The important thing here is that we as teachers, educators, parents, and learners ourselves need to make sure we understand that our brain is an ever-growing tool in our intellectual toolbox. We can be our student's and children's greatest resources when we are educated ourselves.
Below you will find an excellent article explaining our ever-growing brains and how we can use our knowledge to help our future generations succeed.
Below you will find an excellent article explaining our ever-growing brains and how we can use our knowledge to help our future generations succeed.
Try this article and accompanying activity sheet out
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