This essay is based off of a fixed and growth mindset. My main focus was to explain avoiding a fixed mindset and proving that a growth mindset is best.
Avoiding a Fixed Mindset
A growth mindset is based off of
someone who believes their basic qualities can be improved. A fixed mindset is
just the opposite of a growth mindset. Growth and Fixed mindsets are not only
the opposite of each other but sometimes effect students in school. I recently
took the growth vs. fixed mindset test and I’m more of a growth mindset but
there is still a small part of me that has a fixed mindset. For example, last semester
I had comp 1 and I struggled throughout the semester trying to complete every
essay to the best of my ability. The second essay that I had last semester had
me questioning my abilities to accomplish what I needed to which is a sign of a
fixed mindset. So the question is, what can be done to avoid having a fixed
mindset?
My search began with “Even Geniuses
Work Hard”, written by Carol Dweck. In this article Dweck states that “teachers
need to create a growth-mindset culture in the classroom” (Dweck). Based off of
“Even Geniuses Work Hard,” a person with a growth mindset values giving effort
to improve their skills and a person with a fixed mindset doesn’t care as much
to give effort. Educators working towards achieving that goal will take a
plethora of preparation and commitment. Dweck’s research indicated that
educators should challenge their students to know what students has a fixed
mindset and what students has a growth mindset. With these challenges the educators
should praise the students process because it’ll avoid having students think
that accomplishing something makes them smart. Also when challenging students,
the educators should take into consideration that fast learning is not always
the way to go. Educators should do this because, according to Dweck, some
students might not catch on as quickly as others which could be a benefit for the
student.
What I interpreted from Dweck’s
article is that educators can have a big part in how a student’s mindset is
fixated. In my opinion, it might not help to challenge some students because
they aren’t willing to work towards changing or trying to improve themselves.
There might be some students that can and are willing to change from a fixed to
growth mindset. The only way that will happen is if they are guided by their
teacher(s). Dweck states that when being challenged and praised for progress
and effort, students have the advantage at being successful throughout their
lives.
My second search was “The Mindset
Works”. It continued to explain how it’s a proven fact that student’s mindset
can change. It also explains the neuroscientific discoveries that the brain is
pliable. They have discovered that with having a growth mindset would cause
students to behave differently. Like I’ve mentioned before, educators do have
an impact on what mindset a student can have. The reason behind that is when
students receive feedback from their teachers it can persuade a student to
either challenge themselves or make things easy. My teacher gave us a quiz
which test your mindset and I took it twice. The first time I took it I got 3
of fixed mindset and 5 of growth mindset set. I had a different point of view
before but once I started reading more about a fixed and growth mindset my
point of view changed. Once I had taken the test again I got a 1 of fixed
mindset and an 8 of growth mindset. So just by me reading “Even Geniuses Work
Hard” and “The Mindset Works” made my test score change drastically because I
got a better understanding of how both mindset works.
