Overview
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed and improved over time through effort, learning, and persistence. This concept, introduced by psychologist Carol Dweck, contrasts with a fixed mindset, where people believe that their abilities are innate and unchangeable. This section includes materials to support students in deepening their understanding of what a growth mindset is and how it can be applied in their lives.
Objectives:
Students should be able to:
- Describe and identify a growth mindset;
- Explain how mindset can impact personal development, effort made, and personal achievement, and
- Evaluate what kinds of attitudes, beliefs, and actions denote a growth mindset.
Introductory Reflection Questions:
- How do our attitudes affect our actions?
- What is a fixed vs. growth mindset?
- How do mindsets play a role in our daily lives?
Videos
Short videos help tap into multiple modes of learning and can provide a good introduction to or illustration of a topic. See suggested protocols for classroom viewing.
- Power of Belief: Mindset and Success (10:51, cc)
In this video, Eduardo Briceño articulates how a growth mindset is key for succeeding in one’s goals. - Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset (5:03, cc)
This illustrated video explores two types of mindsets: A growth mindset that embraces problems as opportunities to learn, and a fixed mindset that avoids problems out of a fear of failing. - How Feedback Affects Performance (18:21, cc)
In this video, Dr. Andrew Huberman explains growth mindset and how feedback affects performance. Feedback that is linked to identity is detrimental to performance, but feedback that is linked to effort enhances performance. - What Growth Mindset Means for Kids (5:39,cc)
In this TEDxYouth talk, an elementary school student discusses her feelings when she was forced to take on the challenge of joining her student council by her mother and how she was able to change her anger into a growth mindset. - How to overcome your mistakes (4:51, cc)
This illustrated video explores what prevents us from learning from our failures, and how to become more resilient through cultivating a growth mindset.
Readings
All readings should be paired with a structure or protocol, especially if any reading will be completed in class.
- Growth Mindset
This text from The Decision Lab provides a comprehensive summary of growth mindset, from its history, applications, to distortions of the idea. Most students will have already heard of the growth mindset. This article provides engagement with criticisms and misconceptions of the idea, allowing students to develop a sharper understanding of it. This text lends itself to jigsaw reading as a class.
Activities
Activities include individual or group tasks that can be completed in less than one class period; some activities may be repeated in a sequence and are re-listed here for ease of access.
- Famous Fails
Students consider a range of “famous fails” and reflect on how failure is an inevitable and important part in the journey towards success. - Cultivating Growth Mindset with Improv
In this multi-part activity, students are introduced to the basics of improv and experience some its core tenets. Students reflect on their experience with improv and how it might support them in navigating fear, anxiety, and other uncomfortable feelings.
Resources
- Guiding Students to Set Academic Goals
This brief article from Edutopia discusses the importance of goal setting and provides teachers with activities and tips for improving student engagement and goal setting. - 10 of the Best Growth Mindset Activities for Young Learners
This webpage provides growth mindset activities for children and teens.
Share Content
- Click on this link to access our submission form that will guide you through submitting your materials. The form is designed to make submitting your content straightforward and ensure your contribution aligns with our platform’s style and goals. On the form you will find:
- Clear definitions of each type of submission you might contribute, whether it’s a video, reading, sequence, standalone activity, or resource.
- Guidelines for writing descriptions specific to each type of submission, such as what to emphasize for standalone activity descriptions versus readings.
- Instructions on proper documentation and linking to ensure credits are correctly attributed.
- Annotated examples of each type of submission to help you visualize what a complete submission looks like.
- Please note: We may make minor adjustments to enhance clarity or structure, like refining steps, directions, or adding reflection questions, but we’ll keep the original intent intact.
