Looking at Fixed and Growth Mindsets
What is a mindset? A mindset is a set of beliefs about your intelligence, talent, and success. It determines how you interpret and respond to given situations.
Is there more than one type of mindset? Yes. After decades of research Dr. Carol Dweck of Stanford University determined there are two basic mindsets. One is fixed and the other is growth.
What’s the difference between them? People who have a fixed mindset believe they are born with a certain amount of abilities that cannot be changed. They believe they are good at some things and not at others and nothing they do can alter this. People with a fixed mindset are less likely to take risks in their learning. They are afraid of being wrong and looking like they’re stupid. They believe if you are smart then it takes little to no effort to achieve. People who have a growth mindset understand their abilities can be increased over time with hard work and dedication. They believe while high intelligence and talents are great, this is only the beginning. They start where they are and work to grow their abilities. They don’t worry about how smart they are but instead, focus on learning more to become smarter.
What else is true about people with growth mindsets? A growth mindset results in a love of learning, higher achievement, and better coping strategies than a fixed mindset. Learning changes the brain in a positive way. People with a growth mindset know no one ever achieved greatness without years of a passionate pursuit and learning (with setbacks along the way).
What does a fixed mindset look like in the classroom? Students with a fixed mindset avoid tasks that require much effort even if the task would be helpful in the long run. They value being “smart” above exerting effort learning from mistakes. They have a hard time rebounding from mistakes, tending to give up rather than try another strategy.
How about a growth mindset? These students see challenging assignments as an opportunity to learn more. When they are stumped by what to do next or what they did incorrectly, they try other strategies and resources nearby. These students would rather work hard at something than sail through easily.
What other resources are there to learn more about mindsets and how to create a growth mindset in the classroom?
- Mindset, the New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck.
- Growth Mindset Framing Tool statements teachers may use when introducing a new learning goal or setting high expectations
- What’s My Mindset? short quiz which gives good feedback about where you fall on the mindset continuum
- Growth Mindset Feedback statements to use with students
- Effective Effort Rubric assesses the effort a learner exerts