Mindset:Mindset:

The Psychology of The Psychology of Learning and Learning and AchievementAchievement

Module 1: MindsetsModule 1: Mindsets

Made or born?Made or born?

Are we born smart or stupid?Are we born smart or stupid?

Is intelligence fixed from birth?Is intelligence fixed from birth?

Do we have ‘built-in’ talents as a baby? Do we have ‘built-in’ talents as a baby?

OrOr… do talents, abilities and … do talents, abilities and intelligence itself grow from intelligence itself grow from experience??experience??

What we’ll be looking at

Born Born SMARTSMART….?….?

At birth, we can’t WALK or TALKAt birth, we can’t WALK or TALK

These abilities don’t pop up These abilities don’t pop up overnight….overnight….

…….. they DEVELOP as we LEARN!!.. they DEVELOP as we LEARN!!

Importance of development

Good at Good at mathsmaths??

Good at Good at actingacting??

Good at Good at sciencescience??

Good at Good at musicmusic??

So, are we born…So, are we born…

Was Einstein born a Was Einstein born a geniusgenius??

Was Michael Jordan bornWas Michael Jordan bornslam dunkingslam dunking??

‘‘MaybeMaybe’’

Was Beyonce born a Was Beyonce born a POPSTARPOPSTAR??

What can we learn about What can we learn about learninglearning

from animals?from animals?

Ratty intellect…Ratty intellect…

BORINGBORING

Nothing to do in Nothing to do in the cage but eat the cage but eat

and sleepand sleep

– No stimulationNo stimulation

EXCITINGEXCITING

Cage had Cage had opportunities for opportunities for rats to play and rats to play and

interactinteract

– Lots of Lots of stimulationstimulation

Lab rats were placed in 2 different Lab rats were placed in 2 different environments:environments:

After a while, the After a while, the stimulated rats stimulated rats were found to be were found to be smarter than the smarter than the boring rats.boring rats.

Their brains were Their brains were even HEAVIER than even HEAVIER than the boring rats.the boring rats.

Rat results

What do you think?What do you think?

Are our abilitiesAre our abilities

determined from determined from

birth?birth?

People have increased People have increased their IQ by their IQ by 30 POINTS30 POINTS

With the right mindset people can With the right mindset people can achieve more than an IQ test achieve more than an IQ test

might reveal.might reveal.

Two beliefs about Two beliefs about intelligenceintelligence

Fixed mindsetFixed mindset

Believes:Believes:Intelligence is CARVED Intelligence is CARVED

IN STONEIN STONE

Scores in a test Scores in a test MEASURE POTENTIALMEASURE POTENTIAL

Intelligent people Intelligent people shouldn’t have to shouldn’t have to WORK HARDWORK HARD

Failure reflects aFailure reflects a LACKLACK

of INTELLIGENCE of INTELLIGENCE

Growth mindsetGrowth mindset

Believes:Believes:Intelligence is Intelligence is

MALLEABLEMALLEABLE

Learning requiresLearning requires HARD HARD WORKWORK andand EFFORTEFFORT

ALL individuals CAN ALL individuals CAN LEARN and improveLEARN and improve

We CANNOT MEASURE a We CANNOT MEASURE a person’s POTENTIALperson’s POTENTIAL

Thinking about mindsetThinking about mindset

OBSERVE OBSERVE the mindset you adoptthe mindset you adopt

You can You can CHOOSECHOOSE to adopt a growth to adopt a growth mindsetmindset

When you meet challengesWhen you meet challenges REMIND REMIND yourself about the growth mindset yourself about the growth mindset

Module 2: The Brain

The brain weighs The brain weighs 1,300 – 1,400 grams1,300 – 1,400 grams

It is made up of It is made up of 100 Billion Neurons100 Billion Neurons

Forming different Forming different areas called areas called LobesLobes

Facts about the brain…

FrontalLobe

Parietal Lobe

TemporalLobe

OccipitalLobe

Emotion Emotion ReasoningReasoning SpeechSpeech Motion Motion PlanningPlanning Problem solvingProblem solving

The The FrontalFrontal lobe is lobe is used for:used for:

TouchTouch PressurePressure TemperatureTemperature PainPain

The The Parietal Parietal lobe is lobe is used in:used in:

HearingHearing

&& MemoryMemory

TheTemporal

lobe is used for…

The The Temporal Temporal lobe is lobe is used for:used for:

VisionVision

We use this lobe to We use this lobe to process what we seeprocess what we see

The The Occipital Occipital lobe is lobe is used for:used for:

The different parts of the brain let usThe different parts of the brain let us

dodo things things

thinkthink things things

rememberremember things things

All of the lobes, and all their All of the lobes, and all their functions, are important in functions, are important in

everyday life.everyday life.

A homunculus is used A homunculus is used to describe the to describe the relative amount of relative amount of space our body parts space our body parts occupy in the brain.occupy in the brain.

In a model of motor In a model of motor functions, some parts functions, some parts are much bigger are much bigger because we use them because we use them much more, or with much more, or with more accuracy.more accuracy.

Homunculus

The more we use a The more we use a part of our body, the part of our body, the more space our brain more space our brain needs to control or needs to control or interpret it.interpret it.

In fact, by learning In fact, by learning the brain may have the brain may have to change the space to change the space it uses to account for it uses to account for new abilities.new abilities.

Brain space…

People who play music People who play music have been found to have been found to have auditory centres have auditory centres that are BIGGER than that are BIGGER than normal. normal.

The ‘sound’ area of The ‘sound’ area of their brain grew their brain grew through practising through practising their music.their music.

Sound centre

All of the areas of the brain… like sound, All of the areas of the brain… like sound, communication, problem-solving… are made of communication, problem-solving… are made of

cells called cells called NEURONSNEURONS

They transmit information all around the They transmit information all around the brain.brain.

NeuronsNeurons

Neurons pass information through Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with other neurons at CONNECTIONS with other neurons at

SYNAPSESSYNAPSES

Learning helps our neurons GROW.Learning helps our neurons GROW.

The more we learn, the more connections The more we learn, the more connections they make.they make.

……through lots and lots of practice.through lots and lots of practice.

People with large auditory areas People with large auditory areas in their brain grew lots more in their brain grew lots more

neuron connections in the sound neuron connections in the sound area…area…

What about your brain?What about your brain?

What areas do you think are bigger What areas do you think are bigger in your brain than in other in your brain than in other

people’s?people’s?

What areas would you like to get What areas would you like to get even bigger and stronger?even bigger and stronger?

What areas would you like to fix?What areas would you like to fix?

Module 3: Module 3: ‘‘Fail your Fail your way to successway to success’’

He went on to win the Olympic games He went on to win the Olympic games gold medal and the U.S. open.gold medal and the U.S. open.

Andy MurrayAndy Murray lo lostst his his

first four grand slam finals…first four grand slam finals…

‘‘FailureFailure’’

""he lacked imagination and had no he lacked imagination and had no good ideasgood ideas””

In school In school Robin WilliamsRobin Williams was voted… was voted…

‘‘‘‘least likely to succeedleast likely to succeed’’’’

Walt DisneyWalt Disney was fired by a was fired by a newspaper editor because…newspaper editor because…

Different ways people Different ways people view failureview failure

Some people view it as aSome people view it as alearning opportunity.learning opportunity. They They

valuevalue learning. learning.

While others view it asWhile others view it asconfirmation that they are confirmation that they are not not

smart.smart.

Why do people have different Why do people have different views of failure? Because they views of failure? Because they

have different goals….have different goals….

Some people Some people create create learninglearning goals. goals.

Others create Others create performanceperformance goals.goals.

a test, a sport, a drawing –a test, a sport, a drawing –

- What goal did you have? What goal did you have?

- Did you want to show a teacher how Did you want to show a teacher how clever you were ? clever you were ?

- Was it a performance goal?Was it a performance goal?

- What would you do next time this What would you do next time this happens?happens?

Think of a time when you didnThink of a time when you didn’’t t enjoy doing something…enjoy doing something…

Write down why it may be better to Write down why it may be better to have learning goalshave learning goals

Module 4: ‘How people Module 4: ‘How people cope with failure’cope with failure’

Response to failureResponse to failure

SOME PEOPLE…SOME PEOPLE…

BLAME BLAME themselves,themselves,

Feel Feel DEPRESSEDDEPRESSED and and

GIVE UPGIVE UP trying trying

OTHERS…OTHERS…

Don’t think that they Don’t think that they are failing, so are failing, so BLAME BLAME NO ONE NO ONE

KEEP GOING KEEP GOING andand

RemainRemain HOPEFUL HOPEFUL that that they will get therethey will get there

Helpless responseHelpless response

UnmotivatedUnmotivated Lack of perseveranceLack of perseverance Decreased enjoymentDecreased enjoyment DepressedDepressed AnxiousAnxious Responsible for the Responsible for the

setbacksetback Disengaged and avoid Disengaged and avoid

getting involved with getting involved with studyingstudying

MasteryMastery responseresponse

View setback as a View setback as a challengechallenge

Try harderTry harder Look for other ways Look for other ways

to do thingsto do things Consider many Consider many

different pointsdifferent points Engage with the Engage with the

problemproblem??

5050//5050

People display one or the other response. People display one or the other response. In some areas they may react with a In some areas they may react with a

mastery response and in others a mastery response and in others a helpless response.helpless response.

Brain imaging and Brain imaging and response to failureresponse to failure

People with a fixed People with a fixed mindset pay mindset pay

attention to how attention to how they feel (i.e. they feel (i.e.

stressed, stressed, anxious).anxious).

Those feelings then Those feelings then get in the way of get in the way of

learning.learning.

Write down on your piece of paper Write down on your piece of paper why it might be better to show awhy it might be better to show a

‘‘mastery response’mastery response’

rather than a rather than a ‘‘helpless responsehelpless response’’ when confronted with failurewhen confronted with failure

MasteryMastery responseresponse

View setback as a View setback as a challengechallenge

Try harderTry harder Look for other ways Look for other ways

to do thingsto do things Consider many Consider many

different pointsdifferent points Engage with the Engage with the

problemproblem??

Looking at these benefits,Looking at these benefits,

think about how this applies to your think about how this applies to your life. life.

Do you view failure as an Do you view failure as an opportunity to opportunity to learn and improvelearn and improve??

Michael JordanMichael Jordan’’s coach said that s coach said that there were many more talented there were many more talented

people than him….people than him….

What made Jordan special?What made Jordan special?

Do you agree that he Do you agree that he failedfailed his way his way to success?to success?

because they are hard?because they are hard?

to avoid failing?to avoid failing?

Do you avoid or give up on Do you avoid or give up on certain tasks…certain tasks…

think about what you can learnthink about what you can learn

Next time you get feedback Next time you get feedback or marks that you didnor marks that you didn’’t t

want…want…

What do you believe What do you believe about effort?about effort?

Do you believe that hard work Do you believe that hard work and effort can help you to and effort can help you to

improve?improve?oror

Do you believe that putting effort Do you believe that putting effort in only shows that you were not in only shows that you were not

good at it in the first place?good at it in the first place?

Do you think of this as someone Do you think of this as someone with extraordinary abilities who with extraordinary abilities who

achieved things with little effort?achieved things with little effort?

Think about your hero…Think about your hero…

Will SmithWill Smith

Find out the tremendous effort that Find out the tremendous effort that went into their accomplishments went into their accomplishments

and admire them even more.and admire them even more.

Now go and find out the Now go and find out the truth!truth!

Wilma RudolphWilma Rudolph

Mindset tipsMindset tips Try out new strategiesTry out new strategies Find learning information in failureFind learning information in failure Remember marks do not show your Remember marks do not show your

potential - they only show how you potential - they only show how you are doing right NOW.are doing right NOW.

If you are having difficulties finding If you are having difficulties finding new strategies or learning information new strategies or learning information ask someone who could help you.ask someone who could help you.

Module 5: Mindset Module 5: Mindset and successand success

2 Mindsets recap:2 Mindsets recap:

Fixed mindsetFixed mindset

Belief that ability Belief that ability is fixedis fixed

People are born People are born smart/sporty etcsmart/sporty etc

Depressed after Depressed after failurefailure

Put in less effortPut in less effort Don’t try new Don’t try new

strategiesstrategies

Growth mindsetGrowth mindset

Belief that people can Belief that people can grow and developgrow and develop

See failure/setback as See failure/setback as a learning opportunitya learning opportunity

Put in effort and Put in effort and persistpersist

Try alternative routes Try alternative routes to successto success

Now put the paper in a pile on your Now put the paper in a pile on your tabletable

Write down 3 things you know Write down 3 things you know about a about a GROWTHGROWTH mindset mindset

Then fold the paper and put it on a Then fold the paper and put it on a pile on your tablepile on your table

Write down 3 things you know Write down 3 things you know about a about a FIXEDFIXED mindset mindset

Now stick these on the wall in Now stick these on the wall in 2 separate groups2 separate groups

a a GGROWTHROWTH group group

andand

a a FIXEDFIXED group group

In groups discuss the benefits of a In groups discuss the benefits of a growth mindset.growth mindset.

Write down Write down 3 3 of these benefits…of these benefits…

Picture the brain forming new Picture the brain forming new connections as you meet the connections as you meet the

challenge and learn. challenge and learn.

Keep on going…Keep on going…

Is there something in your past Is there something in your past which you think measured you?which you think measured you?

Essay Essay ExamExam Music lessonMusic lesson Maths homeworkMaths homework Being rejected?Being rejected?

Now focus on that thing and put it in Now focus on that thing and put it in the growth mindset perspective… the growth mindset perspective…

Write it down Write it down

What did you learn from What did you learn from this experience?this experience?

Is there something that you always Is there something that you always wanted to do but were afraid that wanted to do but were afraid that

you werenyou weren’’t good at it?t good at it?

Make a plan and Make a plan and do itdo it..

ArtArt ScienceScience MusicMusic

SingingSinging Acting Acting MathsMaths

History History Football Football Writing Writing

ComputingComputing GamingGaming PoliticsPolitics

People are born with a love of People are born with a love of learning.learning.

A A fixedfixed mindset can undo this. mindset can undo this.

Mindset tipsMindset tips

Create learning goalsCreate learning goals Make plansMake plans Imagine the brain making new connections Imagine the brain making new connections

each time you learn somethingeach time you learn something Concentrate on believing that you canConcentrate on believing that you can When you meet challenges, setbacks or When you meet challenges, setbacks or

adversity ask yourself adversity ask yourself ‘‘what can I learn from what can I learn from this?this?’’

Tell other people about your growth mindsetTell other people about your growth mindset What else have you come up with………?What else have you come up with………?

FixedFixed mindset mindset If people are either smart or not If people are either smart or not

smart, then failure means that smart, then failure means that people are not clever…people are not clever…

Even though they could learn they Even though they could learn they GIVE UPGIVE UP

They feel DEPRESSED and ANXIOUSThey feel DEPRESSED and ANXIOUS

DonDon’’t persevere or put effort int persevere or put effort in

GrowthGrowth mindset mindset Failure is an Failure is an opportunity to learnopportunity to learn and to and to

try out try out new strategiesnew strategies

Failure is a chance to look for learning Failure is a chance to look for learning information and to information and to improve improve performanceperformance

Marks or grades Marks or grades do notdo not measure a measure a persons potentialpersons potential

DonDon’’t see setback as a failuret see setback as a failure