Two Views of Intelligence Which mindset do you have?
Read each statement and decide whether you mostly agree with it or disagree with it.
1.You can learn new things, but you can’t really change how intelligent you are.
2.No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit.
Choose the statement that you agree with the most. You can learn new things, but you can't really change how intelligent you are. [30%]
No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit. [70.0%]
Two mindsets
Fixed Mindset (Ability-based Belief)
Intelligence is: FIXED
INNATE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED
Growth Mindset - Positive Feedback Loop
Time Spent on Effective Effort
Achievement
Motivation | Self-Confidence
Expert Instruction Strategic Hard Work
Happiness
What Neuroscience tells us…
What is the brain made of? All of the areas of the brain are made of cells called
NEURONS
They transmit information all around the brain.
Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with
other neurons at SYNAPSES
Learning helps our neurons GROW. The more we learn, the more connections they make.
Frontal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe
The body in the brain
HOMUNCULUS What is this weird picture?
• A visual model!
• Parts that are bigger are used much more, or with more accuracy.
Evidence from Neuroscience
People who play music have been found to have auditory centres that are BIGGER than normal.
The ‘sound’ area of
their brain grew through practicing their music.
More evidence …
Rats in a rich environment have heavier brains, by 10%, than those in a boring environment.
Taxi drivers have bigger areas which deal with 3D
space – the hippocampus - than non-taxi drivers.
Can you think of any evidence from your life that might support the idea that intelligence can change
over time?
What do we mean by “Intelligence”?
Multiple Intelligence Test Results Algebra 2017-2018
Given the class predisposition for body, social, musical intelligence, I guess algebra class should be like this…
Leadership
Prime Minister Winston Churchill REPEATED a grade during elementary school
He was placed in the
LOWEST division of the LOWEST class
Music Beethoven’s teacher called
him a HOPELESS composer
He wrote 5 of his greatest
SYMPHONIES while DEAF
Writing
Leo Tolstoy dropped out of college
He was described as both
“UNABLE and unwilling to LEARN"
The “Natural Ability” Myth…
….Einstein's teacher said that he was ‘academically subnormal’
….Michael Jordan's coach said that he wasn’t more talented than other people…
…..Walt Disney was told that he lacked ‘creative imagination’
Why does Mindset matter?
Evidence about Ability (Defines who you are)
Fixed
Evidence about Progress (Defines where you are) Growth
E V E N T
Goal = Look Smart
Goal = Learn
Goals: What do we aim for?
What GOALS to people set?
Performance Goals High scores ‘prove’ ability
Fixed
Learning Goals
Always working toward Mastery and Competence
Growth
G O A L S
Failure: how do we respond to failure?
How do people respond?
Helpless Lose self-esteem
Make excuses
Fixed
Opportunity Look for lessons
Learn new strategies
Growth
F A I L U R E
Effort: What role does it play?
Why put forth Effort?
Lack of Ability Try hard only
if you ‘need to’
Fixed
Path to Success Bigger Challenge just requires more effort
Growth
E F F O R T
Effects of the Mindsets on Achievement
Growth Mindset Desire to LEARN
Fixed Mindset Desire to LOOK SMART
Challenges Embrace Challenges Avoid Challenges
Obstacles Persist in the
face of setbacks Get Defensive or
Give up Easily
Effort Effort =
Path to mastery Effort =
Only for ‘ungifted’
Criticism Learn
from Criticism Ignore Negative
Feedback
Success of Others
Find lessons and Inspiration Feel Threatened
Growth Mindset - Positive Feedback Loop
Time Spent on Effective Effort
Achievement
Motivation | Self-Confidence
Expert Instruction Strategic Hard Work
Happiness
Once you have a Growth Mindset how do you use it to get smarter?
ADAPTED FROM: Mindset: The Psychology of Learning and
Achievement
The Centre would like to thank the Scottish Government for their
support in helping to produce this resource.
Online Sources Mindset
Carol Dweck Brainology
Research For Better Teaching David Perkins
Print Sources Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House, 2006. Perkins, David. Outsmarting IQ: The Emerging Science of Learnable Intelligence. New York: The Free Press, 1995. Saphier, Jon, and Gower, Robert. The Skillful Teacher: Building Your Teaching Skills, Research for Better Teaching, Inc.: Action, MA, 1997.