Mindsets:Helping Students To Fulfill Their

Potential

Carol S. Dweck

Stanford University

Learner or Non-learner?

“I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures… I divide the world into the learners and non-learners.”

-- Benjamin Barber

Mindsets Matter

Fixed Mindset:

Intelligence is fixed

Mindsets Matter

Fixed Mindset:

Intelligence is fixed

Growth Mindset:

Intelligence can be developed

Brain Plasticity

What do mindsets do?

Achievement in 7th & 8th GradeBlackwell, Dweck, & Trzesniewski (2007)

72.072.573.073.574.074.575.075.576.076.577.0

EnteringAcademic

Year

Fall Year 1

Spring Year 1

Fall Year 2

SpringYear2

FixedGrowth

growth mindset

fixed mindset

Mat

h G

rad

es

How do mindsets work?

#1

Fixed Mindset:

LOOK SMART AT ALL COSTS

Growth Mindset:

LEARN AT ALL COSTS

#2

Fixed Mindset : Effort is badIF YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD, YOU’RE

NOT SMART

Growth Mindset: Effort is good WORKING HARD MAKES YOU

SMARTER

#3 IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS…

Fixed Mindset: It’s about youGIVE UP, BECOME DEFENSIVE

Growth Mindset: It’s about learningSHOW RESILIENCE

After Setback

Fixed Mindset: “I’d spend less time on this subject from now on.”“I would try to cheat on the next test.”

Growth Mindset:“I would work harder in this class from now on.”

Blackwell, Trzesniewski and Dweck, 2007

How Are Mindsets Transmitted?

Mueller & Dweck, 1998; Kamins & Dweck,1 999; Cimpian, Arce, Mueller & Dweck, 1998; Kamins & Dweck,1 999; Cimpian, Arce, Markman, & Dweck, 2007. Markman, & Dweck, 2007.

Intelligence vs. “Process” Praise

• Fixed (vs. Growth) Mindset

• Non-learner vs. Learner!

In the face of difficulty:

• Not resilient

Changing Mindsets

Interventions

• Growth Mindset Group: Growth mindset + study skills

• Control Group: Study skills

The brain is a network of cells (neurons)

The cells communicate through chemical messages

Math Grades(Blackwell, Trzesniewski, & Dweck, 2007)

Making it to college vs. making it through college

Course DropoutStudents Who Dropped Freshman Math

4 Computer Modules

Teachers’ Guide

www.brainology.us

The Brainology approach

www.brainology.us

Transforming the Meaning of Effort and Difficulty