Hi everyone, as the project comes to a close I thought it would be nice to try something fun! But first a little bit of backstory, when Carol Dweck and her colleagues went into classrooms to see the effect of mindset on grades they had every student take a survey to see if they either had a fixed or growth mindset.
They published their short 16 question survey online, you can find it here: https://mindsetonline.com/testyourmindset/step1.php
I encourage you to find out whether you have a fixed or growth mindset and share the results below. Usually, in a pool of people, about 40% of them have a fixed mindset, 40% have a growth mindset, and 20% have a mixture of both.
But what can you do if you find out that you have a fixed mindset, it's actually pretty easy to change. One of the ways is to notice when you start saying things like, "I can't do it," when you hear yourself say this, stop, and add the word yet to the end of that sentence. This simple word has massive implications. By saying 'yet' you're telling yourself that you can't do it right now, but you'll be able to do it eventually by putting enough effort in.
Another common way is to track your own progress. This lets you see how much you've improved over the course of any time period and can really help as a visual aid if you're not feeling motivated. For example, if you play the violin and are trying to improve, record a session on your phone weekly and listen to them so you know what parts you need to work on. Or if you're struggling in math graph your test scores on a line graph so you can see your improvement.
However, this is not a cure-all for laziness. In order to see the results, you'll have to put the work in and seek out help if you need it!
Hi Nic! I got growth mindset.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious, are there any times when a fixed mindset could be considered "good"? Or is a growth mindset always the "best"?
Great to hear! Interesting question Ivanna, I've never really thought of it like that. Based on my research, I would have to say, generally growth mindset is the best to have. This is because the mindset directly effects the behavior. For example, a person with growth mindset is more likely to seek out challenges, persevere when faced with failure, and learn about how others succeeded. On the other hand, a person with fixed mindset is more likely to avoid challenges, give up when they encounter failure, and feel threatened by the success of others.
DeleteI hope this helps!
Keeping track of your progress and setting mini-goals is definitely beneficial for anything that you are trying to accomplish or improve upon. An old boss of mine always reminded me of this by saying "if you aren't measuring it, why are you doing it? How do you know if you are getting any better and how do you know when you're done?"
ReplyDelete- Ms. Holtzman
Hi Nic,
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest part about the test was staying honest, because its clear which attributes indicate a growth/fixed mindset. Sure enough, I got 50-50 split between growth and fixed. I am curious about what the test makers define as talent. I personally believe that talent is innate, but hard work can always improve performance and overcome any talent deficit. What do you think?
Hey Alek, I definitely agree that it's hard staying honest about it when you already know about the topic. The researchers define talent as something you are born with. And yes, I agree with you to a certain extent. If your a swimmer, you can work really hard day in and day out, but you may never be the next Michael Phelps. It's important to set realistic goals and recognize your own limits.
DeleteHey Nic,
ReplyDeleteI agree that people can at least try to improve their intelligence if they want by working hard, but I feel as if talent is something a bit more naturally born with. You can work hard to gain new skills but I'm not sure if that equates to talent. What do you think?
Hey Kayla, I see talent and intelligence as a base or foundation. It's where you start and some people may start higher up than you, but through hard work and determination you can surpass others who were more talented than you. Also, I feel as a person masters a concept or activity it becomes skill.
DeleteNic,
ReplyDeleteYou were so independent on your senior project! You were a Faculty Advisor's dream! I loved seeing your practice presentation this week. You were so professional and passionate! I can't wait to see you present on Saturday and show everyone how much of an impact they all can have on others' potential!
- Ms. Holtzman