Faculty Webinar Discussion Series How Can I Encourage the Growth Mindset with Three Simple Tips? January 19, 2017 Facilitator: Hector M. Gonzales School of Public Services Adjunct Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Assessment Excelsior College Albany, NY

Agenda Introduction Fixed Versus Growth Mindset Motivation to Learn Encourage Growth Discussion on how to encourage Growth Mindset

Introduction “Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” Albert Einstein “Test scores and measures of achievement tell you where a student is, but they don’t tell you where a student could end up.” Carol Dweck “Ask ‘How will they learn best?’ not ‘Can they learn?” Jaime Escalante

Fixed Mindset Versus Growth Mindset Is there a difference? If so, why is it important for educators to know the difference?

Fixed Vs. Growth Mindset Fixed Mindset In a fixed mindset students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents, are just fixed traits. They have a certain amount and that’s that, and then their goal becomes to look smart all the time and never look dumb. Growth Mindset In a growth mindset students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort, good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be Einstein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work at it. —Carol Dweck, Stanford University

Motivation to Learn Intrinsic motivators; include fascination with the subject, a sense of its relevance to life and the world, a sense of accomplishment in mastering it, and a sense of calling to it. Extrinsic motivators; include parental expectations, expectations of other trusted role models, earning potential of a course of study, and grades (Center for Teaching, n.d.)

The Conscious Competence Ladder Level 1: You have a complete lack of knowledge and skills in a specific area. Level 2: You discover you need to learn new skills Level 3: You know you have acquired new skills But you need to concentrate when you perform those activities Level 4: You perform the task without conscious efforts. Once you master one set of skills, it is important to learn more if you want you continue to grow (MindTools, n.d.)

Encourage Growth Recent Research Findings Examples of Social Psychological Interventions Preliminary Results

Three Tips to Encourage Growth Mindset Introduce the Growth Mindset Concept Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed no hope at all. Dale Carnegie (Practical Savyy, n.d.) 2. Adjust Assignment Descriptions The problem human beings face is not that we aim too high and fail, but that we aim too low and succeed. Michelangelo (Practical Savyy, n.d.) 3. Adjust the Way You Give Feedback A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do. Walter Gagehot (Practical Savyy, n.d.)

Questions Have you used any of the three methods recommended by Dr. Delaney? In your opinion, do you find the application of these three methods useful to online learners? What is your take away from this webinar?

Conclusion “Student engagement is the product of motivation and active learning. It is a product rather than a sum because it will not occur if either element is missing.” Elizabeth F. Barkley

References Barkley, E. (n.d.). Elizabeth F. Barkley Quotes. Goodreads. Retrieved from: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/217079-student-engagement-is-the-product-of-motivation-and-active-learning Center for Teaching. (n.d.) Motivating Students. Vanderbilt University. Retrieved from: https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/motivating-students/#model Clear, J. (2017). How Your Beliefs Can Sabotage Your Behavior. Behavioral Psychology, Self- Improvement. Retrieved from: http://jamesclear.com/fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset Delaney, S. (2016). How Can I Encourage the Growth Mindset with Three Simple Tips? Magna Publications Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.magnapubs.com/profile/purchases.html?ondemand&video=13945 Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: the new psychology of success. New York. N.Y. Random House. Kosovich, J. (2014). Adapting Value and Mindset Interventions to the Community College Setting. Carnegie Foundation. Retrieved from: https://www.carnegiefoundation.org/blog/adapting-value-mindset-interventions-community-college-setting/ MindTools, (n.d.). The Conscious Competence Ladder. Retrieved from: https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_96.htm Practical Savyy. (n.d.). Solutions to Everyday Problems. Practical Savyy Solutions. Retrieved from: http://practicalsavvy.com/2012/01/31/inspiring-quotes-demonstrating-the-growth-mindset/ Yeager, D. & Walton, G. (2011). Review of Educational Research. Sage Journals. Retrieved from: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0034654311405999