Mindset: How does your effort have anything to do with your achievement?

Born SMART….? Born SMART….?

Are we born with a level of intelligence? Are we born with a level of intelligence? Can we change our intelligence level? Can we change our intelligence level? Do we have ‘built-in’ talents as a baby? Do we have ‘built-in’ talents as a baby? Or… do talents, abilities and intelligence grow from experience? Or… do talents, abilities and intelligence grow from experience? Let’s ponder these questions…

At birth, we can’t WALK or TALK These abilities don’t pop up overnight…. ….. they DEVELOP as we LEARN!! Think about this…

Good at math? Good at acting? Good at science? Good at music? So, are we born…

Was Einstein born a genius?

Was Michael Jordan born slam dunking?

Was Justin born a POPSTAR?

Ratty intellect…what we can learn from animals Ratty intellect…what we can learn from animals BORING Nothing to do in the cage but eat and sleep –No stimulation EXCITING Cage had opportunities for rats to play and interact –Lots of stimulation Lab rats were placed in 2 different environments: Lab rats were placed in 2 different environments:

After a while, the stimulated rats were found to be smarter than the boring rats. Their brains were even HEAVIER than the boring rats. Rat results

What do you think? Are our abilities Are our abilities determined from determined frombirth?

Two “mindsets” about intelligence Two “mindsets” about intelligence

#1. The “ Fixed” mindset Believes: Intelligence is CARVED IN STONE Intelligent people shouldn’t have to WORK HARD If you fail it is because you are not smart

#2. The “Growth” mindset Believes: Intelligence levels can be changed Learning requires HARD WORK and EFFORT Everybody CAN LEARN and improve

Which mindset do you have? Fixed Mindset I sure wish I was smarter. Fixed Mindset I sure wish I was smarter. Growth Mindset I know if I just try hard and work on this longer and maybe ask for help, I’ll get it.

Let’s check out

It is made up of 100 Billion Neurons Has different areas called Lobes Facts about the brain…

Frontal Lobe Parietal Lobe Temporal Lobe Occipital Lobe

Emotion Emotion Reasoning Reasoning Speech Speech Motion Motion Planning Planning Problem solving Problem solving The Frontal lobe is used for:

Touch Touch Pressure Pressure Temperature Temperature Pain Pain The Parietal lobe is used in:

Hearing Hearing& Memory Memory The Temporal lobe is used for:

Vision to process what we see to process what we see The Occipital lobe is used for:

The different parts of the brain let us do things think things remember things. Every part of the brain is important.

A homunculus is used to describe the relative amount of space our body parts occupy in the brain. A homunculus is used to describe the relative amount of space our body parts occupy in the brain. In a model of motor functions, some parts are much bigger because we use them much more, or with more accuracy. In a model of motor functions, some parts are much bigger because we use them much more, or with more accuracy. Homunculus

The more we use a part of our body, the more that part of our brain grows. The more we use a part of our body, the more that part of our brain grows. Brain space…

When people play music, the auditory or sound center is BIGGER than normal. When people play music, the auditory or sound center is BIGGER than normal. The “sound” area of their brain grew because they practiced their music. The “sound” area of their brain grew because they practiced their music. Sound center

All of the areas of the brain are made of cells called NEURONS They carry information all around the brain. Neurons

Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with other neurons at places called SYNAPSES.

When we learn, our neurons GROW. The more we learn, the more connections they make. The more we learn, the more connections they make.

Famous people and how others thought of them.

… through lots and lots of practice. People with large auditory areas in their brain grew lots more neuron connections in the sound area…

What about your brain? What areas do you think are bigger in your brain than in other people’s? What areas would you like to get even bigger and stronger?

Module 3: ‘Fail your way to success’

He went on to win the tour de France 6 times. Lance Armstrong came last in his first professional race…

"he lacked imagination and had no good ideas” Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because…

In school Robin Williams was voted… ‘‘least likely to succeed.’’

Einstein… Didn’t talk until he was 3 Didn’t talk until he was 3 Didn’t impress his teachers Didn’t impress his teachers And his teachers thought he was lazy, sloppy, and uncooperative And his teachers thought he was lazy, sloppy, and uncooperative

Different ways people view failure Some people view it as a learning opportunity. They value learning. Others view it as just another time that shows they are not smart.

Why do people have different views of failure? Because they have different goals…. Some people create learning goals. Some people create learning goals. Others create performance goals. Others create performance goals.

a test, a sport, a drawing – - What goal did you have? - Did you want to show a teacher how clever you were ? - Was it a performance goal? - What would you do next time this happens? Think of a time when you didn’t enjoy doing something…

Write down the benefits of having learning goals

Module 4: ‘How people cope with failure’

Response to failure SOME PEOPLE… BLAME themselves, Feel DEPRESSED and GIVE UP trying OTHERS… Don’t think that they are failing, so BLAME NO ONE KEEP GOING and Remain HOPEFUL that they will get there

“Fixed” mindset Unmotivated Unmotivated Lack of perseverance Lack of perseverance Depressed Depressed Responsible for the setback Responsible for the setback Avoid getting involved with studying Avoid getting involved with studying

“Growth” mindset View setback as a challenge View setback as a challenge Try harder Try harder Look for other ways to do things Look for other ways to do things

Which are you most of the time? People usually display one or the other response.

Brain imaging and response to failure People with a fixed mindset pay attention to how they feel (i.e. stressed, anxious). Those feelings then get in the way of learning.

Write down on a piece of paper 3 benefits of displaying a ‘mastery response’ rather than a ‘helpless response’ when confronted with failure

Stick these on the wall

Looking at these benefits, think about how this applies to your life. Do you view failure as an opportunity to learn and improve?

Michael Jordan’s coach said that there were many more talented people than him…. What made Jordan special? Do you agree that he failed his way to success?

because they are hard? because they are hard? to avoid failing? to avoid failing? Do you avoid or give up on certain tasks…

think about what you can learn think about what you can learn Next time you get feedback or marks that you didn’t want…

What do you believe about effort? Do you believe that with hard work and effort you can improve? Do you believe that with hard work and effort you can improve?

Do you think of this as someone with extraordinary abilities who achieved things with little effort? Do you think of this as someone with extraordinary abilities who achieved things with little effort? Think about your hero…

Find out the tremendous effort that went into their accomplishments Find out the tremendous effort that went into their accomplishments and admire them even more. Now go and find out the truth!

Mindset tips Remember grades do not show your potential. They only show how you are doing right NOW. Remember grades do not show your potential. They only show how you are doing right NOW. If you are having difficulties using new strategies or learning information, ask for help. If you are having difficulties using new strategies or learning information, ask for help.

Module 5: Mindset and success

To recap—Students with a: Fixed mindset Believe that ability is fixed Believe that ability is fixed Believe people are born smart/sporty etc. Believe people are born smart/sporty etc. Become depressed after failure Become depressed after failure Put in less effort Put in less effort Don’t try new strategies Don’t try new strategies Growth mindset Believe that people can grow and develop Believe that people can grow and develop See failure/setback as a learning opportunity See failure/setback as a learning opportunity Put in effort and persist Put in effort and persist Try alternative routes to success Try alternative routes to success

Now put the paper in a pile on your table Write down 3 things you know about a GROWTH mindset

Then fold the paper and put it on a pile on your table Write down 3 things you know about a FIXED mindset

Now stick these on the wall in 2 separate groups a GROWTH group a GROWTH groupand a FIXED group a FIXED group

In groups discuss the benefits of a growth mindset. Write down 3 of these benefits…

Picture the brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going…

Is there something in your past which you think measured you? Essay Essay Exam Exam Music lesson Music lesson Maths homework Maths homework Being rejected? Being rejected? Now focus on that thing and put it in the growth mindset perspective…

What did you learn from this experience?

Is there something that you always wanted to do but were afraid that you weren’t good at it? Make a plan and do it.

ArtScienceMusic SingingActing Maths History Football Writing ComputingGamingPolitics

People are born with a love of learning. A fixed mindset can undo this.

Mindset tips Imagine the brain making new connections each time you learn something Imagine the brain making new connections each time you learn something Concentrate on believing that you can Concentrate on believing that you can When you meet challenges or problems, ask yourself “what can I learn from this?” When you meet challenges or problems, ask yourself “what can I learn from this?”

Fixed mindset Even though they could learn they GIVE UP Even though they could learn they GIVE UP They feel DEPRESSED and ANXIOUS They feel DEPRESSED and ANXIOUS Don’t persevere or put effort in Don’t persevere or put effort in

Growth mindset Failure is an opportunity to learn and to try out new strategies Failure is an opportunity to learn and to try out new strategies Failure is a chance to look for learning information and to improve performance Failure is a chance to look for learning information and to improve performance Marks or grades do not measure a person’s potential Marks or grades do not measure a person’s potential Don’t see setback as a failure Don’t see setback as a failure

YOU and only you, can chose your mindset. can chose your mindset. Choose wisely!

This PowerPoint was adapted from: Mindset Presentation for teaching children-1.ppt entitled “Mindset: The Psychology of Learning and Achievement” =c2lkPTEz =c2lkPTEz

The Centre would like to thank the Scottish Government for their support in helping to produce this resource. The Centre would like to thank the Scottish Government for their support in helping to produce this resource.