Developing a
Growth Mindset
March 4, 2025 | EDLD 5313 | Spring 2025
"I think anything is possible if you have the mindset and the will and desire to do it and put the time in."
Modifying the Use of Growth Mindset
The meta-analysis from Case Western Reserve University suggests that simply having a growth mindset doesn’t guarantee success. Given this, I will shift my approach from promoting the growth mindset as an isolated concept to integrating it with actionable strategies. Rather than just encouraging students to "believe" they can grow, I’ll emphasize skill-building, deliberate practice, and the role of feedback in making progress. Growth mindset alone isn't enough—students need structured opportunities, mentorship, and strategies for overcoming challenges.​​
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Helping Learners Develop a Growth Mindset
To truly help learners develop a growth mindset, I need to move beyond motivational statements and focus on helping them reframe challenges. This means normalizing struggle as part of learning and emphasizing process over outcome. I can help students set incremental goals, reflect on their progress, and understand that improvement comes from effort and strategy rather than innate ability. Additionally, encouraging self-assessment and peer feedback can help reinforce that learning is a journey, not a fixed endpoint.
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Other Factors that Influence Growth Mindset
A supportive learning environment, structured feedback, resilience, and access to resources all play a role in fostering a growth mindset. Socioeconomic background, previous academic experiences, and self-efficacy also influence how students perceive challenges. If a student feels unsupported or lacks the necessary tools, simply telling them to “have a growth mindset” won’t make a difference. Ensuring students have access to mentors, scaffolding strategies, and tangible resources is crucial.
Modeling Growth Mindset and the Power of "Yet"
As an educator, I can model a growth mindset by openly discussing my own learning process, challenges, and how I work through setbacks. Using language like “I haven’t mastered this yet” instead of “I’m not good at this” can reinforce the power of persistence. Sharing stories of students or professionals who struggled before succeeding also helps normalize the idea that learning is ongoing.
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Growth Mindset, Feedback, and Attitudes Toward Cheating
When students embrace a growth mindset, they become more open to feedback rather than viewing it as criticism. Instead of feeling defeated by mistakes, they learn to see them as stepping stones to improvement. This shift can also reduce the temptation to cheat since students begin to value the learning process more than just the final grade. If mistakes are seen as part of progress, the pressure to appear “perfect” diminishes.
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Reducing Preoccupation with Grades & The Role of Grit
A true growth mindset means valuing learning over grades. To shift student focus away from grades, I can emphasize mastery-based learning, where students have multiple opportunities to revise their work. Encouraging self-reflection and goal-setting can help students track progress rather than just focusing on a final score. Grit plays a role here by helping students stay motivated despite challenges. However, it’s important to ensure that grit is used appropriately—students should persist with meaningful goals, but not at the cost of their well-being.
Preventing Growth Mindset from Becoming a Fad
To prevent the growth mindset from being misused or becoming just another buzzword, it needs to be embedded in real teaching practices rather than used as a one-time lesson. Simply telling students to "have a growth mindset" without providing strategies or support leads to frustration. Additionally, "grit" shouldn’t be used to justify excessive workloads or unrealistic expectations—students need support, not just perseverance.
Is Growth Mindset Enough?
While growth mindset is a great starting point, it isn’t enough on its own. Without proper teaching strategies, resources, and a safe learning environment, telling students to “work harder” won’t be effective. Educators need to combine growth mindset principles with structured support, effective teaching, and opportunities for meaningful practice.
Encouraging a Learner’s Mindset
Moving beyond growth mindset, we should help students develop a learner’s mindset, where curiosity, adaptability, and intrinsic motivation drive their education. This involves fostering a love of learning rather than just focusing on achievement. By creating inquiry-based lessons, encouraging self-directed learning, and giving students autonomy in their educational journey, we can help reignite a passion for learning.
References
Dweck, C. (2014). Developing a Growth Mindset. YouTube. https://youtu.be/hiiEeMN7vbQ?si=gDAcpHG5l3V88gsp
Briceno, E. (2012). The power of belief–mindset and success. TEDx Talks: YouTube. https://youtu.be/pN34FNbOKXc?si=v76SkEm6KNlWzL-Lm6KNlWzL-L
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Harapnuik, D. (2013, April 5). Fixed Vs Growth Mindset = Print Vs Digital Information Age. It's About Learning Creating Significant Learning Environments. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=3627