- The main reason that some parents and teachers have a false understanding of the growth mindset is that they think it’s much simpler to achieve than it actually is. With this idea of the “false growth mindset,” some believed that, “…it was only about putting forth effort or that a teacher could foster growth mindset merely by telling kids to try hard” (Liyanawatte, 2016). While that may be a part of achieving the growth mindset, it takes a lot more than just being told to “try hard”. For example, understanding the factors that may trigger a fixed mindset is just as important as the amount of effort put in.
- For the previous assignment I talked about how I dropped my AP Chemistry class in highschool after only attending it once. The main thing that triggered me to have a fixed mindset in that moment was that I was more concerned about my grades and class rank than I was about learning and expanding my skills. While it was a valid concern and very possible that a class of that difficulty would bring down my GPA in some way, that shouldn’t have been the deciding factor for me. Even if I didn’t get an A in the class, it would have still been a good learning experience. I also shouldn’t have jumped to the conclusion that I would fail without giving the class more of a chance. I even think that I would have ended up enjoying the challenge.
- I agree with Dweck that praise used towards effort that wasn’t effective is a consolation prize. If a student is putting in effort but still not seeing improvement, simply being told that they did a great job trying isn’t going to change things. That’s also not to say that kids should receive no sort of credit for genuine effort. Instead of just praising that effort, teachers or parents should take a look at why it wasn’t working and figure out new strategies or learning methods that work better for that kid (then go on to praise the effective effort).
- A contribution I’d like to make to society at some point is that I want to somehow help in the efforts to reform the U.S. prison system. I’ve done some research into how private prison systems are profiting off of the people in them, which results in issues such as overcrowding, unsafe living conditions, and so on. I think that the main focus of these prison facilities should be on rehabilitation because that not only gives people a second chance at being a productive member of society, but also contributes to lower crime rates and safer communities. Whether I choose a career path that allows me to focus on this issue or it’s something I’ll do outside of my work, I know it’s something I want to make a change in somehow.
