IntroductionIn an education climate where intelligence and good grades are the markers of success, are we leaving room for growth and failure? In my Capstone Professional Research project, I wanted to examine how teachers can implement lessons and strategies to build a classroom culture that encourages a growth mindset for their students.
In a growth mindset, people believe that they can develop their intelligence and abilities through hard work and persistence. The opposing mindset is a fixed mindset, in which people believe that intelligence and talents are innate and cannot be learned. |
In order to ensure a growth mindset is being fostered and encouraged for students, data collection tools need to be developed and implemented within both the schools and the district. In doing so, educators will be able to measure and track the impact this mindset has on their students and their overall success. Developing this mindset needs to start when students are young – with additional focus for middle and high school students. “Attitude alone will not change outcomes. Even teachers who encourage students to try harder may end up being reinforced in their beliefs that intelligence is fixed. We have found that the real key to changing a student's mindset is to couple beliefs with strategies” (McDermott, n.d.).
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Purpose• Explain Growth Mindsets and how they have a positive impact on overall student success
• Explain "False Growth Mindset" • Share an action plan example based on uncovering a school-wide need • Develop and share Growth Mindset data tracking tools to measure student progress and success • Incorporate Growth Mindset educator professional development training |
Target audience• Myself
• Immediate Colleagues • Other Educators Working in the Same Context (District, State, Region) • School/District Administrators Additional audience can include students and their parents |
Professional use for site• Online Professional Learning and Development
• Online Professional Learning Community • Online Collaboration Tool • Virtual Housing of Data, Tools, Materials and Resources |
resource ideas• Resources for Educators
• Resources for Parents • Resources for Students • Resources for Professional Development Throughout the sub-sections on this website, a large collection of resources are available. Included is relevant information and examples of how these tools and resources can be utilized to achieve goals |
Program Outcomes:
1. Identify strategies for developing, administering, evaluating, and managing educational programs. 2. Examine various learning theories and design teaching and assessment strategies for specific learning environments. 3. Acquire advanced instructional and design principles. 4. Explore and facilitate the use of contemporary and emergent technologies relevant to learning environments. 5. Apply skills for effective program planning and development within an educational setting. |
Course Outcomes:
1. Apply a working knowledge of course concepts from the program of study to a professional project. 2. Assemble a theoretical framework relevant to developing, administering, evaluating, and managing effective educational programs. 3. Analyze and present evidence of effective educational practices. 4. Evaluate research based practices in a collaborative environment. |