Are you in a (dis)comfort zone?

Research has demonstrated that having a growth mindset toward learning can improve resilience and a students’ ability to succeed. A growth mindset is reflected through a passion for learning, not a hunger for approval; people don’t see themselves as failing, but as learning.

After the video, you’ll have a chance to talk with a peer to reflect on connections to your own experiences. As you watch, what resonates with you?

Pair activity

• Talk with your partner about what resonated in the video and reflect on whether it has played a role in the courses you have chosen to (not) take

• After about 8 minutes, each pair will have about 2 minutes to share out

Due: Monday 10/22 before class

On your web site, create a new reflection entry.

1. Record a 1-3 minute video or audio clip reflecting on how mindset contributes to whether an activity is inside or outside of your comfort zone. Use these prompts to guide your reflection:

• When we walked through Fimbel, what stations were in your comfort zone? Did you find yourself thinking, "Yes! I am a _____ person and this is right up my alley."

• What stations were outside of your comfort zone? Perhaps you were thinking, "No way I can do that. I'm not a _____ person."

• When you first saw the soft circuit plushie or the unicorn slap bracelet, was the activity of creating your own inside or outside of your comfort zone? Or did you feel neutral? Perhaps you found some parts (e.g., sewing, circuits) of the activity more/less in your wheelhouse than others?

Due: Friday, 10/29

You will use the skills from class to create your own soft circuit project:

• a unicorn slap bracelet with LED(s) that light in response to the bracelet being closed

• a hanging bat with LED(s) that light in response to the arms being fastened together

OR

• any other soft object of your creation with at least 1 LED that lights in response to user interaction

Requirements

Document your process on your web site, including successes and failures encountered along the way. There should be:

• pictures of your design (circuit sketch) and steps that you took when creating the project

• a final video or collection of photos that demonstrates the final product

• a reflection on the project and how it relates to the topics of self-efficacy and mindset or more generally what is (not) in your comfort zone

  • you can choose to write the reflection (2-3 paragraphs) or record it as video/audio (1-3 minutes)

  • challenge yourself to step back and think about any parallels you can draw to your learning journey at large, using these prompts:

• have there been courses or co-curricular activities that you have embraced or turned away from because you felt more/less in your comfort zone?

• looking back, did self-efficacy or mindset factor into this?

• if you were to revisit a decision to embrace or turn away from a course/activity, what would you tell your former self?