Growth Mindset Strategies for the First-Year Student
Research suggests that an individual sees the nature of intelligence and learning as either fixed and immutable or flexible and able to grow. Although the idea of growth mindset was originally focused on students in K-12, recent research conducted as part of Stanford's University Project for Education Research That Scales (PERTS) indicates that brief interventions promoting a growth mindset can improve the success of students navigating the transition from high school to college, particularly students from underrepresented populations.
General Resources: Growth Mindset Kit, Mindset Scholars Network
Student Role: Reflect on current mindset and what change to a growth mindset means
Instructor Role: Develop short mindset assignment for beginning of term
Developing assignments that facilitate the development of a growth mindset
Assess your students' academic mindsets
How assessments contribute to a growth mindset
- Explain the neuroscience
- How a growth mindset leads to higher achievement
- Feedback on student work — assessments for learning to encourage a growth mindset
- Diagnostic feedback and performance feedback — one technique is to break assignments into two parts — the first part is to submit the assignment and get diagnostic feedback without a grade, the second part garners performance feedback
- “Wise” feedback — convey high standards and confidence that the student can meet them
Example growth mindset assignments
- Watch the 11-minute video, the Power of Belief: Mindset and Success (Eduardo Briceno). Post a three-paragraph reflection on the following questions:
- Do you believe you generally view intelligence as fixed?
- Describe some of your reactions to academic struggles. Assess the extent to which these reactions are employing a “fixed mindset voice.”
- Propose some responses you could use that would help you to establish a growth mindset. (If you prefer you can answer this question thinking about someone you know well rather than yourself.)
- Growth mindset lesson plan (designed for K-12, includes good resources)
- Assignments that promote struggle and growth
This 10-minute video features Carol Dweck, the Stanford professor who pioneered research in growth mindset.
The Mindset Kit site offers many resources related to promoting a growth mindset.