Mindsets and Mental Models
This section will give you an opportunity to reflect on some areas of your practice that may not usually get much attention -- your mindsets, mental models, and interpersonal and professional skills beyond your instruction with students. Because you are building facility as an instructional partner who can effectively work with colleagues, you are going to examine what you bring to the table, how you perceive reality around you, and how others might perceive you.
Mindsets
Many educators now teach about growth vs. fixed mindsets with students, often as part of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Often overlooked is how mindsets impact professional interactions and relationships with peers and leaders.
Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
This short video provides a quick overview/review of Carol Dweck's concept of growth and fixed mindsets.
Activity Directions
Learning outcomes
Explore personal mindsets as an educator and instructional partner
Identify professional actions and beliefs which reflect both fixed and growth mindsets
Connect mindsets to professional reflection and instructional partnership
Activities
View the video Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset. If necessary or interested,
Research other articles or infographics to help explain and understand fixed and growth mindsets and
Create a simple continuum that allows you to provide examples in which you demonstrate growth and fixed mindsets. You will have some choices about how to document and complete this activity below. However, you should respond to the following prompts.
As you think about your professional practice:
What are examples of your actions or beliefs that reflect a fixed mindset?
What are examples of your actions or beliefs that reflect a growth mindset?
What are other examples of mindsets which affect your interactions and partnerships with colleagues or leaders?
Options to document your responses
Create a Padlet and add the link to your Padlet wall in your LIFT Portfolio
Create a simple diagram using Google tools in your LIFT Portfolio
Create an analog diagram using paper and/or sticky notes and take a picture of the final diagram and embed or link in your LIFT Portfolio
Respond to these questions in your LIFT Portfolio.
In what ways are mindsets related to being a reflective educator?
What aspects of a growth mindset are most important in educational partnerships?
Bookmark the links on this activity page using your LIFT Bookmarks Form or a curation tool of your choice. In addition to resources highlighted in this framework, when you find other articles, videos, or resources, make sure to build an ongoing set of bookmarks that you can refer back to when needed.
Mental Models
Like mindsets, mental models influence how we see and understand the world around us. But they are also different. Whereas growth and fixed mindsets are about who we are, mental models are the beliefs and assumptions we have about others and the systems around us. As you expand your reflective habits, you will look at the ways in which mental models influence both your teaching and your professional points of view.
What are mental models and how do your students use them?
This video by educator and author Christopher Moore is focused on mental models in relation to student instruction. It also provides a very clear introduction to mental models as a key concept.
This short post by Elena Aguilar introduces the idea of mental models in the context of teaching and learning.
Activity Directions
Learning outcomes
Explore mental models as an educator and instructional partner
Examine the effect of mental models in your work with students and peers
Connect and differentiate mindsets vs. mental models
Activities
View the video What are mental models and how do your students use them? and
Read the article Shifting Mental Models in Education.
Discuss the following questions with your learning partner.
Can mental models be good or bad ? Explain.
In what ways do mental models influence your interactions with students?
In what ways do mental models influence your interactions with peers and leaders?
Respond to these questions in your LIFT Portfolio.
As you think about the growth vs. fixed mindset diagram you created earlier in this section, how might these habits of mind influence your mental models about students and/or peers?
Do you have an existing mental model regarding instructional coaching or collaboration? What is it based on? Specific individuals? Experiences? Projects?
Optional Deep Dive
Deep Dives are additional resources that explore module topics in greater detail. They are not required for satisfactory completion of the learning path, but offer an opportunity for additional learning for one or both learning partners. While you are free to read or view the resources in their entirety, some curated guidance is often provided to direct your time and effort. If you find these resources of value, feel free to save them to your bookmarks and/or your LIFT Portfolio.
Deep Dive: Mindsets
Carol Dweck: A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindsets
"Dweck’s work shows the power of our most basic beliefs. Whether conscious or subconscious, they strongly “affect what we want and whether we succeed in getting it.” Much of what we think we understand of our personality comes from our “mindset.” This both propels us and prevents us from fulfilling our potential."
This analysis of Dweck's work with mindsets provides a deeper examination of her research and includes links to her TEDx talk and discussion of mindsets in the context of the classroom.