Question

Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

Answer 1

A person with a fixed mindset see certain skills and abilities as "fixed" parts of peoples' identities. For example, they might think that "nerds" are just born with their mental abilities and "jocks" are just destined to be athletic. A person with a growth mindset realizes that every expert was once a beginner, and that they can show remarkable improvements in any field with enough effort, (barring any impossible physical limitations).

Answer 2

With regards to schoolwork, not everyone can be in the top 1% of students, but everyone has the potential for success, even if success is defined differently for each person. For a straight A student, getting a B might be seen as a setback or failure, but for a C-student, getting a B is an incredible achievement. The key to fixing a fixed mindset is recognizing and rewarding effort as well as achievements.

Answer 3

It can be difficult (even for adults!) to take negative feedback, but it is essential to improving as a student, and as a person. When someone criticizes your work, they are not criticizing you, but the product of your efforts. There could be a myriad of reasons why the results are not getting positive feedback: lack of effort, lack of understanding, carelessness, the list goes on.

Answer 4

Grades are not given out randomly; they are earned through hard work and effort. The letter or number is not the important part; the understanding is. Cheating is indicative of a fixed mindset. As you progress further into academia, you will be increasingly expected to produce your own work, thoughts, and ideas instead of just copying from other people.

The more effort you put in, the easier things will become, and the less help you will need from other people.