In episode 96 of Growing with Proficiency The Podcast, I was joined by Becca Silver to talk about mindset in education. Becca first joined me in episode 36 as we chatted about the “Summer Bandaid Effect”. Click here to listen to that discussion. 

This post will highlight our discussion as Becca and I explored what growth mindset truly is and how it impacts our brains, backed by fascinating research from Michigan State University. To hear all of the details of our chat, listen above or here. 

What is Growth Mindset?

First, I asked Becca to explain growth mindset. She narrowed it down to simply a belief that I can change. Growth mindset is not working hard, being resilient, or having a positive attitude. Those could be outcomes, but they are not actually growth mindset. It’s also important to remember that it is created throughout time based on messages and experiences.

Growth Mindset Research

Next, Becca explained what researchers found in a study she discussed in her podcast episode 70. After study participants completed surveys to determine if they had a fixed or growth mindset, researchers of the study used fMRI machines to hook electrodes to participants’ brains to study what happens when they failed at problems given to them to solve. 

What they found across the board was that all the participants had the same reaction in the brain, which was they all had a “flash” among their neurons when they realized they failed to solve the problem. However, what happened after this was different between the two kinds of mindsets. 

Those participants with a fixed mindset had brain activity that died down very quickly after this flash. In contrast, those with a growth mindset kept having flashes. There was continued brain activity which meant that their brain kept wondering how to solve the problem. 

After trying, eventually learning occurs. Becca pointed out that the only way we learn things is if our neurons are agitated. And, the only way to agitate our neurons is to be challenged by something. That’s how we learn things. However, we need to remember that growth mindset by itself is not going to get our students, or ourselves, unstuck.

4 Types of Growth Mindset

There are four academic mindsets that are the things that actually deeply influence learning success. Listen to episode 96 where Becca also discusses false growth mindset. 

• Belonging: Students need to feel that they belong in the learning community.
• Growth Mindset: The belief that they can improve their abilities through effort.
• Self-Efficacy: The belief that they can succeed.
• Sense of Purpose: Believing that the work they are doing is meaningful and valuable.

What Can We Do For Our Students?

Later in our discussion, Becca gave us some things we can do to help our students and ourselves with our mindset. The first thing, Becca explained, is for us to use these academic mindsets as a diagnostic. You can use it with your students as well as with yourself. So, you want to ask yourself, “Where are my students stuck?” And, “Where am I stuck?” 

Then, move on to “Do they feel like they belong?, Do they believe they can succeed?, Do they believe they can grow and change?” And, “Do they believe the work is valuable and purposeful?” Finally, start to diagnose what is missing.

With this information, then, you can try to adjust things to make them feel that they belong, that they can succeed, or that they can change, etc. Becca stressed that we have to give people, children, and adults, the experience of success. That often looks like going hand-in-hand, side-by-side with them through the journey to success. For example, if we provide assessments that make our students feel successful, if we grade our students thinking about that goal, it’s going to create the experience that our students are capable of doing.

When We Have a Fixed Mindset

I wrapped up episode 96 by asking Becca what it means when we, as world language teachers, say to ourselves that our students do not care about learning a second language. She replied that they probably do not care, but there is power in knowing things like this. 

Becca suggests that we ask ourselves, “How can I make our students care?” That’s our growth mindset. We talk about a few suggestions in episode 96. Listen here. 

Whether you’re a teacher looking to empower your students or an educator seeking to grow in your profession, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical ideas.