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3.2 Belief and Growth vs Fixed Mindset

Instructor Preparation and Summary

In this unit, we introduce learners to the concepts of beliefs and mindset. Throughout the unit,  the focus is on empowering learners to examine their mindset and beliefs and realize that they have the power to change either if they desire. The PowerPoint is lengthy as these topics encompass a lot of information, and instructors may prefer to split it into two different topics. Students can complete a questionnaire to assess their own mindset and use an infographic to reflect on their mindset in different areas of their lives. Students can also conduct research on the internet to find videos of people demonstrating a growth mindset in their lives.

The principles of Universal Design for Learning are incorporated into the variety of activities in this unit.

This unit will help some students to:

  • Define the term belief.
  • Describe the term belief as it relates to themselves.
  • Identify their limiting and empowering beliefs.
  • Discuss the relationship between beliefs and mindset.
  • Define fixed and growth mindsets.
  • List areas in their lives where they have a fixed mindset.
  • Identify ways to change a fixed mindset into a growth mindset.
  • Research a growth mindset on the internet.

Classroom Activities

Interactive Questionnaire

Below is an H5P interactive based on the Growth vs Fixed Mindset Questionnaire listed above. The H5P will automatically score the users based on their answers. The higher the total score, the more likely a user is to have a growth mindset. The lower the score, the more likely the user has a fixed mindset.

Interactive Mindset Continuum Activity

Text Description

This H5P Documentation Tool activity allows the user to provide documentation for a project according to the given task description: Mindset Continuum Activity. Number of Pages: 2

Documentation Pages:

Page 1: Mindset Continuum Activity: Explore the Mindset Continuum Infographic (PDF)  Use this infographic as a guide to think about where you currently are on the mindset continuum, and then identify areas for future growth.

Fill in your own thoughts for each section listed below that corresponds with the following categories: Fixed, Mixed, and Growth. Try to have at least ONE example for each category. 

You’ll be able to review and download a copy of your resposnes on the next page.

The Mindset Continuum Infographic

Infographic titled “The Mindset Continuum” showing three mindsets—Fixed (red), Mixed (blue), and Growth (green)—across five categories arranged in rows.

  • Dealing with obstacles: Fixed – gives up as soon as difficulties appear. Mixed – keeps trying when progress is visible. Growth – persists for a long time, adapting and learning new skills to overcome new obstacles.
  • Effort: Fixed – believes if you fail once you can’t do it and that things should be easy. Mixed – sees effort as required but unpleasant and prefers easy tasks. Growth – believes effective effort leads to success and has experience working hard and improving.
  • Making mistakes: Fixed – hides or denies mistakes. Mixed – accepts that mistakes happen and can be corrected. Growth – views mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow.
  • Feedback: Fixed – ignores negative feedback as mere criticism. Mixed – finds feedback useful when it is specific and achievable. Growth – welcomes feedback as a chance to learn; positive feedback shows growth.
  • Offered help: Fixed – refuses help, seeing it as highlighting weaknesses. Mixed – accepts help when offered but does not seek it out. Growth – actively seeks help and sees it as support for growth.

Dealing with Obstacles: List your own examples for Fixed, Mixed, and Growth mindset categories.

Effort: List your own examples for Fixed, Mixed, and Growth mindset categories.

Making Mistakes: List your own examples for Fixed, Mixed, and Growth mindset categories.

Feedback: List your own examples for Fixed, Mixed, and Growth mindset categories.

Offered Help: List your own examples for Fixed, Mixed, and Growth mindset categories.

Page 2: Document Export Page: This page allows the user to export the created document.

Videos

Click through the following interactive video carousel to view each video. There are 4 in total.

Applied Learning Assessments

Text Description
Level 1 Assessment
  1. Complete the Growth Mindset Questionnaire (PDF)
Level 2 Assessment
  1. Complete the Growth Mindset Questionnaire (PDF)
  2. Explore the Mindset Continuum infographic. (PDF)  Use this fillable version (PDF) to think about where you currently are on the mindset continuum, and identify areas for future growth.
Level 3 Assessment
  1. Complete the Growth Mindset Questionnaire (PDF)
  2. Explore the Mindset Continuum infographic (PDF). Use this fillable version (PDF) to think about where you currently are on the mindset continuum, and identify areas for future growth.
  3. Complete the Mindset Continuum Reflection (PDF)
  4. Look on the internet for an inspirational video that demonstrates someone having a growth mindset (ex., someone who was determined to reach their goal even though they had many failures and obstacles).
  5. Please submit the link to the instructor, and we will play a video at the beginning of each class for the term.

 

See the Interactive Mindset Activity above as an alternative to the fillable PDF option included in the level 2 and 3 assessments.

Instructor Resources

Slide Deck

Worksheets and Images

For more resources on Growth Mindset, Carol Dweck, who coined the term “Growth Mindset”, has many videos and books on the subject.

References

License

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Empowering Unique Learners for College Success Copyright © 2022 by Robin Frkovic, MEd., BSc is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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