Running Record: HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

PORTFOLIO ARTIFACT #1
EDAD 7318
Michelle Neely
In the field of Motivation, Dr. Carol Dweck is one of the worlds leading researchers.
Through her research on achievement and success, Dr. Dweck discovered that our minds
monitor, interpret, and react to things that happen in our lives. Our mindsets create a monologue
that frames and reframes what we think of ourselves and how we respond to
things externally. In her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Dr.
Carol Dweck a renound psychologyist, explains why intelligence and talent are
not sole indicators of success. According to decades of research, Dr. Dweck
discovered a persons mindset is an predictor of their success or failure.
The Mindsets
Everyone has an innate love of learning when they are born. Failure is also something
that we naturally understand how to overcome early on in our lives. The love of learning and our
ability to overcome the challenges that we face both stem from our mindsets. Mindsets are the
set of beliefs that one relies on to interact with the world around them. As people continue to
grow and develop, there experiences cause them to lean towards either a growth mindset or a
fixed mindset.
Growth Mindset
All people have a mindset and most either lean more toward either a growth mindset or a
fixed mindset. Individuals who have a growth mindset believe that their fundemental qualities

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

can change because of hard work and dedication. Persons who possess a growth mindset
embrace the opportunity to face challenges. These people are resilient in nature as they take a
didactic approach to cultivating their mindset. They enjoy learning and are reflective in nature.
Individuals with a growth mindset embrace feedback and they have the ability to stick to a task
even when it is uncomfortable.
Fixed Mindset
People who possess a fixed mindset believe that they are born with inherent abilities and
talents that do not need to be transformed or further developed. Individuals with a fixed mindset
attribute their successes solely to their talents, intelligences, and to their abilities. Individuals
with a fixed mindset believe that they have a fixed capacity. They keep copious records of their
achievements and use them to validate their abilities. On the other hand, people with a fixed
mindset have a difficult time accepting criticism as they interpret it as an assault on them
personally.

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

Dr. Dwecks Research

For more forty years, Dr. Dweck performed scientific investigations to determine the role
that motivation played in the mindset of adolescents. Two groups of students received difficult
problems. One group of students was praised for their ability and the other participants received
praise for effort. Immediately after the students received praise, they received the opportunity to
participate in another challenge. The students that praised for their ability declined the
challenge. However, the students praised for their effort accepted then next challenging task.
Whats more, the students praised for their effort lied by inflating their scores by more than 40%
when they were asked to pen a written critique about their experience with the assessment.
Though Dr. Dweck repeated this type of experiment with different students, the outcome
was always similar. When students recieve praise for their efforts they espouse the growth
mindset. However, students who praised for their ability, almost always exhibit a fixed ability.
The implication of Dr. Dwecks findings are profoundly important in education because they
suggest that adults who praise effort can significantly impact the monologue running through the
minds of children.
Implication for Educators
In this milieu of high stakes testing, often students receive praise for their ability.
Teachers and institutions alike often praise students for making high scores on state assessments.
This praise sends the message to students that their ability is greater than their effort.
Unknowingly, educators may be fostering a fixed mindset in students. Schools must become
increasing intentional about the messages that they send to students regarding success.

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

Many factors can help students transform their mindsets. Framing plays a significant role
in transforming ones mindset. Dr. Dweck suggests four factors that are most critical in helping
students from disadvantaged backgrounds develop a growth mindset. The first factor that assists
students with changing their mindset is the understanding that learning changes mindset over
time. The second thing which needs reframing for students is the purpose school plays in their
lives. Students must understand that they are going to school to learn so that they can use their
talents and skills to make a contribution to society. When students have a sense of belonging at
school, then the value of their experiences increases exponentially. Lastly, learning must be
reframed for students as it is a journey and not a destination.
The notion that learning is a journey is key in helping students understand that effort is
the most significant predictor or success. Therefore, it is imperative that schools position a focus
on effort as bookends for learning. Teachers should praise students effort on school work and
projects. When providing feedback, teachers should identify areas where students gave lots of
effort, as well as where their effort waned. Lastly, educators must assist students with embracing
challenges. Through a strategic focuss on effort, we can transform the mindset of our students.
Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy is a school that serves students in grades 612th. Situated in one of the most impoverished communities in Dallas, all incoming BOMLA
students read Mindset during orientation. BOMLA students teach new students through the
Mindset and lead discussion centered around applying the principles of a growth mindset to
school. Students at BOMLA are not allowed to make excuses for poor choices, mediocore
performance or poor behavioral choices. Adults guide students in the process of reflecting on
choices that are in opposition of the mission of the school. As a result of a focus on mindset,
students at Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy have performed above average in all

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

academic courses at every grade level. Due to a collective and intentional focus on mindset,
100% of BOMLA students alumni are current enrolled in a four year college and they have
GPAs above a 3.0. Also, BOMLA received a Blue Ribbon School designation this year. When
focusing on mindset is the mission, educators can reimage students mindsets.

HOW CHILDREN SUCCEED AND WHY MINDSET MATTERS

References
Carol Dweck on Performance Assessment. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/growth-mindset-eed
Mindset | Carol Dweck, About the Author. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2017, from
http://mindsetonline.com/abouttheauthor/index.html
Mindset by Carol Dweck Summary. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2017, from
https://alexvermeer.com/why-your-mindset-important/