STEM TIP # 2 - Teach Students to Have a Growth Mindset
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Do you have students who are constantly looking for the "correct" design in your STEM classroom? Many times these same students can't get started brainstorming ideas because they are afraid they will do the wrong thing. These students need to develop a growth mindset.
In this blog post we will discuss:
What growth mindset is
Why growth mindset is important to STEM/STEAM education
Ways to foster student's growth mindset
What is a growth mindset?
Having a growth mindset in the classroom is one of the most important aspects of education. A growth mindset is the idea that everyone has the ability to learn, grow, and improve their skills and intelligence. It is an approach to learning that is focused on effort, not results; progress, not perfection; and resilience, not failure.
Growth mindset goes hand-in-hand with STEM/STEAM education. Students are constantly being asked to work with others and consider viewpoints that may differ from their own. Students are also presented with a problem that they need to create a solution for. This typically means they need to research ideas that have already been created and improve upon them. Requiring students to think outside the box and take risks with their thinking.
Why is a growth mindset important?
When students have a growth mindset, they are more likely to take risks, to be open to new ideas, and are more motivated to succeed. In the classroom, students with a growth mindset are more likely to persist when faced with challenging tasks, to collaborate with peers, and to be more engaged in their own learning process.
Research has shown that there are many benefits to having a growth mindset in the classroom. Students who have a growth mindset are less likely to give up when faced with a difficult task and more likely to be successful in the long run. They are also more likely to accept feedback, to be more creative in problem-solving, and to be more resilient when faced with failure.
These characteristics correlate directly with the Engineering Design Process. Students with a growth mindset will be willing to collaborate with others and accept their ideas. They will try to improve upon designs because they understand any idea no matter how strong can always be improved upon. They will also be willing to tweak designs that may have failed the initial tests.
How do I foster a growth mindset in my classroom?
Creating an environment that encourages a growth mindset in the classroom is essential for a successful learning experience. Teachers can model a growth mindset for their students by showing them how to strive for their goals, recognize effort vs. results, and to be resilient in the face of challenges. I often share my own personal goals with my classes. For example, right now I am working to use my Peloton everyday, or for those of you who ride earn a daily blue dot. When I came down with the stomach bug this was a challenge. I explained to my students that at first I just thought I would have to start my streak again. However, with some collaboration with my husband we talked about how I could complete a 5 minute meditation and keep my streak going. The collaboration and outside the box thinking didn't derail my progress.
Teachers can also provide students with regular feedback and positive reinforcement to help them stay motivated and to stay focused on their goals. This feedback should be focused on the student's effort instead of the outcome. Recognizing students that work through a challenge rather than giving up is important. Also, when a student vocalizes a goal make sure to acknowledge their quest for achievement.
Picture books that focus on characters who have to take risks and work through challenges are also fantastic resources to read aloud to students. Biographies usually have this built in. A few that I have had success with are Salt in His Shoes (about Michael Jordan) and Papa’s Mechanical Fish (about the man who designed the submarine). There are also read alouds directly geared toward the topic such as The Magical Yet and The Most Magnificent Thing. I have used all of the titles in my room. They have each resulted in amazing discussions.
If you are looking for a more concrete tool to walk you through fostering growth mindsets you can use the Growth Mindset Journal that I have created. This journal highlights 16 different aspects of growth such as being brave, dreaming big, being grateful, etc. I like to highlight one idea with the entire class, discuss, watch a video (Class Dojo on YouTube has some great ones), and finally have the students reflect using a journal page.
There are many other ways to use the Growth Mindset Journal. Many teachers give the journal as an early finisher activity. Students determine the aspect they want to improve upon and reflect/plan at their own pace. This allows the students to jump around to various concepts and the teacher can provide specific feedback on their reflections.
Overall, having a growth mindset in the classroom is essential for students to be successful in their learning process. By creating an environment that encourages a growth mindset, teachers can help students achieve their educational goals and be successful in the long run.
