Introducing Students to the malleable brain:
When students first come to understand that learning can rewire the brain and increase their intelligence, they often become more interested in learning and less afraid to do things that might make them “look dumb.” In other words, they develop a growth mindset. Educators can help students develop a growth mindset by teaching them about the amazing properties of the brain.
It’s a science lesson, not brainwashing
It can be tempting to explain what a growth mindset is and what a fixed mindset is and then simply tell students that they “should” have a growth mindset. That approach is sure to backfire—students won’t accept a completely new way of thinking just because someone tells them to, nor should they! Present the scientific evidence and help students come to their own decisions. In other words, “show them, don’t tell them.”
Growth mindset is about growth, not just about effort.
When people first learn about growth mindset, some think it means to believe that “you can succeed if you just try harder.” There’s more to it than that. For students to have a growth mindset, they should understand that trying harder —and trying new strategies—not only helps them succeed at the current task but also helps them succeed in the future by strengthening their brain.
One way to help students develop a growth mindset is by telling them how the brain can get smarter. You can explain how certain experiences cause new connections in the brain to form or strengthen, making the brain smarter by literally rewiring it. Here’s some evidence you can talk about:
- In a study with rats, researchers put some rats in empty cages and others in stimulating cages with puzzles and other rats. The rats in the stimulating environments were smarter, and their brains even weighed more!
- London taxi drivers have to give their brains a workout when they navigate the complicated streets of London. Research suggests this has an impact on the brain. The part of the brain responsible for spatial awareness is bigger in taxi drivers compared to other Londoners. And the longer a person has been a taxi driver, the bigger that part of the brain.
- See this Khan Academy Lesson
“Have a growth mindset about instilling a growth mindset!
It can be challenging to help students develop a growth mindset. Students will not adopt a growth mindset right away; it is a process. Try guiding students towards it little by little. For example, if a student perceives just one hard problem as an opportunity to grow, that’s a good start.
Put another way, have a growth mindset about instilling a growth mindset! It will surely take time and effort, but it gets easier, and it pays off with more motivated and more interested students.
Think of a student who had difficulty acquiring a certain skill. If you could revisit that situation, how would you approach that student to encourage a growth mindset?