I had never personally heard of Carol Dweck but I have heard about growth mindset, just not in those exact terms. As an engineering major the classes can be really difficult, so in some engineering meetings I have learned about growth mindset. I think Carol Dweck brings up a really interesting and important topic. It is really easy to just want to get the A now and not work for it or take a real challenge. I think all of us have been guilty of taking easy filler classes to try and meet credit requirements. I know I have.
In some ways, I feel that I've been on both sides of the growth/fixed mindset debate. Like many people, I often have a hard time enjoying or going back to activities I'm bad at. This doesn't mean I'm unwilling to try new things but if I am truly terrible at something I don't want to do it again. I get discouraged if I do poorly on assignments. On the other hand, I honestly like a challenge. Some of my favorite classes here at OU have been ones where I really had to work to get an A. There is something much more satisfying in getting an A in a class that you know you really earned. That's part of why I've always had a hard time with this concept. At what point are you in a fixed mindset rut because you don't like a challenge? In some ways, I think it's ok to not like doing something you're not good at, but you shouldn't let that stop you from trying something. At the same time, you shouldn't let a defeatist attitude stop you from going over something you really want. At what point does the need to succeed hinder you from learning and growing?
Hopefully, while I'm in this class this semester I'll have time to explore the topic in more detail and get a deeper understanding of the topic! Creative writing is definitely something that I consider myself not good at but have always wanted to improve, so this class will definitely be a way to put the growth mindset idea into practice.
In some ways, I feel that I've been on both sides of the growth/fixed mindset debate. Like many people, I often have a hard time enjoying or going back to activities I'm bad at. This doesn't mean I'm unwilling to try new things but if I am truly terrible at something I don't want to do it again. I get discouraged if I do poorly on assignments. On the other hand, I honestly like a challenge. Some of my favorite classes here at OU have been ones where I really had to work to get an A. There is something much more satisfying in getting an A in a class that you know you really earned. That's part of why I've always had a hard time with this concept. At what point are you in a fixed mindset rut because you don't like a challenge? In some ways, I think it's ok to not like doing something you're not good at, but you shouldn't let that stop you from trying something. At the same time, you shouldn't let a defeatist attitude stop you from going over something you really want. At what point does the need to succeed hinder you from learning and growing?
Hopefully, while I'm in this class this semester I'll have time to explore the topic in more detail and get a deeper understanding of the topic! Creative writing is definitely something that I consider myself not good at but have always wanted to improve, so this class will definitely be a way to put the growth mindset idea into practice.
(Cat Success from Growth Mindset Blog)
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