My Take on Growth Mindset

Before now, I have heard the term "growth mindset" a few times, but I never knew what it meant. After watching Dr. Dweck's videos, I definitely know what it is now, and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, I think a growth mindset has the potential to be an incredibly positive and encouraging way to help students, and people in general, learn in a way that they don't feel stifled. However, thinking of today's society, I also know it would take a massive overhaul of how we think, grade, and judge others to achieve such a thing.

(Growth by Nick Youngson)

The "not yet" way of grading does not imply that a student has failed, but still has the opportunity and capability to pass something. I think that's immensely better than a "no" or F as far as self-esteem goes. A definite "no" or "failed" is like a forceful period at the end of a sentence, no more room for change. In an ideal world, everyone would be able to switch over to the growth mindset overnight and I think we would see people flourish. Unfortunately, I think it will take a long time for everyone, or even most people, to agree that a growth mindset is better than a fixed one.