Growth Mindset - a Re-post

Do you have a growth mindset?  
Do your students have a growth mindset? 
What exactly IS a growth mindset?

Many of us grew up believing we were either "good" at something (like English or Social Studies), or "not good" at something (like Math or Science). Some people just had more intelligence or talent than others, right? We worried about getting good grades, meeting the expectations of others, and avoided anything that might look or smell like failure.

Then came the idea that if we could just tell ALL kids they were ALL wonderful, they would all BE wonderful! Their self-image would be strong, their confidence would be high and they would naturally succeed. 

But we now realize that some failure is good for the soul; learning how to fail and then move on to try again, to develop perseverance - to get "GRIT" - may be the best way to help students develop a love of learning and a resilience that will help them achieve their goals. When children believe that hard work and commitment can make a difference, that they can become more talented and smarter through their learning process, they feel empowered and thrive on challenge.

Just making a few tweaks in the way we talk to and respond to our students can make a big difference in whether they develop a "fixed mindset" or a "growth mindset".  Interested?

Check out Carol Dweck's TED talk on this issue.

You can also listen to the NPR Story on Growth Mindset that inspired this post.Go

BLOOM'S DIGITAL TAXONOMY

It is hard to believe, but it has been over sixty years since the publication of Taxonomy of Educational Objectives which were devised "to improve communication between educators on the design of curricula and examinations."(1) Teachers have been using this model to inform instruction based on the levels of thinking, learning and understanding named after Benjamin Bloom. He was actually the chair of the committee that set out to classify learning objectives.

In the 1990's work was done to create a revised edition of Bloom's taxonomy, where the levels were renamed and changed to: Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, Create (rather than Synthesize). But even that revision is now almost twenty years old, a long time in our rapidly changing educational environment.

Many believe that the time has come for the next major revision to include the digital world where most of today's students live and learn. Commonsense Media states, "This updated version aims to expand upon the skills associated with each level as technology becomes a more engrained – and essential - part of learning."

For a fascinating look at the proposed new model and to see how it might inform your instructional strategies, watch this short video --> BLOOM'S DIGITAL TAXONOMY




(1)Bloom et al. 1956, p. 4: "The idea for this classification system was formed at an informal meeting of college examiners attending the 1948 American Psychological Association Convention in Boston. At this meeting, interest was expressed in a theoretical framework which could be used to facilitate communication among examiners.

Share with your students' parents

As we are moving through our Digital Citizenship curriculum during Media Rotation time, students may want to talk about situations involving the use and abuse of technology devices. This is an excellent article (click on the title link) to share with your students' parents, especially if they have questions or concerns about the increasing use of technology in their children's lives. And, as always, feel free to direct them to me if that is more comfortable for you. 

Parenting in the Digital Age by klbeasley

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