The Stanford Challenge

I watched the "Growth" vs "Fixed" minds on iTunes. I watched it twice to try and get a better understanding of what was being discussed. The author of the Mindset book was talking about the differences between Fixed and Growth and what her results were from her research. She explained how exactly the idea works. She also explains what is done to set up the research and how it is conducted. The class is divided into two groups. One group is the "Fixed" mindset and the other is the "Growth" mindset.

She found in her research that when the children were explained the idea behind the "growth" mindset they responded much better and grades soared. When the children were explained what would be introduced and what was expected the children reacted better and tried harder. The group from the "Fixed" mindset had very poor results. The group didn't have the concepts explained and were just given tools to better their grades. There was no motivation.

As a future teacher I found this video interesting. I didn't really understand that in order to help a child do better you needed to give them more than just the tools to improve and advance. You need to guide them with those tools and explain the manner in which they are to be used. These children who are guided will tend to do better and generally want to learn and look at things with a new curiosity. I believe all teachers are trying to find ways to get their students more interested.