This document presents a comprehensive overview of the concept of growth mindset, rooted in Dr. Carol Dweck's research, emphasizing its effects on teaching, learning, and personal development. It includes a quiz for self-assessment of one's mindset, explains the implications of adopting a growth versus a fixed mindset, and offers strategies for fostering growth mindset in educational contexts. The presentation also discusses the impact of beliefs on learning outcomes and relationships, as well as debunking common myths about differentiation in teaching.

1. Growth Mindset:
Enhancing Teaching and Learning
Presented by
Dr. Rasha Osman
Higher Technology Institute

2. This presentation is based on
• Dr. Carol Dweck, Ph.D Stanford University
Original work in 2006
• Book entitled, “Mindset - the New Psychology of
Success” (Ballantine Books, Amazon)
• Work bridges Developmental, Social and Personality
Psychology
• Based on research on brain “plasticity”
• Huge Implications for Teaching and Learning,
Parenting, Business, Sports, Music, even Personal
Relationships!

3. Growth Mindset
3

4. 4

5. Mindset Quiz (5-7 minutes)
• Please place a check in the box that identifies
the extent to which you agree or disagree with
the statement.
• After completing the quiz, circle the number in
the box that matches each of your answers,
then total each column and get a grand total.

6. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Quiz
This quiz will help you evaluate whether you lean towards a growth mindset
(believing in the potential for improvement and learning) or a fixed mindset
(believing abilities are static and unchangeable). Respond to the following
statements by choosing the option that best aligns with your beliefs:
Instructions: Rate each statement on a scale from 1 to 5: 1 - Strongly
Disagree2 - Disagree3 - Neutral4 - Agree5 - Strongly Agree
Quiz Statements
Section 1: Attitudes Towards Challenges
1. I enjoy taking on tasks that challenge my current abilities.
2. If I fail at something, I see it as an opportunity to learn.
3. I avoid difficult tasks because I don’t want to fail.
4. Challenges make me anxious, so I prefer to stick to what I know.

7. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Quiz
Section 2: Beliefs About Effort
5. Hard work and effort are the keys to improving any skill.
6. I feel discouraged when I have to put in a lot of effort.
7. Talent alone is enough to achieve success; effort is secondary.
8. Putting in extra time and energy will always lead to improvement.

8. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Quiz
Section 3: Response to Criticism
9. I value feedback and use it to improve myself.
10. Criticism feels like a personal attack on my abilities.
11. I get defensive when others point out my mistakes.
12. Constructive criticism is essential for growth.

9. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Quiz
Section 4: Perception of Others' Success
13. When I see someone succeed, I feel inspired to do better.
14. Other people’s success makes me feel like a failure.
15. Success depends on natural ability, not effort.
16. I believe I can learn from the successes of others.

10. Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset Quiz
Section 5: Beliefs About Intelligence and Talent
17. Intelligence is something that can be developed over time.
18. You are born with a certain level of intelligence, and it doesn’t change.
19. Natural talent is more important than hard work.
20. Skills and abilities can always be improved with dedication.

11. Scoring the Quiz
Step 1: Reverse score the following fixed-mindset statements:
Statements: 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19
(For these items, 1 = 5, 2 = 4, 3 = 3, 4 = 2, 5 = 1)
Step 2: Add your scores for:
Growth Mindset Statements: 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20
Fixed Mindset Statements: 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19
Step 3: Interpret your results:
Growth Mindset (Higher Scores): If your score for the growth mindset section is
significantly higher, you tend to embrace challenges, value effort, and believe in
personal development.
Fixed Mindset (Higher Scores): If your score for the fixed mindset section is higher,
you may prefer comfort zones, resist feedback, and believe abilities are static.

12. Mindset Quiz Results
45 – 60 Points = Strong Growth Minds
34 – 44 Points = Growth Mindset with
some Fixed ideas
21 – 33 Points = Fixed Mindset with
some Growth ideas
0 – 20 Points = Strong Fixed Mindset

13. Think, Pair, Share
Impacts of the Classroom
• Now that you have seen the questions, which mindset do you think
you are? (Strong Growth, Growth with some Fixed, Fixed with some
growth, or Strong Fixed)
• Journal #2: Now that you have scored it, do you think this is
accurate? Where in your life can you recognize fixed mindsets?
Where are you growth-minded?
• What effect does “teacher expectation” have on student learning? (Marzano)
• How do our own beliefs (fixed vs. growth mindset) affect how we teach our students?
• If we taught all students to have a growth mindset, what impact would it have on how
students approach their own individual learning?
• How can a growth mindset increase rigor?

14. How Can a Growth Mindset
Increase Rigor?
14

15. Video #1
Carol Dweck:
“How to Help Every Child
Fulfill Their Potential”
https://
youtu.be/PVhUdhZxbGI?si
=Vdx2nZT3C6BHMCml

16. 16

17. Dweck and her colleagues offered four-year-olds a choice:
They could either redo an easy jigsaw puzzle, or try a harder
one.
Even these young children conformed to the characteristics of
one of the two mindsets — those with “fixed” mentality
stayed on the safe side, choosing the easier puzzles that
would affirm their existing ability, articulating to the
researchers their belief that smart kids don’t make mistakes;
those with the “growth” mindset thought it an odd choice to
begin with, perplexed why anyone would want to do the same
puzzle over and over if they aren’t learning anything new.
In other words, the fixed-mindset kids wanted to make sure
they succeeded in order to seem smart, whereas the growth-
mindset ones wanted to stretch themselves, for their
definition of success was about becoming smarter.

18. Video #2
Carol Dweck:
“A Study on Praise and
Mindset”
The effects of praise on growth mindset/effort
vs. intelligence and ability
• https://
youtu.be/hiiEeMN7vbQ?si=x9JQdAbcv50G-pFF

19. Two Mindsets
Ramifications for Learning
• Challenges
• Obstacles
• Effort
• Criticism
• Success of Others
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7u6UwtmGyE

20. Effects of Growth Mindset in the Classroom
• Beliefs effect learning outcomes (learning is viewed as the
path to mastery)
• Effort (not yet)
• Questioning
• Feedback
• Mistakes
• Feedback
• Thinking (metacognition)
• Persistence
• Less fear of negative consequences

21. Conclusion: Growth Mindset
• 20 years of research indicates that the view that you adopt for
yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life
• Believing that your basic qualities (and those of others) are carved
in stone (the fixed mindset) creates an urgency to prove yourself
over and over
• Growth Mindset moves us from the belief in fixed attributes and in
recognizing and praising “intelligence” toward a growth mindset
that recognizes the importance of:
*Strategies *Effort
*Focus *Persistence (“not yet”)
• Growth Mindset changes how we perceive “failure”
• Cultivated by deliberate practice and specific vocabulary

22. Implications for the Classroom
• Performance Goals vs. Learning Goals
Performance Goals = About measuring ability
(students may condemn themselves)
Learning Goals = About mastering new things
Performance goals contribute to “Entity Theory”
Growth goals – Students see both themselves
and learning in a different way!
(This changes how we plan, teach and assess.)

23. Even Greater Implications
• Growth Mindset creates an enjoyment around learning
• Fixed Mindset – Can foster dishonesty (40% of “smart
kids” were dishonest about their scores because we
told them they were smart)
• Implications for relationships – myths about “true
love”, “living happily ever after”, (the ideal vs. growth
mindset – improving communication and avoiding
assigning blame)
• Growth mindset can create a voracious appetite for
learning!!!

24. Basic Components – “Developing Growth
Mindsets in the Classroom”
by Mike Gershon (2016)
• Getting the Language right
• Changing how students perceive mistakes
• Targeting student effort
• Giving great feedback
• Thinking about thinking (metacognition)
• Creating a challenging culture
• Focusing on process
• Engaging parents with growth mindset

25. Impacts of Teaching and Learning
• Shifts in thinking in how to meet the needs of all students (differentiation) in
the classroom
• Shifts in programs such as GATE (from a small subgroup to how we better serve
all students)
• Differentiation is critical but there are many myths around differentiation such
as:
#1 “Differentiation means I have to plan something different for every student”
#2 “I differentiate by grouping students by reading ability and giving them leveled
readings.”
#3 “I can differentiate effectively using one data point.”
#4 “Differentiation is easy, just give the high students more and the low students
less.”
#5 “I don’t need to change anything about my instructional practices to effectively
differentiate.”

26. Thank you! Enjoy your day.
Resources for this presentation:
• Carol Dweck: “Mindset: the New Psychology of Success
(2006, Random House)
• Mike Gershon: “How to Develop Growth Mindsets in
the Classroom (2016) – 60 strategies
• Mary Cay Ricci: “Mindsets in the Classroom, Building a
Culture of Success and Student Achievement in Schools
(2013, Prufrock Press)