Mindset Scholars Network: Purpose and Relevance

Mindset Scholars Network: Purpose and Relevance
http://mindsetscholarsnetwork.org/learning-mindsets/purpose-relevance/

QUOTE: "Students see greater value in their schoolwork when they understand its relevance to their own lives and when it connects to something they personally value, such as a purpose that is bigger than themselves. When students understand the value of their schoolwork, they show greater interest in their schoolwork, and are better able to “learn deeply” and resist distractions."

The Science of Character

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The Biology of Positivity

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Growth Mindset Self-Talk

Instead of... 

...Try thinking

I'm not good at this ...

... What am I missing?

I give up ...

... I'll use a different strategy

It's good enough ...

... Is this really my best work?

I can't make this any better ...

... I can always improve

I made a mistake ...

... Mistakes help me to learn

I just can't do this ...

... I'm going to train my brain

I'll never be that smart ...

... I will learn how to do this

Plan A didn't work ...

... There's always Plan B

My friend can do it ...

... I will learn from them

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

10 Things that Will Happen When You Start Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

Lifehack article and image by Oscar Nowik

1. You’ll start growing quickly

2. You’ll begin to love challenging yourself

3. You’ll realize all your fears are fictional

4. You’ll replace regret with excitement.

5. You’ll laugh at your past self.

6. You’ll find out more about your strengths and weaknesses.

7. You’ll boost your self-confidence.

8. You’ll create a new source of satisfaction.

9. You’ll realize the only way to success leads through discomfort.

10. You’ll begin inspiring people around you.

Helping Students Fail: Meaning, Context, Transparency, Progress

Helping Students Fail

Meaning: How can I help learners separate knowledge from performance?

Context: What will help learners see the authentic context and "space" of their failure?

Transparency: How can I design learning so that the priorities, process, and terms of success are both transparent and collaboratively constructed with learners?

Progress: How can I emphasize iteration and progress over "finishing" and "completion"? How can I create always-on learning and growth?

Developing 21st-Century Critical Thinkers

No, the "brain map" here does not have anything to do with the real geography of your brain... but it does show the many different mental areas in which you can develop and grow! If you want to becoming better at critical thinking, then make that your goal, and work on it! The image comes from MentoringMinds.com.

Developing 21st-Century Critical Thinkers

Integrate critical thinking skills within and across all content areas.
Establish safe, intellectually risk-free learning environments.
Provide students with repeated opportunities to practice higher-order thinking.
Consistently cultivate higher-order thinking skills.
Allow time to develop critical thinking skills.
Promote academic conversations or dialogue that foster critical thinking.

Open-Minded
Engage in Problem Solving
Analyze, Reason, and Evaluate
Collaborate with Others
Reflect on Learning
Make Real-World Applications
Think Critically and Creatively
Communicate Clearly and Accurately

1. Think deeply to make relevantconnections
2. Ask quality and clarification questions
3. Use evidence and reasoning to support thinking
4. Analyze, reason, and evaluate
5. Interpret information beyond surface learning
6. Synthesize diverse ideas
7. Solve relevant and complex problems
8. Make reasoned decisions
9. Generate and evaluate options prior to making decisions
10. Focus on details to derive meaning
11. Apply higher levels of thought to real-world situations
12. Think critically on a daily basis
13. Use criteria to judge the value of ideas and solutions
14. Engage in reflective thinking
15. Follow problem-solving steps
16. Question the credibility, accuracy, and relevancy of information and sources
17. Well-informed
18. Willing to consider multiple perspectives
19. Seek new and better solutions
20. Explore alternatives
21. Examine diverse points of view
22. Value and respect ideas of others
23. Question what is read, heard, or seen
24. Assessconsequences of actions or ideas
25. Think independently and in concert with others

Fixed Mindset... or, How to Feel Miserable

How to Feel Miserable As An Artist
(or, what not to do; underline any that currently apply)

1. Constantly compare yourself to other artists.
2. Talk to your family about what you do and expect them to cheer you on.
3. Base the success of your entire career on one project.
4. Stick with what you know.
5. Undervalue your expertise.
6. Let money dictate what you do.
7. Bow to societal pressures.
8. Only do work that your family would love.
9. Do whatever the client - customer - gallery owner - patron - investor asks.
10. Set unachievable - overwhelming goals to be accomplished by tomorrow.

Using Metacognitive Strategies

What Successful Students Do Differently:

Using Metacognitive Strategies

Plan and Organize

Set goals

Preview/skim assignment to decide how to approach them

Create a timeline to divide big tasks into manageable chunks

Monitor Their Own Work

Check their progress against timeline

Troubleshoot issues

Ask themselves if they are doing their best work

Self-Reflect

Self-assess about how the task went

Consider how effective the strategies were

Plan for next time; changes to be made?

Direct Their Own Learning

Pay attention to loss of focus

Create an optimal study/learning environment

Advocate for their own needs

What makes us feel good about our work?

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