Two Views of Intelligence Which mindset do you have?

Read each statement and decide whether you mostly agree with it or disagree with it.

1.You can learn new things, but you can’t really change how intelligent you are.

2.No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit.

Choose the statement that you agree with the most. You can learn new things, but you can't really change how intelligent you are. [30%]

No matter how much intelligence you have, you can always change it quite a bit. [70.0%]

Two mindsets

Fixed Mindset (Ability-based Belief)

Intelligence is: FIXED

INNATE UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED

Growth Mindset - Positive Feedback Loop

Time Spent on Effective Effort

Achievement

Motivation | Self-Confidence

Expert Instruction Strategic Hard Work

Happiness

What Neuroscience tells us…

What is the brain made of? All of the areas of the brain are made of cells called

NEURONS

They transmit information all around the brain.

Neurons pass information through CONNECTIONS with

other neurons at SYNAPSES

Learning helps our neurons GROW. The more we learn, the more connections they make.

Frontal Lobe

Parietal Lobe

Occipital Lobe

Temporal Lobe

The body in the brain

HOMUNCULUS What is this weird picture?

• A visual model!

• Parts that are bigger are used much more, or with more accuracy.

Evidence from Neuroscience

People who play music have been found to have auditory centres that are BIGGER than normal.

The ‘sound’ area of

their brain grew through practicing their music.

More evidence …

Rats in a rich environment have heavier brains, by 10%, than those in a boring environment.

Taxi drivers have bigger areas which deal with 3D

space – the hippocampus - than non-taxi drivers.

Can you think of any evidence from your life that might support the idea that intelligence can change

over time?

What do we mean by “Intelligence”?

Multiple Intelligence Test Results Algebra 2017-2018

Given the class predisposition for body, social, musical intelligence, I guess algebra class should be like this…

Leadership

Prime Minister Winston Churchill REPEATED a grade during elementary school

He was placed in the

LOWEST division of the LOWEST class

Music Beethoven’s teacher called

him a HOPELESS composer

He wrote 5 of his greatest

SYMPHONIES while DEAF

Writing

Leo Tolstoy dropped out of college

He was described as both

“UNABLE and unwilling to LEARN"

The “Natural Ability” Myth…

….Einstein's teacher said that he was ‘academically subnormal’

….Michael Jordan's coach said that he wasn’t more talented than other people…

…..Walt Disney was told that he lacked ‘creative imagination’

Why does Mindset matter?

Evidence about Ability (Defines who you are)

Fixed

Evidence about Progress (Defines where you are) Growth

E V E N T

Goal = Look Smart

Goal = Learn

Goals: What do we aim for?

What GOALS to people set?

Performance Goals High scores ‘prove’ ability

Fixed

Learning Goals

Always working toward Mastery and Competence

Growth

G O A L S

Failure: how do we respond to failure?

How do people respond?

Helpless Lose self-esteem

Make excuses

Fixed

Opportunity Look for lessons

Learn new strategies

Growth

F A I L U R E

Effort: What role does it play?

Why put forth Effort?

Lack of Ability Try hard only

if you ‘need to’

Fixed

Path to Success Bigger Challenge just requires more effort

Growth

E F F O R T

Effects of the Mindsets on Achievement

Growth Mindset Desire to LEARN

Fixed Mindset Desire to LOOK SMART

Challenges Embrace Challenges Avoid Challenges

Obstacles Persist in the

face of setbacks Get Defensive or

Give up Easily

Effort Effort =

Path to mastery Effort =

Only for ‘ungifted’

Criticism Learn

from Criticism Ignore Negative

Feedback

Success of Others

Find lessons and Inspiration Feel Threatened

Growth Mindset - Positive Feedback Loop

Time Spent on Effective Effort

Achievement

Motivation | Self-Confidence

Expert Instruction Strategic Hard Work

Happiness

Once you have a Growth Mindset how do you use it to get smarter?

ADAPTED FROM: Mindset: The Psychology of Learning and

Achievement

The Centre would like to thank the Scottish Government for their

support in helping to produce this resource.

Online Sources Mindset

Carol Dweck Brainology

Research For Better Teaching David Perkins

Print Sources Dweck, Carol. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Random House, 2006. Perkins, David. Outsmarting IQ: The Emerging Science of Learnable Intelligence. New York: The Free Press, 1995. Saphier, Jon, and Gower, Robert. The Skillful Teacher: Building Your Teaching Skills, Research for Better Teaching, Inc.: Action, MA, 1997.