Activating Growth Mindsets in College Classrooms

Abstract

Decades of research have demonstrated that a student‘s mindset is a critical factor that impacts how comfortable and motivated they are when posed with a new or difficult problem to solve. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of growth mindset in classrooms and identify strategies teachers can do to encourage and motivate students to change their worldview from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Data was collected through structured interviews with five teachers of higher education, namely teachers of English from different universities. Through the data collection process, different themes were identified. This study found that teachers are using different strategies to fully understand how to foster a growth mindset in their students. These strategies include reflecting their understanding and belief about the malleability of intelligence and the importance of self-confidence to their students. Moreover, they include being mindful of different learning strategies and embracing individuality