Creator Of “Growth Mindset” Paradigm Working To Avoid Oversimplification.

The EdSource (12/3, Fensterwald) reports Stanford University Professor Carol Dweck coined the phrase “growth mindset” to describe the idea that a person can develop their abilities, but is now concerned that the concept explained in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” is being oversimplified to the detriment of children and students. Dweck says that her idea has been misunderstood when educators or parents just tell children they need to try harder without providing any more feedback. In her book, Dweck contrasts a “fixed mindset” where people assume that a child’s intelligence cannot be changed with a “growth mindset” where people believe that children’s abilities can be improved through practice. The research of Dweck and others show that the growth mindset can improve student learning.