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What is Growth Mindset, and how does it fit with PBL?
GROWTH MINDSET: According to Carol Dweck, author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, “Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and they put more energy into learning.”
-Source: What Having a “Growth Mindset” Actually Means
Growth mindset connects to Project Based Learning because the PBL process requires a shift in thinking, learning, and understanding. In PBL, not “yet” is an ongoing state. Teachers are learning how to apply a new way of teaching and give over control. Students are building and practicing new skills. They are asking questions and trying to find solutions to problems. They are getting and giving feedback and making revisions. A growth mindset in both educators and students is the fertilizer for PBL to take root and transform learning. This page serves as a guide for better understanding growth mindset, how it connects to PBL, and provides resources for helping students develop a growth mindset throughout your Project Based Learning Unit.
