MY MINDSET & MY PERFORMANCE -
LESSON 3:

MY MINDSET AND MY PERFORMANCE

DEBRIEF: IN THIS ACTIVITY EVERYONE USUALLY HAS A LOT OF FUN RUNNING AROUND AND TRYING TO COMPETE. IT IS HOWEVER, POSSIBLE TO BE BORED AND HAVE NO FUN DURING THIS ACTIVITY- IT WOULD REQUIRE A STUDENT TO NOT PARTICIPATE FULLY, STAND IN THE CORNER, GIVE UP EARLY, NOT PUT ANY EFFORT IN. THE SAME APPLIES TO OUR LEARNING AND MOST AREAS OF OUR LIFE. ARE YOU PREPARED TO HAVE A GO AND GET INVOLVED OR NOT? ARE WE SO AFRAID OF FAILURE THAT WE ARE NOT PREPARED TO HAVE A GO? 

"IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO LIVE WITHOUT FAILING AT SOMETHING, UNLESS YOU LIVE SO CAUTOUSLY THAT YOU MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE LIVED AT ALL- IN WHICH CASE, YOU FAIL BY DEFAULT" JK ROWLING

PART 1- (5 MINUTES)

Rationale

  • In Carol Dweck’s research, students with a fixed mindset chose to redo easy problems rather than attempt harder ones. They wanted to succeed and look smart.

  • Students with a growth mindset chose one harder problem after another. They wanted to stretch themselves and get smarter.

  • Fixed mindsets impact our behaviour, which then limits our performance. Fixed mindsets can be challenged

(Dweck, 2006).

 

Learning objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners should:

  • identify some of their own fixed or growth mindsets

  • connect their own mindsets and their own behaviour

  • "catch" and challenge their own fixed mindsets

PART 2- watch and discuss- (10 MINUTES)

Students are to respond to the following questions in workbooks:

- How can we challenge our fixed mindsets?

- What is the moral of the story "the tortoise and the hare"?

- What's the problem with that moral?

- In real life, who really wins the race?

PART 3- watch, reflect, discuss- (15 MINUTES)

Students are to respond to the following questions in workbooks.

- Where do you have a fixed mindset?

- How does your mindset affect your behaviour in this area? How do you perform in this area? Discuss the same for growth mindsets.

- Identify three areas in your life where your skills have grown in the last 5-10 years.

PART 4- gotcha- (10 MINUTES)

GOTCHA! CATCH THE FIXED MINDSET VOICE

TEACHER DEBRIEF OF THE ACTIVITY: When you hear the fixed mindset voice (in yourself or other people you care about), talk back with the growth mindset voice. Challenge it with the word "YET". Then ask yourself- what is the next step in my learning? This is a good strategy to help your friends- peer support- as we are often much better at hearing things in others than identifying behaviours in ourselves. Much like in this activity, we should try to catch the fixed mindset in our own life- "Gotcha!"