Lesson 8 - Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset
If you have extra time . . .
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If you have extra time . . .
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Quotes:
- "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein
- "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." - Thomas A. Edison
Source: The Best Self-Assessment Questions for Encouraging a Growth Mindset - Inquiry Based Learning
Questions for Discussion and/or Journaling: SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS FOR YOUR GROWTH MINDSET
DID I WORK AS HARD AS I COULD HAVE? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I SET AND MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS FOR MYSELF? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I SPEND ENOUGH TIME TO DO QUALITY WORK? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I REGULATE MY PROCRASTINATION, DISTRACTIONS, AND TEMPTATIONS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE MY WORK? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I MAKE GOOD USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I ASK QUESTIONS IF I NEEDED HELP? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I REVIEW AND RE-REVIEW MY WORK FOR POSSIBLE ERRORS? IF NOT, WHY?
IS MY WORK SOMETHING FOR WHICH I AM PROUD - THAT I WOULD PROUDLY SHOW TO A LARGE, GLOBAL AUDIENCE? IF NOT, WHY?
DID I WORK AS HARD AS I COULD HAVE? IF NOT, WHY?
- Was it a lack of energy? (Taking care on oneself is crucial to a well-functioning brain. This can be done through a healthy diet or daily exercise and a good night's sleep.)
- Were you stuck? (Was it information that you didn't have in order to get unstuck?)
DID I SET AND MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS FOR MYSELF? IF NOT, WHY?
- Was it a lack of vision? (You have to know where you want to go and how far you want to reach. You can't hit a target you can't see, so begin by dreaming big.)
- Was it a lack of worthy examples? (Seek inspiration. What similar great works inspire you? What standards did their creators set for themselves?)
- Did you begin the work with, "Oh, this is going to be impossible!" or "We're going to rock this thing!" (The attitude and self-fulfilling language that you begin with is so important as it determines the path that you ultimately take.)
- What motivates you?
- Which seems more favorable to you, the pain of effort and discipline or the pain of regret? (The payoff is huge, especially for your confidence, if you are proud of your efforts as opposed to putting forth little effort and feeling like you wasted a lot of time.)
DID I SPEND ENOUGH TIME TO DO QUALITY WORK? IF NOT, WHY?
- Did you perceive there was not enough time? (Many students are given a time limit to produce something, so it's important to do some scheduling of important tasks. The less time you give to completing a task, the more the quality suffers. You'll have to sacrifice other less important activities if you're not finding enough time to achieve exceptional quality.)
- Did you lack efficiency? (Those who can do great work in little time are efficient, and using time efficiently is a skill that is acquired over time. It takes practice and discipline to learn how to use your time wisely. It's about muscle memory, but it's also about your brain getting used to firing the right neurons.
DID I REGULATE MY PROCRASTINATION, DISTRACTIONS, AND TEMPTATIONS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE MY WORK? IF NOT, WHY?
- There are other things I need to do. Prioritize, make a schedule, and stick to it with no exceptions. Adjust the schedule over days until you get the right balance.
- I reach a mind fog and have to stop for a while. (Everyone needs breaks. Only a skilled time manager can withstand the temptation to get lost in their breaks and never come back. Plan your breaks and really take them. When you take a break, you tend to come back with better ideas.)
- I did my break and lost track of the time. (Deciding on a time limit for yourself for clearing the brain can help keep you focused on your target. Get a time and be sure to use it.)
DID I MAKE GOOD USE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES? IF NOT, WHY?
- I didn't know what was available. (Resources are tools that you use to reach your goal. This means information, apps, people, equipment, etc. Begin your work by assessing what resources are available to you. Our greatest resource is people whether you ask for help through the Internet, phone, or in person.)
DID I ASK QUESTIONS IF I NEEDED HELP? IF NOT, WHY?
- I thought my questions was going to sound stupid. (As the old saying goes, the only stupid question if the one you don't ask. If you're embarrassed to ask out loud, as in private.)
- The teacher was too busy. (Remember the teacher is not the only resource available, so be relentless until you get the reliable information that you need. Asking the right questions from the beginning can preent misunderstanding in the long run. And remember: clarify, clarify, clarify.)
- I wanted to do it all myself. (The fear of collaboration can be a stumbling block to greatness. Do you realize that some of the world's most successful people are that way because they aligned themselves with the right people?)
DID I REVIEW AND RE-REVIEW MY WORK FOR POSSIBLE ERRORS? IF NOT, WHY?
- I procrastinated and just wanted to turn it in. (This often happens, so next time we have to be proactive and nip the situation in the bud. Your timeline for completion should always allow for a review process. Have a finished product ready well before the deadline in order to let you or others do reviews and edits.)
- I fear the review process because I get stuck reviewing my work over and over again to the point where I don't get anything done. I'm a perfectionist. (Don't get caught up in an obsessive loop. You might need to take a break first, then come back to your work in a fresh state of mind. Or you can "toss the ball" to a team-mate, colleague, or supervisor for review and editing. You must never be afraid to ask for help if you genuinely need it.)
IS MY WORK SOMETHING FOR WHICH I AM PROUD - THAT I WOULD PROUDLY SHOW TO A LARGE, GLOBAL AUDIENCE? IF NOT, WHY?
- Remember, the greatest successes are preceded by failures. Certainly we try to avoid failures, but what can we do? We pick ourselves up and keep going, and learn from it.
- We always strive to achieve a "Yes" answer for each of these self-assessment questions. Mastery of these ideals won't come in a day for the average person. If you're not at the point where you want to be, try again the next day.