A fixed mindset is one who believes their intelligence can not be expanded any further, where as a growth mindset believes their intelligence can further grow more and more. Carol Dweck and Alfie kohn are the authors of the articles which discuss different beliefs and theories. In her article, Teachers/ Parents often misuse Growth Mindset, Carol Dweck explains that having a growth mindset is beneficial when used correctly with positive enforcement. In Alfie Kohn’s article, he puts up an argument that the system is setting students up to fail.
When reading both convincing articles, it is hard to make a decision as to who I agree with more. As I read Alfie Kohn’s article, he makes a very strong point that the system is failing. He made a statement that read “Kids tend to fare better when they regard intelligence and other abilities, not as fixed traits that they either have or lack, but attributes that can be improved through effort.” I have to agree with Alfie Kohn’s with this argument. The school’s systems today have forgot the main importance of a meaningful education. Students are being taught less-valuable ways to solve problems and the results cause them to forget what they have learned and not to put in as much effort into their work as they are capable of. Alfie Kohn’s makes a valid point that praise itself is what is most problematic. When kids are praised highly or rewarded for something, they often only want to put in effort to get the prize or praise. Research shows that kids typically end up less interested for whatever they were rewarded with or praised for doing, because now their goal is just to get praised or rewarded. Kohn’s states that the solution for this is to switch from commending ability to commending effort. When a child has done good but their is room for improvement, instead of not acknowledging the mistake and rewarding them anyway, try to acknowledge what they have done as a great effort and then tell them how they can better themselves. “Instead of people feeling helpless for what they cannot achieve, they should have the feeling and determination to go beyond individual attitudes and realize that no mindset is a magic elixir that can dissolve.” -Alfie Kohn’s.
When a child is raised in a household that praises him for anything small or large thing they do, they are going to be greatly disappointed when one day they cannot succeed at that task. They will feel like they do not deserve a reward or praise for their efforts because that’s not what their parents/ teachers have practiced with them. As Kohn’s points out, “the challenges for parents and teachers is to consider a moratorium on offering verbal doggie biscuits.” A 2010 study showed that when students face the prospect of failure, it doesn’t help them to adopt a fixed mindset. They tend to use the “self-handicap strategy.” Until certain arrangements have been changed, mindset will only get you so far. Too much focus on mindset discourages us to make those certain changes. -Alfie Kohn’s.
When reading both convincing articles, it is hard to make a decision as to who I agree with more. As I read Alfie Kohn’s article, he makes a very strong point that the system is failing. He made a statement that read “Kids tend to fare better when they regard intelligence and other abilities, not as fixed traits that they either have or lack, but attributes that can be improved through effort.” I have to agree with Alfie Kohn’s with this argument. The school’s systems today have forgot the main importance of a meaningful education. Students are being taught less-valuable ways to solve problems and the results cause them to forget what they have learned and not to put in as much effort into their work as they are capable of. Alfie Kohn’s makes a valid point that praise itself is what is most problematic. When kids are praised highly or rewarded for something, they often only want to put in effort to get the prize or praise. Research shows that kids typically end up less interested for whatever they were rewarded with or praised for doing, because now their goal is just to get praised or rewarded. Kohn’s states that the solution for this is to switch from commending ability to commending effort. When a child has done good but their is room for improvement, instead of not acknowledging the mistake and rewarding them anyway, try to acknowledge what they have done as a great effort and then tell them how they can better themselves. “Instead of people feeling helpless for what they cannot achieve, they should have the feeling and determination to go beyond individual attitudes and realize that no mindset is a magic elixir that can dissolve.” -Alfie Kohn’s.
When a child is raised in a household that praises him for anything small or large thing they do, they are going to be greatly disappointed when one day they cannot succeed at that task. They will feel like they do not deserve a reward or praise for their efforts because that’s not what their parents/ teachers have practiced with them. As Kohn’s points out, “the challenges for parents and teachers is to consider a moratorium on offering verbal doggie biscuits.” A 2010 study showed that when students face the prospect of failure, it doesn’t help them to adopt a fixed mindset. They tend to use the “self-handicap strategy.” Until certain arrangements have been changed, mindset will only get you so far. Too much focus on mindset discourages us to make those certain changes. -Alfie Kohn’s.