A Reflection on Carol S. Dweck’s Brainology

Carol S. Dweck’s Brainology discussion has changed our mentality on how we think about learning and teaching towards the next generation. Dweck’s article discusses the importance of learning from a young age and how to improve children's mindset to not have a better understanding of Fixed Mindsets vs. Growth Mindsets. Those who are afraid to fail and try new things are most likely stuck in the mentality of a fixed mindset, and the ones who are risk takers and are willing to get up again from there failure, they are most likely ones with growth mindsets. This article will take a deep look at the education system and the path of success for every student from a young age to adulthood. Dweck addresses both the negative and the positive forms of determination that students show towards their goals and the process of their work.

Dweck goes on and explains the difference between these two mindsets. The most common was students with fixed mindsets. Fixed Mindset students are knowtable of thinking negatively towards their tasks. They believe that they are only capable of doing something when they are encouraged to. Instead of taking risks and working hard, they feel the need of failing because they are afraid. Many of us have been in the same position as these students, where we feel overwhelmed and show a lack of interest towards subjects that we study. I've been in the same position as these students myself. Where I came across challenging problems in subjects such as math and my first thought was to give up because I knew that I wasn’t going to succeed. In that moment I felt dumb and I lost my intertst in trying to solve the other problems that was given to me because I thought to myself that Im going to fail. Fixed Mindsets can cause huge problems towards our knowledge of learning and wanting to succeed in any of our aspirations and career goals that we have. That’s why we need to focus on raising the next generation towards having a Growth Mindset.

Growth Mindsets are the exact opposite of Fixed Mindsets. Students with Growth Mindsets can be way more successful than students with Fixed Mindsets. This comes down to the research Dweck has done over the years on multiple students from a young age. Student whose parents that have shown more effort towards their children's process of learning will most likely see them succeed. These children will grow up knowing that with hard work, taking risks and adequate time on assignments will let them be more successful and achieve higher grades in school. Students who are raised with this attitude will see every challenge as a way to succeed. When these kids are encouraged from a young age to put in the work towards every challenge that they face, they will most definitely carry that same point of view throughout highschool and college.

Reading this article has made me realise that unfortunately I have been taught throughout a fixed mindset. Growing up I was always afraid of challenges and felt stupid when I made mistakes coming across a hard problem. My father was my math tutor throughout elementary school. It was extremely hard studying with him because I didn't want to disappoint a man who has his masters in calculus, and yet his own daughter can’t solve a problem because she’s afraid of failing. It was hard for both of us since he was old school with his ways of teaching. But as I grew up, I had to teach myself as long as I fear failure, I am not going to succeed. For the past few years, I have learned that success comes with true dedication towards any challenges you face in life especially in your’e education. Growth mindsets are very much essential in today's society. Carol Dweck’s Brainology: shows the beauty of students’ transformation from negative to positive. Hopefully, we can all see the next generation Growth Mindsets increase and become more encouraged in even working harder.