Article: Mindset Matters: Fueling Student Motivation and Success

by Jihong Tang, Instructional Designer II, Learning and Educational Center

Mindset Matters: Fueling Student Motivation and Success 

Mindset science reveals that students’ beliefs about their abilities strongly influence their learning motivation (Dweck, 2006). Students’ academic mindsets are crucial for their achievements in their classes. Research reveals that teachers can significantly improve student mindsets, leading to better perseverance and learning outcomes, by adapting their instructional practices (Farrington et al., 2012).  

Mindset refers to the established attitudes, beliefs, and expectations individuals hold about themselves, their abilities, and the world around them. According to Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, your beliefs decide what you want and whether you achieve it (Farnam Street, n.d.).  

Mindsets can be broadly categorized into two types: those who believe intelligence is fixed (fixed mindset) and those who think it can grow (growth mindset). Research shows that students with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and view failures as opportunities to learn and improve. This positive attitude towards learning can lead to higher academic achievement, especially for lower-achieving students (Our Mental Health, n.d.). People with a growth mindset seek feedback and always try to improve.  

Cultivating a growth mindset, which values effort, learning, and perseverance, can lead to substantial personal and academic gains (Cherry, 2024). Instructors play a critical role in developing students’ growth mindsets. The following strategies help instructors to strengthen students’ positive mindsets. 

Creating a supportive learning environment:  

  • Create a learning environment where students feel a strong sense of belonging and support. 
  • Ask students how they feel as the class starts with a quick poll or survey. 

Setting Realistic and Challenging Goals:  

  • Define clear expectations and learning paths. 
  • Help students set incremental, achievable goals that demonstrate the attainability of growth and progress.  

Providing constructive Feedback:  

  • Provide constructive feedback that acknowledges students’ effort and specific suggestions for improvement.  
  • Incorporate regular check-ins and formative assessments to keep students on track and address any issues early on. 

Encourage Students’ Reflection:  

  • Ask students to reflect on the instructor’s feedback. 
  • Obtain student evaluations of teaching methods, integrate actionable recommendations, and facilitate student reflection on their learning progress and experience. 

Connect Learning to Real-Life Examples:  

  • Display how academic learning translates to future goals to significantly increase student motivation. Share real-world examples of how learned concepts are used in professional settings. 

 

Instructors have the power to shape students’ beliefs about their abilities, which also influences their motivation and academic success. By intentionally implementing strategies that promote a growth mindset, instructors can help students develop resilience, embrace challenges, and persist through difficult situations as well as equip them with a mindset that will serve them beyond the classroom. 

 

References 

Cherry, K. (2024, June 23). What mindset is and why it matters. Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025  

Dweck, Carol (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success: How we can learn to fulfill our potential. Ballantine Books. Updated Edition (December 26, 2007). 

Farnam Street. (n.d.). Carol Dweck: Mindset. Retrieved from https://fs.blog/carol-dweck-mindset/#:~:text=Dweck’s%20work%20shows%20the%20power%20of%20our,and%20prevents%20us%20from%20fulfilling%20our%20potential  

Farrington, C.A., Roderick, M., Allensworth, E., Nagaoka, J., Keyes, T.S., Johnson, D.W., & Beechum, N.O. (2012). Teaching adolescents to become learners. The role of noncognitive factors in shaping school performance: A critical literature review. Chicago: University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research. 

Our Mental Health. (n.d.). Unlocking potential: How growth mindset drives academic success. Retrieved from https://www.ourmental.health/perfectionism/unlocking-potential-how-growth-mindset-drives-academic-success