Week 13

iTunes University (Stanford University - Improving K-12 Education)

There is great concern today in the public education system with students under performing in comparison with students from other industrialized nations. With this in mind, Dr Carol Dweck of Standford University is studying new psychological concepts in learning in K - 12. Here studies have shown that under the typical mindset of a student, they believe that they are destined to be under a certain skill set and that it will remain that way until they finish school. She believes this is not so and has a concept called "Growth Mindset" that attempts to break down mental barriers that hold students back by utilizing many different learning methods that include group discussions and motivation. What of we taught students the Growth Mindset using 8 sessions.

Study - Growth Mindset / Group A: Study Skills & Growth Mind Set / Group B: Study Skills only. Study Skills Only did not do well (because no motivation and grades declined). The Growth Mindset were utilizing skills that treated their minds like muscles where much discussion and reading. Every time they learned something new, their mind would grow like a muscles by establishing new neural connections. As an example, she discussed how race car drivers applied Growth Mind Set to improve their professional driving skills. Studies showed that drivers who applied Growth Mindset to learn from their mistakes were superior drivers. They can stay in a "zone" even after they make a mistake. They became great drivers by being able to make mistakes and overcome them with out any mental breakdown or mental blocks to stunt educational growth.

One way I would be able to utilize Growth Mindset in my class room environment by allowing my students to have access to the many online resources such as iTunes U. I would have them view certian educational videos and then have open discussion forums in class to open new pathways in their minds by listening to other point of views and gaining ideas they wouldn't have thought about by being in a closed system of self study and lecture. They would essentially create more neural pathways in their mind for specific study.