Promoting growth mindsets in Year 10: developing a scheme of work and evaluating student responses

This assignment explores ways to promote mindset theory, based on the research of Carol Dweck, amongst Year 10 female students at a single sex selective school. A review of relevant literature on the topic of mindsets shows how mindset theory can benefit students and how mindset can be conveyed to students. An intervention was planned, with the intention of moving students towards adopting growth mindset views. Students were surveyed both before and after the intervention, in order to assess its impact and success. It was found that the majority of students held growth mindset views before the intervention, although a significant number did not, and some experienced disadvantages associated with the fixed mindset, such as discomfort with leaving the comfort zone and high sensitivity to criticism. Following the intervention, a general shift in attitudes towards growth mindset ideas was observed, although it could not be ascertained how long lasting this change would be and not all students accepted the value of growth mindset theory. Strategies to improve the efficacy of the scheme of work for use with future cohorts are outlined and will be used within the school context over the next academic year.