Quick Overview of Brainology Project -Growth vs. Fixed Mindset - Effort Praise vs. Product Praise / Intelligence Praise - The Brainology Project - Application/Discussion/Retention - Practicality for Future Use

Growth vs. Fixed Mindset Fixed Mindset- These people see their intelligences as a whole and intellectual abilities in particular as something fixed and unchanging, like a computer processor. Growth Mindset- These people see their intelligences as malleable and progressive. They view the brain more as a muscle in need of exercising.

Carol Dweck, PhD Along with fellow researcher Lisa Sorich Blackwell, PhD, Dweck has spent years performing longitudinal studies involving students of various ages. Her results (for detailed information see the Intro Pres PDF on Wikispace page) suggest that students with a fixed mindset will ultimately struggle as challenges increase. While students with a growth mindset will ultimately view obstacles as opportunities and effort, not product, as intrinsically valuable. Mindsets are formed by the type of praise/encouragement students receive in the school and home. Follow this link to wikipage

Brainology Project Consists of 5, min modules that are online, taught by approachable cartoon characters, interactive, reflective, and ultimately entertaining. Is designed to teach the qualities of the Growth mindset by providing students with knowledge of the brain itself and the reasoning behind study skills and techniques they are asked to employ. Reinforces these by providing online reflection journals and brief assessments. All student information is accessible by the instructor, includes survey and assessment data as well as journal entries and login times. Video of application and student response

Conclusions These modules require too much time to be completed in an advisory period. These must be assigned as homework, or 4 class periods must be devoted exclusively for their use. There are stark differences between students of the control classes and those of the Brainology classes, yet long term retention would require common language and consistent teaching in the school and at home. Parents should read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, PhD.