1. Would you rather….
From my daughter: Be in a pool of marshmallows OR pool of M & Ms? Be able to fly OR swim underwater? Go 0 for 9 in a basketball game OR Go 0 for 30 in a basketball game? Kobe Bryant would rather go 0 for 30 Video… Kobe’s view: shooting-mindset/

2. Growth Mindset & Attribution Theory
EDU 330: Educational Psychology
Dr. Daniel Moos, PhD

3. Intelligence can be developed
Growth Mindset
“Growth Mindset”
Intelligence can be developed
Leads to students to want to learn and a tendency to….
Embrace challenges
Embrace challenges (self-image not affected by failure)
See effort as something as necessary to develop
View negative feedback as constructive criticism

4. Growth Mindset “Fixed Mindset” Intelligence is fixed
Leads to students to want to “look smart” and a tendency to….
Avoid challenges because could negatively affect self-image
Give up easily in the face of failure
See effort as fruitless (either smart or dumb)
Interpret negative feedback as personal criticism

5. Strategies to Support Growth Mindset
Establish high expectations
Create a risk-tolerant learning zone
Give feedback that focuses on process

6. Attribution Theory: Introduction (I)
Attributions: Explanations that people tend to make to explain success or failure
Controllable
Uncontrollable
Internal
Effort
Luck
Difficulty of Test
Choice of Study Environments
External

7. Attribution Theory: Introduction (II)
How do individuals typically attribute their success and/or failure?
Interpret successes and failures in a manner that is most likely to maintain positive self-image
Success/Failure
Success
Failure
Controllable
Uncontrollable
Internal
Effort
Luck
Difficulty of Test
Choice of Study Environments
External

8. Attribution Theory: Strategies
Students most likely to persist after failing if they attribute failure to a lack of appropriate effort
Attribution of “I am am really good at this” or “I am not good at this” undermines positive attributions and ultimately growth mindsets
Support controllable attribution through scaffolding student’s understanding of effort
Students often confuse spending time doing ineffective activities with effort
Students often have incorrect conceptions of their understanding (metacognition)

9. Attribution Theory: Teach-Okay-Yes
What is the “Teach-Okay-Yes” Strategy?
Why is the “Teach-Okay-Yes” Strategy effective?
Teach
Okay
Yes