Module 2: Communicating with a Growth Mindset
Unit Objectives
After completing this unit the learner will be able to:
- Define Intrinsic Motivation.
- Ddevelop specific student praise techniques
- Iidentify specific classroom feedback techniques
- Reflect and change classroom dialog habits
Preliminary Activity
Review two types of student praise:
A. "Great effort! You really were focused on what you were doing and I am really starting to see an improvement in the quality of your work."
B. "You got the answer right! Your understanding of Math is already well above grade level. Keep going, you are a natural!"
Take a moment to mentally absorb each of these examples of praise.
Pretend you are the student. Decide which quotation...
1. Makes you feel happier
2. Best motivates you
3. Is the best example of a growth mindset
Review Motivation
Before we can adequately address the idea communicating with a growth mindset, we must first understand student motivation.
Two main types of motivation:
Intrinsic Motivation: Behavior that comes from internal forces and rewards. An example of intrinsic motivation could be a desire to achieve a sense of self-satisfaction.
Extrinsic Motivation: Behavior that comes from external forces and rewards. An example of extrinsic motivation could be a desire to win a match for a trophy or monetary reward.
Activity: Watch this video that explains Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Explanation
Student mindset needs to be a constant focus. The ultimate goal of classroom teachers is to develop learners that are self-motivated and engaged. If a student is intrinsically motivated, they see the unwavering value in a given activity. A growth mindset is a necessary tool when building intrinsic motivation. As we move forward through this module the focus will be to develop growth mindset communication techniques that will help promote an intrinsically motivated classroom.
As best-selling author Daniel Pink puts it:
“People use rewards expecting to gain the benefit of increasing another person’s motivation and behavior, but in so doing, they often incur the unintentional and hidden cost of undermining that person’s intrinsic motivation toward the activity.” ― Daniel H. Pink, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Discussion: Use the Discussion Tab to talk about how you can intrinsically motivate your classroom.
Specific Praise: Advice from Expert Teachers
TED ED: An Introduction of Praise
Essential Question: Is it better to praise intelligence or effort?
Review this video and complete the activities related to the importance of praise.
Watch these teacher accounts of using process praise in the classroom setting. Use the follow-up questions as a means to reflect on the videos.
Video 1- Specific Praise How it Improves Learning
Essential Question: How can specific praise motivate students?
1. Consider how "specific praise" gives students useful feedback they can act on.
2. What is the difference between praising a student and praising what a student does?
3. How does specific praise make students aware of their strengths and how to take advantage of them?
Video 2: Ms. Stewart's Class
Essential Question: How do you make your praise more authentic?
1. How does process praise help students develop a growth mindset?
2. How does Ms. Stewart make sure here process praise is authentic?
3. What tips does Ms. Stewart share for how teachers can begin to use process praise in their classrooms?
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/intrinsic-motivation-growth-mindset-writing-amy-conley
Activity: Reflect on Classroom Habits
Classroom feedback is a critical aspect of teaching. Within a student-centered classroom, the particular language a teacher uses may be a vital step toward in developing young minds. This activity will help you to reflect on your particular style.
Take a moment to reflect on your teaching. Review how you communicate with your students when offering praise, providing feedback, setting goals, and encouraging rigor. List three instances of poor classroom communication that occurs within your classroom. Challenge yourself to use examples of your language that needs the most improvement. After you have written down examples of three personal communication habits, follow the guide below to help you reflect and make changes to the communication example.
To maximize the effect of this activity, try to give examples from different contexts (praise, feedback, goals, or rigor). The resource links below will be most helpful when you get to step 5 and you need to research feedback examples. One example reflection has been provided for reference.
Reflection Guide
1. Identify an example of the unproductive feedback (What do you say?).
2. Where during what subject does this type of feedback usually occur?
3. What is the context of the conversation?
4. List aspects of the statement that need improvement.
5. Research feedback examples and list a related feedback example.
6. Develop a new way of communicating feedback (Rewrite the initial feedback).
Feedback Examples for Framing Goals and Expectations
Growth Mindset Effort Feedback
Example Reflection
1. Feedback: If your writing is not neat you are going to have to rewrite it on a new sheet of paper.
2. Subject: Writing
3. Feedback type: encouraging rigor/providing feedback
4. Improvement needed: I am not offering feedback which provides the student with a way to improve the quality of their work. My feedback suggests a punishment for lack of quality instead of giving the student intrinsic pride in their work.
4. Feedback Example Referenced: I am going to push you because I know if I do you will do amazing work!
5. New Feedback: Our goal is to put effort and focus into the writing we produce. Neatness means spacing words evenly and thinking about how we can best form each letter. I am going to push you because I know you all can produce neat pieces. Let's try to put our best effort in the first so when we go back to look at the quality of our work, we will be confident in our effort.
Module 2 Checklist
Before you continue to the module reflection. Check to make sure you have challenged yourself in each task.
DID YOU?
Complete Preliminary Activities
- Intial Question
Review Motivation
- Review motivation definitions
- Watch video explaining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
- Participate in group discussion using this page's Discussion Tab
Specifc Praise
- Complete TED ED Lesson on the types of Praise
- Watch classroom examples of process praise
- Answer video related questions
Feedback Reflection
- Identify three specific communication pitfalls
- Research feedback examples
- Reflect and change poor communication habits
Reflecting on Module 2
STOP
ACTIVITY:
1. Look back through the Feedback Example sheets from the feedback reflection activity.
2. Identify three feedback examples that you already use in your classroom.
3. Identify three feedback examples that you plan to incorporate into your daily teaching.
4. You will be using these choices to compile a list with classmates
Resources
Communication with a Growth Mindset