Unit 3: Enhancing Growth Mindset Using Feedback and Assessment
In the previous unit, we explored the different characteristics of growth and fixed mindsets. We were able to compare the two and decide if a certain scenario was of someone portraying growth and fixed mindset qualities. In this current unit, we will be discussing different ways we can use feedback and assessment to enhance growth mindset attitudes and behaviors.
Assessment
In this section, we will be talking about ways to assess students in a growth mindset encouraging manner. Please watch this following video below:
In the video, it discusses the effects that our feedback has on our students. It talks about the two types of feedback; summative and formative, and how each one affects a students mindset differently. It then provides different ways we can help students have a sense of where they are going and where they need to be to be successful.
There are two types of assessments, summative and formative. Summative assessment is an assessment that is given after the completion of a unit or a course. Formative assessment is an assessment that is given during the course of the instruction. Here is a picture that compares both types of assessments.
Feedback
According the Larson and Lockee, Feedback is "information provided to learners about the correctness of their responses to practice questions in the instruction." (Larson & Lockee, 2020). Effective feedback is supposed to be:
- Clear and meaningful
- Designed to support comprehension
- Focused on learning outcomes
- Designed to help the learner improve
Their are some feedback methods that can hinder a students growth mindset and can begin to instill a fixed mindset attitude, such as:
- Praising the student for the grade they received and not the effort they put in
- Telling a student that they need to try harder when not being grasping a concept
- Telling a student that they shouldn't have made the mistakes they did.
