To help learners develop a growth mindset, we can support them by creating a safe learning environment - if learners feel safe and confident enough to share their celebrations and struggles, they are more likely to place effort into their learning. Once the learning environment has been established, we can reframe challenges as opportunities for learning and self-evaluation. My Growth Mindset Plan covers some of my initial learning when it comes to fostering that thinking with students but I do believe it applies to adults as well.
Modeling a growth mindset is also very important - helping learners change their language by putting into practice phrases that promote a growth mindset and avoiding language that is not beneficial or constructive. Another way to model is to share your difficulties and discuss with learners what some possible solutions could be. This will involve them in seeing the need to work through challenges to make progress.
Sometimes grades and grading practices can make students feel like they may never "get there" so to turn away from those negative responses, discuss with students where they are on their individual goals with constructive feedback and help them make a plan to achieve their goals. This may help in being able to see a clear path to reach success instead of the focus being on one grade. It is important that simply praising effort or encouraging learners to "keep trying" will not be effective as it is not being properly implemented. The learners may be struggling with strategies or steps to complete an assignment and without those tools, all the effort might not help.
Creating a significant learning environment will fall into place when I combine the strategies necessary to support a grown-oriented mindset in learners. Overall, fostering a learner's mindset involves cultivating curiosity, adaptability, and a love for continuous learning.
