Teaching Activities To Tap Into a Growth Mindset

Summary

Professor Laura Freberg from California Polytechnic State University emphasizes the importance of a growth mindset in teaching, contrasting it with a fixed mindset. She discusses the need for educators to continuously adapt and innovate in the classroom, using technology and new methods to enhance student learning. Freberg shares her experiences with online exams and virtual reality, highlighting the value of trying new approaches and the positive impact on student engagement.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Laura Freberg is a professor of psychology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, teaching introductory psychology and behavioral neuroscience.
• 💡 She discusses the concept of 'fixed mindset' and 'growth mindset', which were popularized by Carol Dweck, emphasizing the importance of viewing abilities as improvable rather than static.
• 🏫 Laura reflects on her teaching approach, advocating for a growth mindset in the classroom to foster continuous improvement and adaptability to new teaching methods and technologies.
• 📚 She highlights the inertia in traditional teaching methods and the need to challenge these to keep both herself and her students engaged and motivated.
• 📈 Laura shares her personal teaching philosophy, which involves trying new things in the classroom to prevent boredom and to enhance student learning experiences.
• 🎓 She believes that students can sense a teacher's enthusiasm or lack thereof, which can significantly impact their own engagement with the material.
• 🔍 Laura is interested in using technology, such as virtual reality, to improve the classroom experience, although she acknowledges that the effectiveness of such tools is still being explored.
• 📊 She suggests that students often perceive their abilities as fixed, which contrasts with the growth mindset that sees potential for development and improvement.
• 👩‍🏫 Laura feels a sense of risk and vulnerability every time she teaches, which she believes is a positive sign of pushing boundaries and trying new approaches.
• 📝 She emphasizes the importance of not relying solely on notes during lectures, which can help maintain engagement and energy in the classroom.
• 🤝 Laura calls for more formal mentoring processes for new teachers, especially adjuncts, to help them develop effective teaching strategies and a growth mindset.

Q & A

Who is Laura Freberg?

Laura Freberg is a Professor of Psychology at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

What subjects does Laura Freberg currently teach?

She teaches introductory psychology and a behavioral neuroscience class.

Who is Carol Dweck and what is her contribution to psychology?

Carol Dweck is an eminent psychologist from Stanford University who has written extensively on the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.

What is a fixed mindset according to Carol Dweck?

A fixed mindset views abilities such as math or music as fixed talents that people have more or less of.

How does Laura Freberg define a growth mindset?

A growth mindset involves flexibility and the belief that one can improve proficiency through effort and learning.

What does Laura Freberg believe is necessary to avoid becoming bored and stale in the classroom?

Laura Freberg believes that teachers should have a growth mindset, be open to new opportunities, and constantly look for ways to improve their teaching.

How does Laura Freberg demonstrate her love for neuroscience to her students?

She gets comments on her student evaluations about her love for neuroscience, which students respond to and may encourage them to pay more attention.

How long has Laura Freberg been teaching?

Laura Freberg has been teaching for 43 years since her first college class.

What is Laura Freberg's approach to incorporating new technology in the classroom?

She loves technology and tries new things, like virtual reality, to see if they can enhance the student experience.

What does Laura Freberg think about the current perception of students by faculty?

She thinks there's a growing recognition of students' flexibility, but there's still some inertia in the system with a fixed view of students as either good or bad.

How does Laura Freberg feel about entering the classroom?

She feels like she's taking a risk and walking on a tightrope every time she enters the classroom because the outcome is uncertain.

What is Laura Freberg's approach to using technology for exams?

She started using online exams a few years ago and tested them with her face-to-face students, who responded positively, leading her to continue using them.

What does Laura Freberg suggest for colleagues who are hesitant to adopt a growth mindset?

She suggests starting with one thing, such as audience response or different question formats, and not trying to do too many new things at once.