Creating a New Horizon in Pedagogy through the Growth Mindset

Book excerpt: The belief that ‘I can change my fate’ goes beyond an inborn quality and leads to brain-bending. The brain changes itself and has its own means of healing from damage; this throws off the entity theory of belief. The brain is a muscle that gets stronger by activating neuronal circuits. Learning can turn on genes that alter the neural structure, a ‘rewiring of neural circuits.’ The growth mindset can change brain function and create cognitive reserves. Learning needs to be facilitated through a pedagogy that fosters a growth mindset, incorporating the belief that ‘with practice and hard work, I can do better.’ The pedagogy that creates a new horizon, including the structures mentioned, is the ‘Growth Mindset Pedagogy.’ The challenge of bringing this pedagogy into the classroom arises when dealing with disciplinary content. This book addresses the realities of the classroom through the following pedagogical framework: ‘How to Develop a Growth Mindset-Oriented Classroom Culture.’ It provides both the tools and the roadmap required to do so.