Friday 5!
Equity and Growth Mindset
Friday 5! Week of 2/5/16
This week in Friday 5! features a look at fostering equity in schools as well as tackling the idea that some people are just born smart. Check it out!
What is the goal?
The goal is to "identify uses of technology in schools that promote learning, development and success for all students versus uses that don't," (Pollock, pg. 39).
When Tech does more harm than good
- Putting all students on an app just for fun with no rigorous learning/application
- Using the online textbook the same way you would use a regular textbook
- Keeping devices locked up so that the students can't break or steal them
- Buying technology without investigating if it's truly needed
Before using technology, ask yourself...
- Does the technology allow all learners to share/communicate their thinking and inquire deeply into a concept?
- Does the technology empower all learners to recognize their knowledge and contributions to the learning environment and to society?
- Does the technology support what students are learning?
Grit, Resilience, and Growth Mindset
It sounds like a new buzz word, but it isn't a new thought. Students give up too easily, they have no perseverance, some kids are just smart. The Growth Mindset focuses on the idea that anyone can learn anything; that intelligence isn't part of your DNA and only meant for a precious few. Intelligence can grow. A large majority of our students have been told and have been made to feel that they are not smart. They don't know basic skills, they can't read, they can't make straight A's, etc. WE as teachers have to change our mindset before we can expect students to change theirs. If we expect them to be bad, they will be. If we enforce the belief that they are not smart, they won't be. Check out this article for resources on how to change the mindset in your classroom, and check out the video below to help you understand a Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset.
Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset: An Introduction