She posits that when students have a “fixed mindset,” they see their mistakes as coming from a lack of ability, something they’re powerless to change. In contrast, when students have a “growth mindset,” they focus instead on their own effort as a means to become more successful. A growth mindset offers students a sense of control, as they believe that it’s in their power to get better and better at something—indeed, at anything. Dweck’s studies have found that students with a growth mindset tend to see learning as a more important goal in school than obtaining good grades. Their motivation, in
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