Learning mindsets are an individual’s beliefs about learning that shape how they interpret difficulty. Three learning mindsets we focus on are:
| G | GROWTH MINDSET | The belief that intelligence can be developed through hard work, the use of effective strategies, and help from others when needed. (“Can I do this?”) |
| P | PURPOSE & RELEVANCE | The belief that one’s schoolwork is valuable because it is connected to a larger purpose and/or relevant to one’s life. (“Do I want to do this?”) |
| S | SENSE OF BELONGING | The belief that one is academically and socially connected, supported, and respected. (“Do I belong here?”) |
Together, these mindsets form the acronym Mindset GPS, and they help people navigate their learning and learning contexts.
Learning mindsets are critical predictors of students’ performance and decisions to stay in college. They are:
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Meaningful—They are related to academic success and students' well-being.
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Measurable—They can be assessed and tracked.
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Malleable—They can be altered through targeted activities.
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More effective—They are more effective for students from underserved backgrounds.
TBR Mindset Resource Repository
This Mindset Resource Repository was created in collaboration with Motivate Lab to provide resources, handouts, and templates that any course instructor can use to add mindset-supportive activities, language, and best practices to their course.
We will be continually adding new resources to this repository.
Mindset Resource Check-Out
Please complete the short Mindset Resource Check-Out Form when you download a resource to use in your course.*
*Why we ask for this: TBR received grant funding from Ascendium Education Group to support this work. As part of our grant reporting, we are tracking how many instructors/courses utilize these resources so we can continually improve our support services.
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
 Active Learning Mindset Strategies |
Instructor Resource. This document describes short activities instructors can incorporated into their classes to support Growth Mindset, Purpose & Relevance, and Sense of Belonging. |
| Growth Mindset Phrases |
Instructor Resource. This document helps instructors craft messages that promote Growth Mindset in your classroom. |
| Value Writing Interventions |
Student Handout. This document introduces a student handout for a writing activity that can be used to promote Purpose & Relevance in your classroom. |
| Sense of Belonging Interventions |
Student Handout. This document introduces a student handout for a writing activity that can be used to promote Sense of Belonging in your classroom. |
| Mindset-Supportive Welcome Message |
Instructor Resource. This document provides instructions and examples to help instructors craft a mindset-supportive welcome message for students. |
| Support GPS on the First Day |
Instructor Resource. This document provides an instructor walkthrough of several strategies to support Growth Mindset, Purpose & Relevance, and Sense of Belonging on the first day of class. |
| The Three Assignment Routines |
Instructor Resource. This planning documents provides and instructor walkthrough of three assignment routines to support students' learning mindsets. |
| The Four Study and Exam Routines |
Instructor Resource. This planning documents provides and instructor walkthrough of four study & exam routines to support students' learning mindsets. |
| Request to Retest |
Instructor Resource. This document highlights one teaching strategy that instructors can use to encourage students to discover better learning strategies to improve their mastery of course material. |
| Wise Framing of Feedback |
Instructor Resource. This document provides instructions and examples to help instructors infuse feedback to students with growth-mindset supportive language. |
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Mindset GPS Syllabus Checklist |
Instructor Resource. This checklist is designed to help instructors evaluate and reflect on the messages conveyed in their course syllabi to ensure motivationally-supportive language is embedded throughout. |
Grant Connections
The Tennessee Board of Regents would like to acknowledge and thank our grant funder, Ascendium Education Group, and our research partner, Motivate Lab, for supporting the creation of this resource repository.
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Questions
For any questions about these resources, please contact Emma Huelskoetter, TBR's Coordinator of Campus Mindset Interventions, at emma.huelskoetter@tbr.edu or 629-216-4084.