How to Grow a Mind is an EduSocial movement designed to harness our most valuable and abundant resource—the human mind. It is a simple but powerful perceptual shift in how and why we navigate our daily lives in the 21st century. Based on groundbreaking psychological research, common sense, educational and life experience, this new way of looking at the human mind will help education and society take an important step forward in the struggle to deal with an increasingly complicated reality. In this post I will highlight the reasons why this movement is necessary, the research basis that is helping to build momentum for change, and my ideas for forward progress in both the educational system and society.
I believe the perceptual shift must happen in a broader social context and education will be the vehicle to help it take root. This is not something that requires a great deal of money, legislation, or degrees in education to begin. It does require awareness that change is needed and a willingness to examine our current processes of operation. This simple but powerful philosophy will empower educators, parents, and students to look beyond curriculums, standards, and assessments to the broader mental process we use to learn and navigate our world. This simple shift in perception can start making a difference in your life, home, classroom or career today!
Instead of a focus on the “what” of education, which is slow to change and adapt in this fast paced, ever-evolving 21st century reality, this philosophy argues we need to first adapt the “why” and “how” of things. We must better understand the learning process and the use of the mind in order to teach children and society how to grow and innovate rather than just survive in the world. It is a repurposing and refocusing of the educational system to enhance effectiveness for all stakeholders.
Each role in the education system has changed dramatically but society is struggling unsuccessfully to agree on how to proceed. Business as usual is clearly not working anymore to prepare students for an uncertain future. The direction seems unclear for teachers who are overworked and underpaid. Administrations and law makers struggle with the appropriate direction of education in terms of purpose and improving measures of student growth and teacher accountability. Parents are grasping for their role as well in guiding children through an educational experience that barely resembles their own. Students are more stressed than ever with high stakes testing and 21st century skills making them actually think. My experience as an educator has shown the current system is doing some things well but is in dire need of a universal goal or purpose we can all agree on which will help all parties in moving forward as a united front.
While the gap between the “haves and have-nots” of society continues to widen, we need to find ways to help individuals capitalize on their “mental currency” to level the playing field. I argue that the education system is an essential vehicle for change in helping ALL children of this and future generations become well-adjusted contributing members of society. Each child is already equipped with a mind and we have decided that it needs to be filled with certain things to survive. I argue that the current system only perpetuates the larger inequities of society rather than using education to address and counteract the very real unique needs of learners facing generational poverty or a less than stellar home life. Again, the focus has been on what students need to know not how an why. My philosophy offers a universal learning process that identifies and utilizes challenges to “unlearn” and replace negative core beliefs that inhibit learning, growth, and success.
The research of Dr. Carol Dweck from Stanford University on mindsets is one important piece of the How to Grow a Mind edusocial movement. Her work highlights differences in perspective that impact everything people experience. The research should make society question everything it thought it knew about thinking, self-esteem, feedback, motivation, achievement, and learning. This is a perfect time to redefine the purpose and focus of education and how it can impact society. Her book and the mindset message are making waves in the education world but there is more to be done to make lasting change. If you would like to learn more about mindset research check out this TED talk by Euardo Briceño, Co-Founder and CEO of Mindset Works
Or check out this quick 2 minute TED Ed on the differences between fixed and growth mindsets by @ViSalus Fixed vs. Growth
The work of Dylan Wiliam is also an important part of the movement by helping teachers use feedback in a purposeful way. Here is a blog post about his work if you are not already familiar with it. The 5 Formative Assessment Strategies to Improve Student Learning
My work builds on educational research with my practical experience as an educator, parent, and teacher coach. I believe we need a movement to include a universal learning process in the education system and simple tools that include language to better understand the daily navigation of learning and living. In my upcoming book How to Grow a Mind: A Better Way to Grow and Innovate in the 21st Century, I describe my philosophy using established research to question the status quo along with my concept of mental currency. I use a universal gardening metaphor to understand the 4 essential steps to using the mind effectively that all students should know . Fianlly, I use a nutritional metaphor to offer 5 ways to keep the mind mentally balanced in the 21st century which will help everyone avoid some of the most enticing mind traps that hold us back.
My next post will focus on unpacking the gardening metaphor for the learning process called “How to Grow a Mind” and it explains the 4 essential steps to using the mind effectively that I mentioned above. I look forward to sharing these ideas and getting feedback from others passionate about improving our current education system. Please keep talking and writing about change and innovation in both education and society because, as an educator and parent, I know it can’t wait. I am passionate about moving forward by improving what is working rather than than throwing it all out and starting from scratch. This perceptual shift can reignite that passion, focus, and unity needed for true reform. Check in for my next post to see how.
If you are interested in this movement or would like to share, please follow me on twitter @JillReid123.
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Awesome! I am looking forward to reading your book. “This simple but powerful philosophy will empower educators, parents, and students to look beyond curriculums, standards, and assessments to the broader mental process we use to learn and navigate our world.” As a fellow educator and parent, I am intrigued. Way to go, Jill!
Thank you for the feedback Lindsey! I hope that the language building and questioning that goes on in society and education will help everyone to have better conversations and actions toward progress!