How can educators encourage a growth mindset during assessments?

Promoting a growth mindset during assessments involves fostering an environment where students understand the value of their efforts, improvements, and resilience. By emphasizing these aspects, educators help students recognize that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This focus shifts the perspective away from a fixed view of intelligence—where only high scores or inherent talent are valued—to one where persistence and learning from setbacks are appreciated.

When students are encouraged to see their potential for growth, they are more likely to engage with challenges and view mistakes as opportunities for learning rather than as failures. This approach aligns with research on motivation and learning, which shows that students who adopt a growth mindset are more likely to embrace challenges, persevere in the face of difficulties, and ultimately achieve higher levels of success over time.

In contrast, praising only high scores can create a fear of failure and discourage students from taking risks necessary for growth. Avoiding discussion of mistakes does not provide learners with the constructive feedback required to improve, and focusing solely on IQ ignores the influence of hard work and learning strategies on student success.