Growth Mindset

What is a growth mindset and why is it important for me to learn about?

A growth mindset is a special attitude towards learning and life that research shows can greatly increase your chances of meeting your goals.

Many educators believe a growth mindset is the foundation of grit, the ability to persevere through challenges. To learn more about grit, watch this 6-minute TED Talk by psychologist Dr. Andrea Duckworth.

In her talk, Duckworth mentions the psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck who first used the term growth mindset. Here’s a video that defines the growth mindset and explains how it might help you succeed. And here's a video which summarizes what some of the research on growth mindset shows.

Because these findings on the impact of the growth mindset are so striking, we here at the GCC Learning Center feel they are important to share with students. To do so, we offer a series of 3 workshops called the Keys to College Success Workshops which gives students the tools and techniques they need to cultivate a growth mindset and therefore dramatically increase their chances of thriving in school and in life. Workshops are offered both in-person and over Zoom and are, like all Learning Center workshops, one hour each and FREE! Find the schedule for all workshops here.

A Growth Mindset Makes a Difference!

We already have some evidence that the Keys workshops may be helping GCC students do better in their classes. In 2021, Ed Karpp, Dean of Research, Planning and Grants, analyzed data on students attending the workshops between 2018 and 2021 and found the following:

	All GCC Students	GCC Students Who Took Any of the Keys Workshops
Success Rates: Percentage who passed their classes	73.6%	90.1%.
Persistence Rates: Percentage of students who stayed enrolled in their classes	65.4%	89.7%
Grade Point Average (GPA)	2.98	3.27

Additional Resources

If you’ve already attended the Keys to College Success Workshops – and/or you want to learn more about grit and the growth mindset - here are some additional resources we recommend:

Mindset by Carol Dweck - It’s a great read! There are plenty of copies in the GCC Library, including 2 e-books!

Grit by Andrea Duckworth.

Dr. Carol Dweck’s TED Talk on “The Power of YET”

Carol Dweck’s chart showing the difference between a fixed and growth mindset - Dr. Dweck suggests you use this chart to practice acting like someone with a growth mindset and avoid the habits of someone with a fixed mindset.

The article “You Can Grow Your Brain” which explains the research on neural plasticity.