Dozens of Cotsen teachers attended a February workshop entitled The Mindset Revolution: Teaching Mathematics for a Growth Mindset led by Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at Stanford University, and sponsored by UCLA Mathematics Project (at UCLA Center X) and the Manhattan Beach Unified School District.
Dr. Boaler, author of Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students’ Potential through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching, kicked off the workshop by debunking the myth of the “math person”, someone who is naturally predisposed to learning mathematics. Dr. Boaler presented research demonstrating that mindset has a profound impact on learning, and that, in fact, every child can excel in math.
According to studies, students with a “growth mindset” – the belief that intelligence can be developed by things such as hard work and trying new strategies – are more persistent in their learning, resilient in the face of challenges, and encouraged by the successes of others; traits that lead to greater engagement and higher achievement in mathematics.
Dr. Boaler presented videos, research, practice problems, and methods of teaching for a growth mindset. She argued that teachers can help students with “fixed mindsets” – the belief that one is either smart or not – to transform how they view themselves as learners of mathematics. By changing the current culture in classrooms, where mistakes are discouraged and success in mathematics is associated with speed, teachers can level the playing field in mathematics’ achievement, which is particularly crucial for female students and students of color.
In the afternoon, participants were put into groups of four and assigned one of the following roles: facilitator, recorder, resource manager, or team captain. The group had to collaborate to work on a pattern recognition problem. Each group was responsible for showing their answer along with an explanation for the answer on chart paper. Some groups were then encouraged to share their answers to the whole group. Through this exercise, Dr. Boaler gave educators strategies to make groupings equitable and actively engage students in a math classroom.
The daylong workshop was offered on two consecutive days, Feb. 4 and Feb. 5, and was attended by nearly 450 educators, including K-12 teachers, administrators, and professional development facilitators. A number of Cotsen mentors, fellows, alumni, and staff were also in attendance over the course of the two days. Attendees received a copy of Dr. Boaler’s book and were introduced to a website she co-founded, www.youcubed.org, an online resource where teachers, students, and parents can access math tasks, courses, videos, and the latest research on math education.