Mindset and Library Instruction

Goodman, Jana

CA

Folk, A. (2016) Academic reference and instruction librarians and Dweck’s theories of intelligence.  College & Research Libraries,77, 302-313.

Summary:  This article summarizes Carol Dweck's important book Mindset. Mindest lays out the idea that our intelligence is not fixed, rather it is through hard work we can achieve success and goals.  But if our mind set is fixed and we believe intelligence is something we are born with, something we cannot change, then we will not be productive.  If we instead have a growth mindset, we see ourselves as a work in progress and believe in our ability to learn things, rather then thinking we should know them already, we can achieve success.  The author discusses the application of Dweck's ideas to working with students at both the college and K-12 education level and how this could benefit our students.

Evaluation:  This article is a good starting place and it inspired me to pull out my copy of Dweck's very influential book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.  I plan to finally read it as this article inspired me, again, about its importance.  It is a way of thinking that is crucial to impart to our students and I realize valuable to apply to my own life and journey as a learner.