MichaelaN

School Blog for English 110

[jessicamontes15-blog]

The Perils of Growth Mindset Education

The article “The perils of growth mindset education” by Alfie Kohn focuses mainly about how Carol Dweck’s theory affects the main issue about the two mindsets. But Kohn’s arguement is mainly about the educational system, on how helps kids be successful in the long run. He really believes that categorizing a student with a fixed mindset like how Dweck does is not a good way of reffering to students. She believes that students are born with that type of mentality and that they are born with certain amount of intellegence, while students with a growth mindset is that they believe that intellegence can be build up with hard work and dedication. Kohn strongly disagrees with what Dweck’s theory is which is just the importance of changing the way a students think, he believes that there other ways that can be used to be succesful.

Kohn focuses more on effort than the amount of intellegence a student has, he says that effort praise has problems of its own. This man did some research on how it shows that kids usually end up less interested in certain things they were rewarded or praised for what they accomplised because now they are not looking into really learning or trying because what they are just looking for is the reward that they will get in the end. In his article he explains what praising a student really  means, and that is  manipulation he also mentions the negative outcomes that happen after. In his article Kohn makes a really good point, and that is students don’t really bother to read or understand what they are doing for the assingment that was given to them. All they really care about is just compliting the assingment and receiving the feedback on the assingment. That’s not okay because students really need to understand what they are doing before actually receiving the “reward”.

In Kohn’s article he mentions that focusing on fixing a student’s mindset brings attention that could really influence the way someone learns. Kohn really wants to put out there is that Dweck puts a lot of importance on factors that are taking a way the real issue of the education system. I strongly agree on how Kohn thinks because the way students are being praised is not helping them is only hurting them for the long run. We should not have students think that is ever okay because its not.

[michaelanicklaus-blog]

It is clear that you agree with Khon, who criticizes Dweck to an extent, but it looks like you do not even agree with Dweck at all. You wrote, “… the way students are being praised is not helping them is only hurting them for the long run.” Here, you seem to suggest that in all ways, student praise only hinders them. I definitely agree that sometimes the praise students receive encumbers them, and can, in a way, handicap them. However, I do not agree that praise in the way that is taught by Dweck, and later even clarified, is providing more problems than solutions. I firmly believe that praise, in the way of encouragement, in order to give students a mindset that effort is vitally important, is a huge factor to student success.

[michaelanicklaus-blog]

Khon’s Article Reaction Blog

In the article, “Perils of Growth Mindset Education,” by Alfie Khon, Khon describes how the Dwecks’s idea of a growth mindset is hiding the real problem, and redirects people to thinking that the problem with students is their way of thinking- creating the illusion that all poor performances can be fixed by changing these students’ mindsets. Firstly, the author explains this ‘growth mindset’ as the idea that people do not a limited amount of intelligence, as opposed to a ‘fixed mindset’ which is where individuals believe that they are born with a set amount of intelligence. Then, he illustrates how this concept has been adopted everywhere, even when people don’t know what it means- and it is more becoming a trend rather than a correctly practiced idea. Lastly, he states that mindsets do not fix all the problems, and in fact distract from the real issues that more than a student’s way of thinking effect how they perform in school. He argues this notion by citing expert opinions, examples, and studies. He does so with a persuasive yet sarcastic tone, most likely to an audience of individuals who have already taken an interest in Dweck’s articles and research.

Khon uses a number of different types of evidence to convince his audiene that Dweck’s idea is not what we should focus on, and in fact states that we all be more cridicacl of what she has to say. He attacks Dwek’s evidence and suggests that maybe her research is not credible. He also cites a study that would prove that any praise, even that of effort, would handicap a child. He also uses direct quotes to not only attack Dweck directly, but also to prove his point that their something wrong with the system as a whole. I believe that while somewhat persuasive, Khon’s evidence is not credible enough to convince that Dweck was wrong. His only study that was cited does not contain much detail and the rest of his evidence is hard to identify.

In "The Perils of Growth Mindset Education," Alfie Kohn asserts that, "fixing student’s mindsets diverts attention to other societal factors that influence learning such as sexism, poverty, economic, or political barriers." Khon suggests that focusing on the mindsets of students allows us to ignore other things that may influence a student feeling the way that they feel, and would should rather teach students that not every problem they face is a problem with them. I am of two minds about the claim that mindsets are not the big issue. On one hand, I agree that there are other major factors to a student not doing well in school. On the other hand, I am not sure that we should divert any attention away from the issue that many students do not have a correct mindset when approaching challenges in school. I can personally identify with this problem, as I have witness my younger sister be told she should be on medication for not following what is being taught in school, and she was even held back a grade for this is situation. If the school (or my family) would have realized that all she need was more specialized tutoring and help with certain subjects, like reading, I believe that she would not have needed any of the things that eventually handicapped her.

[michaelanicklaus-blog]

“What it Takes to be Great” blog

               The control focus of Geoffery Colvin’s article “What it Takes to be Great” (FORTUNE magazine, 19 October 2006) is research on if talent really has a play in becoming great at something. Colvin states that talent means little to nothing to do with it. Colvin states, “For one thing, you do not possess a natural gift for a certain job, because targeted natural gifts don’t exist.” He says that all these talents that decide if you are good at something are imaginary. This leads him to explain that the real reason for mastering a subject is deliberate practice, which is defined as practice with specific goals in mind that require rigorous training. This, according to Colvin, is the real reason for success in any field.

               Colvin present research suggesting that you are in complete control of what you are good at. He says that the true reason is just practicing continuously. While this research is not something I can relate to, I do recognize that it may be true and is definitely a claim I agree with. I believe that all talents are nursed to motivate individuals to work a little bit harder at those subjects, even if they don’t realize it. For example, many believe that being artistic is something you are born with, because even from a young age some seem to be better at sketching than others. But, in my personal observations, some children are praised for doing a good job at coloring, and that may motivate them to try harder at advancing that art skill. While talking about younger children who seem to just master particular subjects so early, Colvin states, “… Those cases generally include highly involved parents.” Here, he suggests the reason for their success was guided learning from their parents, resulting in additional practice which increased their skill in that field.

               Although he did not say so directly, Martinez would likely approve my calendar because of the frequent study intervals that will enforce reviewing homework, notes, and study guides. This will also lead to further connections and question answering in course material, which will in result reinforce metacognition. This idea of metacognition is incredibly important when fully understanding assignments and readings given to a student. Martinez states, “Metacognition is important and consequential for learns of all ages.” He claims that being able to practice metacognition should be something revisited throughout all years of learning. While reviewing each piece of homework or set of notes, my mind will continue to make further connections, and increase metacognitive thinking, and will eventually deepen my understanding of a subjects. Additionally, this study style will help me offer more conversation in the classroom, and on paper. This schedule will also help me stay on track of when I should be studying, and will keep me ‘practicing’ my course work; This will help me model my school success after advice given in our most recent article, ‘What it Takes to be Great”.

  -> As small disclaimer, I have not been able to try any of this schedule, I stopped working (full time) as of this week. Hopefully this change will help me stay on track of school, and will clearly allow me more time to study.

[michaelanicklaus-blog]

Introduction Blog

           Hello English 110! My name is Michaela Evelyn Nicklaus. This my first year of college. I have recently graduated from Chula Vista High School, but I have actually been to new a school every year sense the seventh grade including private and public schools (all have been in the Chula Vista area). I am originally from a small town Wisconsin, Oconto – population less than 5,000 with one stop light and way too many round-a-bouts.  

           I can draw, fairly well.  I like doing FX makeup; but I am not really passionate about either any longer. I like to bake.  I am fairly good at it too.  My mother worked in a bakery, she learned a lot of what she knows from her mother and her grandmother.  So, since I like to eat the treats, I figured I better learn how to make them.  My favorite is a very simple pie crust cookie, where I make the pie crust, roll it out and sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on it and bake it.  Simple.

           Baking is a family affair, it brings people together in a way that nothing else does.  It creates an atmosphere that induces talking…and eating, of course. Growing up, my mother’s family would always get together to make Christmas cookies.  My mother has now included candy into her annual baking including one of my sister’s favorite’s – truffles.  I like to create new shapes other than the basic cookie cutters; kind of like my personality.  

           I know that I am not anywhere close to the talent that my mother has; but, she encourages and motivates me to keep trying new and different ways to make things. When I try something and it doesn’t turn out like the photos, she is always there to remind me that someone else made that one.  That one is theirs and the one I made is mine, and that is what makes it special and taste that much better.  I am really not into decorating; however, making the initial product is where my talent lies. Tweaking the recipes to make them taste different than they should, like adding chocolate or apple spice to a sugar cookie, is one example.  I truly enjoy spending time with my mother and baking is a great way to keep the rest of the family happy also.  

           One of the best places we have found is a little bakery in Bonita called Hans and Harry’s.  My mother use to make some of the things they have, but they definitely have their own twist. Their link is provided here.  We have tried other places, but none seem to compare to the bakery itself, the treats and sweets, and the staff.  

           To wrap this up, I would like to say that although I am not the greatest baker in the world, I do bake, I do really enjoy baking, and I truly love the atmosphere it creates for my family and I.