The concept of growth mindset, pioneered by Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck, represents a paradigm shift in the understanding of human intelligence and capability. At its core, a growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is malleable rather than fixed. This fundamental psychological orientation dictates how individuals perceive challenges, failures, and the process of learning. When an individual operates from a growth mindset, they view their intellectual abilities as qualities that can be developed through dedication, hard work, and strategic effort. This stands in stark contrast to a fixed mindset, where intelligence is viewed as an innate, static trait that cannot be significantly altered regardless of effort.
The Project for Education Research that Scales (PERTS), an initiative founded at Stanford University in 2010, serves as the primary engine for translating these high-level psychological insights into practical, scalable tools for educators, mentors, and parents. PERTS specializes in bridging the gap between theoretical psychological science and the lived experience of the classroom, focusing heavily on K-12 environments, though its applications extend to college students and community-based organizations. By implementing research-backed tools, PERTS aims to create learning environments that empower students to thrive and reshape their foundational attitudes toward education.
The integration of growth mindset principles into educational and mentoring frameworks is not merely about positive thinking; it is about the application of scientific evidence regarding brain plasticity. PERTS leverages this science to show students that the brain is malleable and can be rewired. This realization shifts the student's internal narrative from "I can't do this" to "I can't do this yet," thereby increasing persistence and improving the ability to respond positively to adversity. This cognitive shift is critical for student engagement and long-term academic success, particularly for underperforming students who may have previously viewed their struggles as a permanent reflection of their limited intelligence.
The PERTS Ecosystem and Strategic Partnerships
The translation of growth mindset research into the field requires significant collaboration between academic institutions and frontline educational organizations. PERTS does not operate in a vacuum; it utilizes partnerships to pilot and refine its tools, ensuring that the interventions are effective in real-world settings.
One of the most prominent collaborations is the partnership between MENTOR, Stanford University’s PERTS Lab, and City Year, supported by the Raikes Foundation. This collaboration resulted in the development of the Growth Mindset for Mentors Toolkit. The primary objective of this toolkit is to provide mentors with the necessary resources to guide mentees in developing perseverance, self-reflection, and positive decision-making. By equipping mentors with these skills, the program ensures that the youth they serve can better navigate challenges and view them as opportunities for growth.
The development of these tools involves a rigorous cycle of piloting and evaluation. For example, during the 2015-2016 school year, City Year AmeriCorps members piloted the toolkit in schools to support student success. Based on the evaluation results from this initial pilot, PERTS and MENTOR added more lessons, handouts, and tools to enhance the toolkit's efficacy. The subsequent 2016-2017 school year saw an expansion of this pilot, incorporating additional program partners such as Citizen Schools and Take Stock in Children to further validate and evaluate the impact of the updated materials.
Beyond mentoring, PERTS has partnered with ClassDojo to create "The Mojo Show." This five-episode video series is designed to highlight the power of a growth mindset in a format accessible to students, demonstrating that the ability to adopt a growth mindset is a skill that can be learned by any student. This multi-pronged approach—combining professional toolkits for adults and engaging media for children—ensures that the growth mindset philosophy permeates every level of the educational ecosystem.
The Growth Mindset for Mentors Toolkit
The Growth Mindset for Mentors Toolkit is a structured educational resource designed to help mentors apply growth mindset principles to their interactions with youth. The toolkit is designed not only to educate the mentor but to provide a roadmap for the mentor to facilitate growth in the mentee.
The toolkit consists of 17 detailed lessons. These lessons are designed to shift the mentor's approach from providing answers to fostering a process of learning and resilience. The curriculum covers several critical areas:
- What is Growth Mindset? This foundational section defines the core concept and distinguishes between fixed and growth beliefs.
- How Mentors Support Growth Mindset. This focuses on the specific role of the mentor as a catalyst for the mentee's cognitive shift.
- Using Growth Mindset Language. This teaches mentors how to praise effort and strategy rather than innate intelligence.
- Reframing Challenges, Failures, and Mistakes. This section provides strategies for turning setbacks into learning opportunities.
To support the application of these lessons, the toolkit is accompanied by an Implementation Guide. This guide provides organizational recommendations for mentoring programs, detailing how to incorporate the toolkit into standard organizational procedures. This ensures that the growth mindset approach is not an isolated activity but a systemic component of the mentoring relationship.
Quantifiable Impact and Intervention Tools
The efficacy of PERTS' interventions is supported by randomized controlled trials and quantitative data. The use of mindset surveys allows educators to obtain a snapshot of a student's current psychological state, which in turn allows for the tailoring of interventions to meet specific needs.
The impact of these interventions is particularly evident among students who struggle academically. Research into the PERTS tools has demonstrated significant increases in course completion rates. Specifically, data shows:
- A 6.4% point increase in satisfactory course completion among students who had a GPA of 2.0 or below prior to the program.
- A 4% point increase in satisfactory course completion among underperforming students in a replication and extension of the initial study.
These statistics indicate that when underperforming students are taught that their intelligence is malleable and are provided with the tools to rewire their brains, their academic outcomes improve. This suggests that a fixed mindset can be a significant barrier to academic achievement, and the PERTS intervention serves as a critical tool for removing that barrier.
The PERTS interventions are designed to be accessible. The Growth Mindset for 9th Graders intervention is available for free to all US high schools, and a specialized version is available for college students. These tools focus on three primary learning outcomes:
- Scientific evidence showing that the brain is malleable.
- Specific behaviors that can rewire the brain and increase intellectual abilities.
- The importance of effective study strategies and seeking assistance from others.
Assessing and Measuring Mindset
Accurate assessment is the first step in moving from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Various tools exist to score growth mindsets and identify specific areas where an individual's thinking remains fixed. These assessments provide the empirical basis for subsequent interventions.
The following table compares different assessment tools and their specific functions within the growth mindset framework:
| Tool Name | Target Audience | Primary Method | Focus/Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindset Assessment (Mindset Works) | General/Adults | Research-validated test | Identifies fixed elements and suggests strategies for growth |
| PERTS Mindset Kit Assessment | 2nd Grade Children | Journal writing | Encourages reflection on learning and mindset in young children |
| IDR Labs Growth Mindset Test | General | Testing/Questionnaire | Determines the degree of fixed vs. growth mindset based on Dweck's research |
| PERTS Mindset Surveys | K-12 Students | Brief surveys | Provides educators with a snapshot of student attitudes to tailor interventions |
While not all tests are scientifically validated, they offer valuable insight into cognitive patterns. For practitioners working with clients, Carol Dweck suggests a series of reflective questions to determine an individual's mindset. These questions focus on the perceived nature of intelligence:
- Your intelligence is something that you can’t change very much.
- You can learn new things, but you can’t really change how intelligent you are.
- No matter how intelligent you are, you can still change a bit.
- You can always substantially change how intelligent you are.
If an individual strongly agrees with the first two statements, they are identified as having a more fixed mindset. This diagnostic process allows for a targeted application of PERTS' tools, such as the Mindset Kit or the learning library, which are available for students of all ages.
Implementation Strategies for Educators and Practitioners
For the growth mindset to be effective, it must be integrated into the daily culture of the learning environment. PERTS emphasizes that this is a continuous process of feedback and reflection.
The "Elevate" professional learning program is an example of this approach. Elevate involves both teachers and students in shaping the educational experience. This program operates on a cycle of feedback and reflection, which is essential for the continuous improvement of both the educator and the learner.
Practical application of these principles involves a shift in focus from proving oneself to improving oneself. This means that the goal of an assignment or a challenge is not to demonstrate current intelligence but to expand it. In a therapeutic or coaching context, this can be extended to relationships. A "growth relationship" is one where disagreements and challenges are viewed as opportunities for growth rather than signs of incompatibility.
For those looking to implement these strategies, the following steps are recommended:
- Use the PERTS Mindset Kit to provide a learning library and structured activities for students.
- Implement the Growth Mindset for Mentors Toolkit to ensure all adult influencers are aligned.
- Utilize the brief PERTS surveys to monitor student engagement and social belonging.
- Encourage the sharing of mistakes as a way to provide a sense of freedom and learning for the entire group.
- Transition the focus of feedback from result-oriented praise to process-oriented praise.
Analysis of Growth Mindset as a Catalyst for Social Belonging
A critical component of the PERTS approach is the connection between growth mindset and social belonging. The surveys developed by PERTS cover both essential concepts, as both are viewed as critical to student engagement and success.
Social belonging is the feeling of being accepted and valued within a community. When a student possesses a fixed mindset, a failure in the classroom can be interpreted as evidence that they do not belong in a high-achieving environment. This creates a psychological barrier that further hinders learning. However, when coupled with a growth mindset, a failure is seen as a temporary state that can be overcome with the right strategy and support.
By teaching students that the brain can be rewired and that seeking help from others is a key component of intellectual growth, PERTS fosters an environment where vulnerability is normalized. This normalization reduces the stigma of failure and increases the student's sense of belonging. When students realize that everyone's brain is malleable and that struggle is a natural part of the learning process, they are more likely to engage with their peers and educators, creating a supportive social web that reinforces the growth mindset.
This intersection of psychology and social dynamics is why the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) promotes PERTS tools. The goal is to ensure equitable educational opportunities. By fostering resilience and a growth-oriented disposition, students from all backgrounds are empowered to pursue college and beyond, regardless of their initial academic standing.