Poster Presentation 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

Positive Mathematical Mindsets - Cultivating A Growth Mindset Theoretical Approach To Teaching and Learning In Mathematics (#711)

Simon J McIntosh 1
  1. Parkmore Primary School, Forest Hill, VIC, Australia

Following the implementation of a whole school mathematics curriculum designed to unleash students’ potential through creative math, inspiring messages and innovative teaching  (informed by Stanford University Professor Jo Boaler’s research) a team of teachers discovered they had no precise measure of students’ ‘Mathematical Mindsets’. Despite evidence of significant student relative growth in standardised testing over a number of years, the school lacked any meaningful data relating to the current mindsets of students. In response, a 14 question online survey was developed using a simple 10 point rating scale that asked students to rate their mindset about their learning in maths. Results which initially focused on a small group of 14 high achieving students revealed many interesting responses, warranting further investigation. The survey expanded in 2018 to include a larger cohort of mathematics students from another primary school beginning their journey for further baseline comparison.