I think that all students possess the ability to succeed in any given class. Whether or not a student actually succeeds depends on a variety of factors including motivation, teacher quality, and mindset, among others. Based on my experience, I believe mindset may be the most important factor underlying success. Some students, my past self included, may not think they can succeed because they have a fixed mindset towards a particular subject. Those with a fixed mindset believe that certain traits, such as intelligence, are unchangeable, even through effort.
Those with a growth mindset, on the other hand, believe that anything can be achieved through persistence and determination. They believe that obstacles are learning opportunities, not deterrents. Many students I’ve known have developed negative feelings toward a subject early in their academic careers, which caused them to maintain a fixed mindset for that topic throughout their schooling. Others may have been put off by a specific teacher or class. Regardless, it’s possible for anyone to overcome those doubts and achieve success with the appropriate mindset.
Even though I think that all students are capable of succeeding in any given course, I acknowledge that not all students will best learn and perform the same way. Individual students may have their own preferred learning styles, and students certainly have strengths, weaknesses, and other preferences when it comes to academics. I, for example, preferred the certainty or math and science to the ambiguity of the humanities. That only meant that I had to expend more effort to succeed in English classes. I also strongly preferred individual work and written work to group projects and presentations, but those alternative assessments helped me become the well-rounded, adaptable learner I am today.
Many students with fixed mindsets will struggle in classes they aren’t interested in or had struggled with in the past. In these cases, the teachers of said students have the opportunity to address the issue and find a way to help those students. Perhaps the teacher’s primary teaching style doesn’t match up well with the student’s preferred learning style. Maybe a student isn’t motivated to learn because he or she doesn’t see how they will use the content in the real world. In any case, a variety of instructional and assessment techniques should be used to help all students succeed. Instead of solely using lectures and worksheets to develop content-knowledge, teachers should accommodate all learning styles by using videos, kinesthetic activities, inquiry-based projects, and a balance of individual and group work.
While students have individual strengths and interests, almost all students should be able to show their learning in the same ways. For better or worse, written tests are an important part of the modern education system, mainly because they are “objective” and assess a large domain of content knowledge effectively. Even though many students dislike taking standardized tests, learning to be a good test taker is an important skill that students need to develop in class. However, teachers should vary their instructional and teaching techniques to accommodate those learners who aren’t as strong at written tests. Performance assessments, for example, can be a great way for students to show off their creativity as they develop collaboration, presentation, and research skills. Varying assessment methods will not only provide each student with a fair opportunity for success, but help students become more well-rounded, flexible learners. Furthermore, using a variety of techniques should minimize the bias present in assessment. By not favoring a particular form of assessment, all students will be on a level playing field for success. To further guard against bias, teachers should work with each other to ensure that their assessments are fair and balanced. Having a second expert evaluate an assessment will certainly help a teacher minimize the bias present in said assessment.
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