Mindset

Two groups of kids:

1. helpless kids:
• started blaming themselves "I'm getting confused",
• after harder puzzles - "This isn't fun anymore",
• later started talking about other things, "I give up",
• kids started getting silly, selecting incorrect answer all the time.
2. successful kids:
• the loved the failure - "I love a challenge",
• the'd psych themselves up, "I've almost got it now".

Mindset difference:

1. helpless kids couldn't take it when they started failing - it reminded them that they're failures. "Fixed mindset" - the belief that your abilities are fixed and the world is just a series of tests that show you how good you are. Effort is a bad thing - you can't be good if you have to ask questions. Feel smart when they don’t make mistakes.
2. successful kids - everything came through effort and the world was full of interesting challenges. The harder the problem the bigger the challenge. Success comes from growing. Feel smart when they struggle with something for a long time and then finally figure it out.

Mindset can be changed.

• Telling students they were doing well because they tried hard, rather than because they were smart
  

[ Source: http://www.aaronsw.com/weblog/dweck ]