Improvements in Education

This month's blog videos have truly resonated with me and caused me to think about the way I go about education. The grading system stresses students, and that stress negatively affects our self image and even personal lives. 

The RSA Animate video on the fixed mindset and the growth mindset made perfect sense to me, as it is applicable to my friends and I. The fixed mindset is present in so many of my peers, including myself, and it's very interesting how it can be developed in different ways. For example, one student's fixed mindset could transmit from intelligence praise from their teachers and parents, while another's could stem from their lack of praise, as pointed out by Jasalyn Avila in her blog post. I found this point intriguing because I feel as though the children who did not receive any type of praise, and therefore feel that they cannot improve their work or become more intelligent, should be acknowledged because many students could relate to that and realize that they also have a fixed mindset. With this mindset holding one back, it's even more difficult to deal with the pressures of school. 

Regarding today's education, I don't believe it's up to date. We, as students, are not encouraged to expand our education or enjoy subjects. We memorize information (which we'll forget within a month) for tests instead of truly learning and grasping the material. Of course, this doesn't apply to all classes, but I've found this in at least two classes every year. I hope for an improvement in education for the future. 

-Maile Di Paolo