I have a continuing interest in the work of Carol Dweck on the importance of a 'Growth Mindset.' In essence a very simple idea that rests on engendering a belief that ability is not fixed but is, in fact, malliable and dependent on effort.So I wanted to highlight, to my students, this simple link: more effort = increased success. Of course, I could just tell them but, in my experience, that's a very limited approach and very quickly leads to a kind of nagging which can end up being detrimental. So I tried this really simple idea: get them to self-assess their effort at the same time as self-assessing their success.
I gave my students a test with a week's notice. They were given a selection of questions which I would draw from (see my post on the 'Sangster Method') and every opportunity to plan, ask for help, etc. Having taken the test I got them to self-assess it against a mark scheme but I also got them to give themselves an effort grade. from 0 to 10 on this scale:
0 = ‘We have a test?’
10 = ‘I’ve been thinking about nothing but this test since I saw
these questions and I’ve been working tirelessly at refining my answers to hit
all of the marks. And I checked my work with Mr Harvey-Craig to make sure I was
on the right track’I was interested in whether having them assess their effort and their success at the same time would highlight the link between the two. What I found was that, with certain students, it really did. In fact, with some students the effect seemed quite dramatic.
I'd like to use 'Ben' as a case study. Here's what he has to say about it:
"Going through the process of giving myself an effort grade for the work that the class has just completed and the work we had to do at home to prepare ourselves for it, at first came as a shock to me as I never before realised how much effort, or how little, effort I put into the work. After the first week and having to give myself a 0 really hit home and made me realise that infact i am letting myself down. If the teacher gave the effort grade to us it wouldnt be as powerful, but since i had to give myself a 0 i decided that i needed to step up. So slowly over the following weeks ive been able to get my effort grade up from the 0 to about a 6-7 and through this self evaluation of effort i belive it has greatly increased my understanding and self respect throughout the lesson and all work that is required outside of it. I feel that this is a great strategy and it should be used more as it can either make a student realise they're letting themself down or reinforce the students that already have put the effort in."
