The effects of mindset and reading
strategy
intervention on student self-efficacy
Theoretical background to the study
 A problem with student self-efficacy
Students consistently report lower levels of self-efficacy for learning
Modern Languages than for any other school subject
(Zimmerman, Bandura and Martinez-Pons, 1992)
 Mindset Theory
(Dweck, 1991)
Attribution Theory
(Weiner, 1979)
teach students about
mindset research to
encourage a view of
intelligence as malleable
equip students with
strategies to encourage
adaptive attributions for
success and failure
Aims of the Study
• This study aimed to improve students’ self-efficacy in
learning German through intervention training in
mindset and in reading strategies.
• It was hypothesized that a ‘growth mindset’ and a
tendency to attribute performance to the
effectiveness of learning strategies employed might
result in more empowered learners and
consequently lead to a better sustained motivation
to learn, resulting in accelerated progress in German.
RESULTS OF THE MINDSET INTERVENTION
Changes in Intelligence Theories over Time in Control Groups R1, R2
and C
50
Number of Students
40
30
Incremental
Undecided
Fixed
20
10
0
Data Point 1
Data Point 2
Data Point 3
Data Point 4
Changes in Intelligence Theories over Time in Mindset Intervention
Groups MR1 & MR2
40
Number of Students
30
Incremental
20
Undecided
Fixed
10
0
Data Point 1
Data Point 2
Data Point 3
Data Point 4
Mindset
Mindset
Intervention 1
Intervention 2
Self-reported
strategic
classroom
behaviours
increased
RESULTS
OF THE
READING
STRATEGY
significantly for all ofINTERVENTION
the intervention groups. (No increase in
the control group)
There was a sharp decrease in maladaptive, non-strategic
classroom behaviours for the Mindset Intervention
groups. (A corresponding decrease was not seen in the Reading Strategy or
Control groups)
Conclusion: the combination of Mindset and Reading
Strategy Interventions appears to have had a significant
effect on student attributions and in particular, on the
ways in which students explain failure.
Exploding some myths
Discuss these statements. Where on the line between “myth” and
“fact” would you place them?
1. Girls are better at learning
languages than boys
3. People who hold a growth
mindset about their ability do
better at school than their peers.
MYTH
There is
scientifically
gathered
evidence to
disprove this
2. Some people are born with a
natural talent for language
4. If you focus on reasons for your
performance that are in your control,
you will make faster progress
5. The longer you spend learning your
vocabulary, the better you will learn it
DEFENSIBLE
THEORY
There is
scientifically
gathered
evidence to
prove this
Rock am Ring
Rock am Ring is the größste festival in
Germany. It is hosted at the famous
Formula 1 Nürburgring Autorennbahn and
it starts at the same time each year: the
first Wochenende in June. The Festival
Veranstalter have confirmed their fourth
and last headliner for 2010: Rage Against
The Machine. They join Muse, Kiss, and
Rammstein who will all take to the Bühne
this summer. Musikfans will camp out in
Zelten, drink lots of alcohol and have plenty
of Spaß!
BEFORE READING:
Look at the pictures and the title
Ask myself what is the text probably going
to be about?
What German words do I know that might
be used in it?
SKIM THROUGH THE TEXT, THEN:
Decide how I’m going to tackle this text
(skim through it, read it sentence by
sentence etc.)
Underline all of the words I don’t know
Work out which words are nouns (they
have capital letters)
Use the words that you do know to work
out the meaning of unknown words
Go back to the words or sections I’m not
sure about and double-check that it makes