Growth Mindset, Schools, and AI
An introduction into the world of nurturing a growth mindset through a teacher’s eyes – more to come, much more.
I have been an international teacher for over thirty years, and throughout my career, I’ve read countless “how-to” books on changing and connecting with students. Some of those ideas made their way into my classroom, only to fade over time. But everything changed when I discovered Carol Dweck’s “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.”
She wrote:
“The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the most challenging times in their lives.”
Those words reshaped not only how I teach, but also how I view the world around me.
A Story from the Classroom
In 2008, I began teaching at a school in Hungary that lacked a computer lab. The only audiovisual equipment available was a TV and a VCR. Each classroom had a desktop computer and a monitor – that was it.
As a teacher, my philosophy has always been student-centered learning. Yet, there was a mindset within the school that this was all we had to work with. Having lived and taught in countries with modern technologies, I knew this limitation could be overcome – not by waiting for change, but by inspiring it.
So, I decided to take action.
The Raffle That Changed Everything
With approval from the principal, I organized a raffle during our International Festival. Each class contributed a prize, and by the end of the event, we had raised enough money to purchase video projectors for four classrooms.
Within a year, the school’s management saw the clear benefits of using technology – enhanced engagement, better access to information, and improved teaching outcomes. They invested in twenty more projectors. By the fourth year, we had built a full computer lab with a structured technology curriculum.
Sometimes, growth is not only about changing your own mindset, but also about helping others shift theirs.
Looking Ahead: Growth Mindset and the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of modern education, the same growth mindset applies. Technology alone doesn’t drive progress – people do. Teachers and students who remain open to learning, experimenting, and evolving will continue to thrive.
This experience allowed me to see the forest through the trees – and I’m still looking.
