#learner's mindset

The following material is a piece of advocacy to promote the Learner’s Mindset. The material here is meant to set the foundation and direction for work that will hopefully create conditions that are favorable for the students that are doing this work to embrace the Learner’s Mindset. However, the Learner’s Mindset is a descriptive set of circumstances that are the result of a process, so, as teachers, it is our prerogative to work toward building that environment that is favorable to embracing the Learner’s Mindset.

I often butt heads with one of my parents who consumes Korean-media content most of the time. We are from Mexico, so you would be correct in assuming that no one in my family speaks Korean, so this would mean my parent would have to engage with the learning process that is studying a new language, which I regularly encourage them to do on a formal basis and to develop knowledge and skills to use Korean beyond what is possible with just watching Korean media. They refuse stating that “they are old and done learning.” I, of course, disagree vehemently, which is why I insist, as I genuinely and whole-heartedly believe having a learner’s mindset and being a life-long learner, regardless of circumstances, including age.

Personally, being willing to “act on one’s intrinsic capacity to learn and respond to one’s inquisitive nature that leads to viewing all interactions with the world as learning opportunities” (Harapnuik, 2021), which has been conceptualized with the term learner’s mindset, is an essential part to how we engage with the world as constantly evolving and growing beings. It is both a matter and experiencing the world beyond the cave and being able to envision a reality beyond the one that is before us, whether that is through formal learning processes or through creative processes like the one Annalee Newitz mention in this TED Talk (2023):

Embracing a learner’s mindset is not just about enrolling to a new course or learning program, although that is one way to do it; it is about recognizing how an experience, likely an everyday one, can be an opportunity to learn. Whether that is an experience that is new, or constructive, or progressive, or alternative, such trying a new recipe, or a different way to brush one’s teeth, or pursuing some sort of academic degree, the learner’s mindset is to be open to experiences where one recognizes the ever-evolving nature of being an active agent in the world. Exercising a learner’s mindset is not always easy or painless, but I hope reading this will, at least, get you thinking considering making the openness, mindfulness, and humility that are part of the learner’s mindset as your way of navigating the world.

*Do not get me wrong, I understand there can be barriers to learning, but this is a case of a person who actively opposes the participating in a learning process. In other words, the are wrong and I am right.

[For anyone interested, you can check the script and sources here.]

REFERENCES

Butler, O.E. (1980). Lost races of science fiction. Transmission, Summer 1980, 17-18. https://www.are.na/block/27247277

Dweck, C.S. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success [eBook edition]. Random House

Dweck, C. (2014, December 17). The power of believing that you can improve [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve

Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2007). Creativity: Flow and the psychology of discovery and invention. HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Harapnuik, D. (2021, February 9). Learner's mindset explained. It's about learning: Creating significant learning environments. https://www.harapnuik.org/?p=8705

Newitz, A. (2023, November). How fantasy worlds can spark real change [Video]. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/annalee_newitz_how_fantasy_worlds_can_spark_real_change

Plato. (2021). The Republic (B. Jowett, Trans.). Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1497/pg1497-images.html (Originally published ca. 375 B.C.E.)