Blog Post #5

I am very happy with my progress towards the learning goals I identified for this course. We have already covered topics related to 3 of my 4 goals (developing a personal definition of information fluency and inquiry learning, growing my skills in information searching, evaluation, and ethical use of information, and expanding my competency in the use of blogs and Twitter). I know we will cover my last goal (devising a plan for incorporating inquiry learning in my classroom) before the end of this semester. To this point, I feel like the material we have covered in this course has been extremely helpful and beneficial to attaining my goals. Not only are we provided with strong and relevant resources pertaining to these topics, but we are also given a chance to practice some of these elements as well. Being able to actually practice what we are reading about is a huge bonus to me! At this point, I do not see any reason to modify my goals. I have been very happy with them and happy that this class has provided so many resources related to them.

Carol Dweck defines two types of mindsets: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. The characteristics of these two types of mindsets makes it very clear to me that in order to achieve my learning goals for this course, and towards information fluency skills in general, I must have a growth mindset. A lot of things in this course are new to me, such as blogging, the use of Twitter, and the overall concepts of information fluency and inquiry learning. Dweck says, "Students with a growth mindset, on the other hand, view challenging work as an opportunity to learn and grow." This course is providing me an opportunity to learn and grow in areas that are new and a little uncomfortable to me. I have to be able to say, "I love a challenge". I think this thought process can also be used towards having a growth mindset towards information fluency skills. You must be positive and not afraid to tackle new ideas and concepts. Dweck also states to "emphasize the challenge". "Meaningful learning tasks need to challenge every student in some way. It is crucial that no student be able to coast to success time after time; this experience can create the fixed-mindset belief that you are smart only if you can succeed without effort." While this quote is about students, I think the same can be said for learners of any age and ability level. We must be okay with the challenge of information fluency. It's okay if it pushes us to be better, because that is they only way we will actually grow.

Our attitudes towards information fluency must be like race car driver example Dweck gives in her mindset interview... "races last a long time and throughout the course of the event mistakes are inevitable. The difference between a winning driver and a losing driver is what you do with those mistakes." We must have a growth mindset towards information fluency. We must be ready for the challenge and understand we probably will make mistakes along the way, however, those mistakes will not hinder or stop us from working hard and completing our goals and intentions!

Dweck, C. (2010, September). Even Geniuses Work Hard. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Even-Geniuses-Work-Hard.aspx

Bell, M. (Director). (2010, December 11). Carol Dweck: Mindset interview [Video file]. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICILzbB1Obg 

Dweck, C. (2010, September). Even Geniuses Work Hard. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Even-Geniuses-Work-Hard.aspx

Dweck, C. (2010, September). Even Geniuses Work Hard. Retrieved June 2, 2017, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Even-Geniuses-Work-Hard.aspx