ABSTRACT
Mindsets and motivation are two areas of psychology that play a big role in teaching and learning. A ‘mindset’ is the attitude that an individual possesses, while ‘motivation’ is the determining factor in how and why we behave in certain ways. When examining mindsets and motivations in a classroom, the psychological underpinnings of both appear to be capable of influencing a student’s overall academic performance. This chapter explores some of the underlying psychological concepts, from both pupil and teacher perspectives. There are two potential sources of vicarious experiences for students: their teachers and their peers. Seeing their teacher or their peers succeed at an academic task can influence their own belief that they are capable to succeed at that task. Verbal persuasion can encompass any form of feedback given from one person to another. The chapter discusses a number of practical applications that may be used by educators to keep themselves and their students motivated and in a positive mindset.
