strategies for an Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP).

The growth mindset has been a buzz word within education for the past several years and has captured the attention of educators and administrators. There are now programs looking at how to change the ‘fixed mindset’ by training students to alter their perspective concerning their intelligence, perception of failure and self-worth. This requires removing a limiting mindset such as: the constant need to prove their abilities rather than trying to improve their abilities. An OLP can specifically challenge and create awareness of a student’s mindset. Many of the activities are fresh, attainable, unpracticed and optimally set up for a healthy amount of risk, success and motivation.
How can a growth mindset be included in OLP lessons?

This mindset is necessary for students to productively frame themselves in a successful way as leaders, challenge seekers and active participants. OLP activities can correctly shift participants mindset by structuring each student during the activity accordingly: (a) supporting an idea of competence, (b) promotion of personal values and goals, (c) cultivation of belonging to a group.
These three ideas rely on self-reflection and the optimal learning challenge that requires students to have enough time to come to terms with personal difficulties, opportunity to engage in meta-cognition, receive feedback, then utilize a growth mindset using the statements below. As students progress along this structure, they will try new approaches to their various activities, challenges and group dynamics. Seeing students progress along this shifting mindset is how a student’s ‘success’ can be assessed.
Use reframing statements during each OLP activity. |
Source: Shectman et al., 2013 |
Click on the link below to view the mindset activities and lesson plan link.