fixed mindset occurred last and this term in my chemistry course. Last term for my chemistry class, I had a fixed mindset. I went in thinking every concept I was being taught, I had to know from previous experience in chemistry courses or it would be too late to learn. Through believing in my inability to learn something new, I set myself up for not performing the best I could on my exams. With low scores exam after exam, I began to accept I was not smart enough for the college level course. I basically gave up internally and remained with a fixed mindset. This winter term, however, without realizing it until now, I have been trying to maintain a growth mindset. By not feeling like the new concepts I am learning in chemistry are too difficult for me to learn, I am studying the examples provided in the book, doing the extra problems provided at the end of the chapters, asking for further explanation, and printing the lecture slides to add notes to them. This has really helped me and will hopefully allow me to perform the best I can in …show more content…
This type of reflection is applied to my area of study in my chemistry class in that I always have to question why a reaction happens and what chemicals cause said reaction. I have to go in depth in order to understand what chemicals, when combined, create what other chemicals. There is constant questioning of ideas and concepts in chemistry. We don’t just know a certain law, we work to understand what makes a law a law. Reflection thinking is, “...when connections are made between what they already know and any new information…”(Kostange). This type of reflective thinking is also evident in chemistry. In this course, as one learns new concepts, those concepts are essential to understand the concepts one will learn later on. For example, I have been learning nomenclature since last fall term, and am now still tested on it. My professor gives us word problems, and based on our previous knowledge of naming compounds, we solve those problems. If we do not remember the rules for naming compounds, we are unable to solve the problem because we don’t know what elements are involved. If I find myself struggling in maintaining a growth mindset, I can reach out to my professors, peers, and mentors. They can help me if I am having trouble understanding a concept and feel like giving up. This will bring my motivation and mood up and allow me to maintain a growth mindset rather