Mindset, Learning, and Your Brain

Do you have a fixed mindset or growth mindset ? Are you asking yourself, “What the heck are fixed and growth mindsets?”  Well, someone with a fixed mindset believes that intelligence is fixed; that is, people with fixed mindsets tend to think that people are born with certain strengths , talents and innate intelligences, and these intelligences do not change.  People with growth mindsets understand that the human brain has plasticity.  Our brain continues to build new neural pathways throughout our entire lives.  We can quite literally “build” or expand our intelligence.  

Information about the latest brain research can be a powerful tool for students.  Students with a growth mindset – that is, students who understand the plasticity of the brain, tend to work and study harder to master new concepts, and, as a result, these students tend be more successful academically.  

In his February 26, 2008, blog post, Dr. Pascale Michelon explains brain plasticity and how learning changes your brain:

Serve as the CCV Academic Council Student Representative

Each academic year, one student representative from the Student Advisory Board is selected to serve on CCV’s Academic Council.  The student representative brings the students’ perspective and voice to academic affairs.  You could be that voice!

The student representative will receive mileage reimbursement; a $500 stipend for one year’s service; and an incredible opportunity to hone leadership, communication and organizational skills.  The student representative responsibilities include traveling to Montpelier for day-long meetings on the 2^nd Thursday of each month September through June; some of those meetings may happen online.   The student in this role will also serve as a liaison between the Academic Council and the SAB across the sites.

In order to be eligible to serve as the Academic Council Student Representative, you must have reliable transportation (or check with your center staff to see if you can carpool with an Academic Council member) and be available for all meetings.  You must be in good academic standing and have a minimum of 30 credits completed.  You should also be a member or willing to join the Student Advisory Board.  

Serving as the Academic Council Student Rep will allow you to begin to build or expand your professional resume and will create many networking opportunities.  In this highly visible position, the Student Representative will be working alongside CCV staff and faculty from around the state and the Academic Dean – interesting learning opportunities will abound!

If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please submit a letter of interest and a brief essay describing why you would like to serve as student representative on the Academic Council to laura.rubenis@ccv.edu.  

Don't delay - this position will be filled quickly!