PULLMAN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Here are some interesting findings for aspiring teachers.
A new study from Washington State University finds that students do like friendly teachers, but they like teachers who believe they can improve even more.
The findings indicate that teachers should consider their mindset more important than their overall demeanor.
In the study, 232 college students were presented with vignettes describing a professor with different demeanors and mindsets.
They then answered questions about the professor and the class they taught.
In the end, more students reacted negatively to a warm, smiling teacher with a fixed mindset than they did to a teacher with a growth mindset focused on different strategies for learning.
Lead author Makita White says it is not enough to just be nice.
Teachers should also be vocal about the fact that any student can learn material if they work hard, learn from mistakes, and seek help when needed.
