English: Embrace challenges!

Embrace challenges!

This cat is inspired by a graphic I found at Twitter:

The image comes from cheezburger.

Learning requires deep exploration.

I was inspired to make this cat by the infographic below by Sylvia Duckworth inspired by George Couros who poses a sharp contrast between school and learning: cats would not do well in school, but they sure do like to learn!

Learning requires deep exploration.

(cheezburger)

Here's what it says:

SCHOOL		LEARNING
promotes starting by looking for answers		promotes starting with questions
is about consuming		is about creating
is about finding information on something prescribed for you		is about exploring your passions and interests
teaches compliance		is about challenging perceived norms
is scheduled at certain times		can happen any time, all of the time
often isolates		is often social
is standardized		is personal
teaches us to obtain information from certain people		promotes that everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner
is about giving you information		is about making your own connections
is sequential		is random and non-linear
promotes surface-level thinking		is about deep exploration

You are the architect of your brain.

Today's cat was inspired by this article at This Nifty Infographic Is a Great Introduction to Neuroplasticity and Cognitive Therapy which features an infographic from Alta Mira Recovery Programs.

You are the architect of your brain.

(image from cheezburger)

Life is a journey of learning

Life is a journey of learning.

In the Twitter stream this morning, I found this chart contrasting the growth mindset and fixed mindset:

I made the cat with this cheezburger image.

Study something new.

I was inspired by a quote from David Dockterman to make this new cat:

Study something new.

The image is from cheezburger. Here's the quote that got me started: If we only did things that were easy, we wouldn't actually be learning anything. We'd just be practicing things we already knew. Via David W. Lowell at Twitter.

I don't do what's easy; I do what's hard.

I don't do what's easy;

I do what's hard.

(image from cheezburger)

Today's cat was inspired by this graphic which I found at Twitter:

Make things happen!

Today's cat (made with cheezburger) was inspired by the graphic below:

Make things happen!

Seen at Twitter:

Kittens don't worry about making mistakes.

Today's kittens are inspired by this quote from Carol Dweck's book Mindset (I changed the babies to kittens): "Babies don't worry about making mistakes or humiliating themselves. They walk, they fall, they get up. They just barge forward." More Carol Dweck cats.

Kittens don't worry about making mistakes.

(image is from cheezburger)

The higher you climb, the more you can see.

If you keep on learning, you will gain more perspective! Or so says today's cat:

The higher you climb, the more you can see.

 (cheezburger)

What can I learn next?

I was inspired to create today's cat by the emphasis on "next" in this very useful Edutopia article: Avoiding Learned Helplessness by Andrew Miller

Similarly, we want students to be reflective, to ask themselves, "How do I know if I'm on the right track?" or "What could I do next?" Instead of coming immediately to the teacher, we want students to experiment on their own. Many of us wonder why students constantly do the opposite instead. I've got news for you. It's our fault. We, as educators, are often responsible for learned helplessness, and we have a responsibility to change it! How can we empower our students to be self-directed learners?

What can I learn next?

(cat from cheezburger)

It takes time for potential to flower.

The quote is from Carol Dweck's book, Mindset: "People with the growth mindset know that it takes time for potential to flower." More cats inspired by this book: Carol Dweck's Mindset.

It takes time for potential to flower.

(image is from cheezburger)

To grow yourself, you must know yourself.

In a separate post I've provided a detailed response to Jackie Gerstein's post about growth mindset last week, and in that post she also shared a great infographic about self-reflection which you can see below. Today's cat is inspired by that need for honest, continuous self-reflection.

To grow yourself, you must know yourself.

The image is from cheezburger.

The infographic from Jackie Gerstein - Growth Mindset: Personal Accountability and Reflection, and there is a transcription of the text here.