How teaching and learning can influence student mental wellbeing: developing a Growth Mindset

This event is now fully booked

 “With half of all diagnosable mental health disorders established by the age of 14, there is a strong case to promote children and young people’s mental health.

There are a range of risk and protective factors that impact on mental wellbeing. These span individual factors, family, learning environments and the wider community. The evidence tells us that the learning environment plays an important and valued role in helping protect and promote student mental wellbeing.”

Extract from the Foreword to ‘Measuring and monitoring children and young people’s mental well-being: A toolkit for schools and colleges’

This recent publication from Public Health England, the Evidence-based Practice Unit at UCL and the Anna Freud Centre, highlights the protective factors within the learning environments in school that can help students to build important life skills that help to support mental well-being.

One of the recommended approaches is the Growth Mindset, but how much do we know about this, and how can educational psychologists incorporate these approaches into our day-to-day work? How do new ideas fit with existing approaches, such as dynamic assessment? How do assessment tools work with this approach and how do we consult with teachers to foster their understanding and confidence?

We invite our esteemed colleagues, both qualified and trainee educational psychologists to join us for a day of peer-led discussion and debate.

The morning session will focus on Growth Mindset and will be led by Dr Caroline Bond, FBPsS, Associate Director of Postgraduate Research (Professional Doctorates), Senior Lecturer and Professional Placement Director at the University of Manchester, as well as Partner Psychologist with Catalyst Psychology

The afternoon session will look at the Cognitive Abilities Profile from the perspective of applied educational psychology practice. This session will be led by Tim Watson, Educational and Child Psychologist with New Horizons Psychology Ltd and Partner Psychologist with Catalyst Psychology

Please note that this session is focused on the application of the CAP. It does not intend to provide training in the CAP. Practitioners interested in receiving training to use the Cognitive Abilities Profile should contact Dynamic Assessment

Morning Seminar outline

The seminar discussion on Growth Mindset aims to provide:

• An overview  of a developing model for University and EP provider research collaboration
• An overview of Carol Dweck's self theories and growth mindset research
• A consideration of current educational applications of growth mindset theories
• Implications of growth mindset for EP research and practice

Afternoon Seminar outline

Through input, discussion and activity, delegates will

• Be reminded of the landscape of dynamic assessment and how that fits with the Cognitive Abilities Profile (CAP)
• Be introduced to the format of the Cognitive Abilities Profile as an inclusive and child centred tool
• Learn from a personal example on the effective use and application of the CAP
• Consider how the CAP and its principles can be used in professional practice as an Educational Psychologist