Notes from Lead Academic Mentor Training

We would like to share some notes from the Lead Academic Mentor Training discussions. We talked about important concepts like Growth Mindset, stereotype threat and test anxiety and brainstormed ways to address these concepts in our mentoring sessions.

        

  How can you apply the Growth Mindset Approach in conversations with students?

• Remove focus from innate ability, shift it to hard work
• Compliment effort, not talent
• Focus on effort, not grades
• Relate personal experiences as examples of struggle
• Emphasize ability to change
• View failure as a learning opportunity
• Note personal progress
• Make learning enjoyable

What are some situations on campus when students may experience stereotype threat?

• Gender dominated classes/majors
• Being a minority in giant lectures
• Background experiences in topic matter
• 1^st generation college student
• Different treatment from TAs/Professors
• Sports stereotypes
• Financial advantages
• Varying academic background
• Living environments

             How do you help students overcome the fear of stereotype threat?

• Stressing importance of diversity
• Identify interests that positively define you
• Expressing high expectations
• Role models/diverse teaching staff
• Talking about diversity
• Helping create confidence
• Comfortable environment
• Connecting to larger community
• Anecdotal experiences
• Educating students about this idea
• Fostering diverse group work
• Studying with peers
• Growth Mindset

Test anxiety is a major concern for all students. What are some ways you can plan to help your students reduce their test anxieties?

• Make sure they know what is expected of them for the exam
• Going with them to the exam room if it is a different/new room
• Predicting test questions
• List/write your worries and anxieties – 10 minute free write before exam
• Early preparation
• Power Pose
• Demonstrate that you have confidence in them

• 

           Power Posing: From the TED Talk "Your body
  language shapes who you are" by Amy Cuddy

  Encourage attendance in exam review
• Practice exams
• Quotes about how to view the exam
• Test-taking strategies
• Channeling negative energy/thoughts to positive energy
• Doing something relaxing before exam
• Try to eliminate cramming
• Getting advice from peers who have taken the course
• Chew gum!
• Music to focus before exam