The RSA in London have just released another of their wonderful RSA Animate videos – short talks by key researchers set to customised animations drawn apparently in real time by the ‘hairy hand’.  The latest features Carol Dweck speaking on ‘How to help every child fulfil their potential’.

Dweck is well-know for her work on the difference between treating intelligence with a ‘fixed mindset’ (intelligence is fixed at birth) or a ‘growth mindset’ (intelligence develops and changes).  This video gives an excellent summary of her ideas and research.

Towards the end of the video, Dweck speaks about the power of the word ‘yet…’.  One of the schools she mentioned doesn’t give ‘failing’ students a ‘Fail’ grade – instead they get a ‘Not Yet’ grade.  I’ve been teaching this in my accelerated learning workshops since the 1990s, and there is a very solution-focused flavour to the idea.

I think it’s about presuppositions.  ‘You’ve failed’ sounds like a statement of fact, once and for all.  ‘You haven’t passed yet…’ is much more grounded in the now, and has the presupposition that you might and indeed will pass – in the future.  The same phrase can then lead into a conversation about what will happen in between now and passing.  It’s so simple to try, and can make such a difference.

Now enjoy the RSA Animate film of Carol Dweck: