Digital Growth Mindset in Practice
How digital routines can shape growth mindsets
Dane Jacobson · Discrete Math Teacher & EdTech Coach
Guiding Questions
What does a fixed mindset look like in a digital space?
What does a growth mindset look like in a digital space?
Instructional Framework Alignment
  • Growth Mindset is an indicator of Culture in our instructional framework.
  • Digital growth mindset will often require intentional Instructional Design.
  • We'll explore examples that demonstrate aspects of digital growth mindset, specifically through tracking, iteration, and reflection.
Retakes vs Revisions
Retake (Sometimes necessary!) → Can reinforce Point chasing, memorizing steps
Revise → improving through Reflection, applying feedback Directly
Data As A Student Tool → Growth is about pattern recognition
  • Students should learn to analyze their own progress
  • Digital tools make revision and data analysis visible and accessible
Digital Tools for Growth Mindset
Sheets & Dashboards
Students track and visualize their own progress
AI (structured use)
Supports iteration, guided feedback cycles, remediation, and enrichment
Projects & Portfolios
Highlight growth over time through revision and reflection
  • Functions as a metacognitive tracker inside the assignment
  • Multi-level definitions (technical → simplified → student-friendly)
  • Includes misconceptions and self-rating
  • Students revisit and update → builds tracking, iteration, and reflection
Question to Discuss: Where in your subject could students track their own growth inside the work, not just after it?
POG Connection: Self-Aware Learner – students reflect on their misconceptions and growth by revisiting their work.
Designed for trial, error, and adjustment
Troubleshooting/debugging builds resilience and problem-solving
Encourages iteration instead of one-shot answers
Growth comes from improving through cycles
Question to Discuss: What might self-driven iteration look like in tools you use — Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, or Canvas?
POG Connection: Resilient Learner – troubleshooting and adjusting through cycles of trial/error develops perseverance.
Example: Quizzes & Projects
Quizzes as Reflection Checkpoints
  • Built on single SLOs
  • Scores logged in Synergy for tracking
  • Designed as reflection opportunities, not final grades
  • Grades later replaced by project performance
Projects as Growth Assessments
  • Revised and resubmitted digitally (e.g., Canvas resubmissions)
  • Growth visible in portfolios (Google Sites, Slides, or other platforms)
  • Show authentic learning patterns → retakes become unnecessary
  • Strive for industry standard tools to build transferable tech skills
Question to Discuss: How can you move beyond static tests or products in your class? What digital tools from your field or industry could students be working with now?
POG Connection: Empathetic Learner – reflecting on feedback helps students understand perspectives (teacher/peer).
Pulling It Together
Tracking
Progress visible in the process
Iteration
Resilience through revision and cycles
Reflection
Students process mistakes and growth
Together, these routines help embed a digital growth mindset

A Caution on poor Choice design
  • Student choice is powerful, but too much comfort can block growth
  • Paper vs Sheets … Hand Drawn vs Canva Design → students might avoid new tools
  • Growth requires nudging students into unfamiliar digital spaces
Thank You
Digital Growth Mindset in Practice
Questions?