Neuroplasticity and Growth Mindset

25/06/24

Neuroplasticity

What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt due to experience. It is an umbrella term referring to the brain's ability to change reorganize, or grow neural networks. This can involve functional changes due to brain damage or structural changes due to learning.

Breaking down the word Plasticity refers to the brain's malleability or ability to change; it does not imply the brain is in fact made of plastic nor plastic. Neuro refers to neurons, (crazy I know) the nerve cells that are the building blocks of the brain and nervous system. This means that neuroplasticity allows nerve cells to change or adjust.

These are the 10 Principles of Neuroplasticity

The brain is like a muscle. These 10 principles help to guide learning and understanding of your brain so you can best adapt and learn new interests. With the knowledge of how to work your brain, you can start working it out! Like how to get better at shooting a basketball you practice everyday, using that skill and improving it with timed intense trainings. Spending optimal time working out to get better. The same ideas and approach can be used for your brain. Using the 10 principles to inform you as you set out on your path to broaden your mind. Benefitting in e everyday life by understanding that small improvements help lead to bigger improvements over time.

Neuroplasticity for my benefit is knowing that I can grasp topics and new knowledge but only by engaging myself within the topic. Working my brain out each day to get 1% better everyday. Having spent a lot of time growing up playing sport I know what it takes to get better at something. Knowing this I now feel that if I train hard and long enough I can rewire my brain to become a coding fanatic. Reading up on how neuroplasticity works I found that getting sufficient sleep and exercising can both help with increasing plasticity. These are two things that I have included into my learning plan so that I have a healthy lifestyle while I am taking on all this knowledge.

Detailed look into the principles of Neuroplasticity a link

What the benefits are with neuroplasticity a link

1% better everyday a link

Growth Mindset.

A growth Mindset is a belief that you can develop your skills and talents through hard work, the right strategies, and guidance from others. The idea that through effort you can cultivate your basic qualities. Everyone can change and grow through experience and application.

To be a life long learner you always have to be growing. The world is constantly changing everyday. Just because I started out a novice at coding, doesn't mean I will always be a novice. Being open to the idea of growth is sometimes simply the first step into mastering a topic. Studies have shown that a growth mindset has been proven to improve students performance. It is important to have growth mindset while doing this course to help achieve the goals I have set out for myself.

Understanding these in conjunction with learning is a big thing for me. I've never been a great learner. That's what I used to think. But having completed a degree gave me a confidence boost I was sorely lacking in the academic department. I am aware that it is always possible to learn new things and learn more than what you ever thought your mind could do. I feel I have opened my mind to new options and pathways for myself. I see I can be more than what I thought.

Tips to help a growth mindset a link

>Also the book Atomic Habits is a really really good read, I highly recommend it

Reflection

discuss how these understandings may shape or influence your learning plan and strategy.

Applying a growth mindset to everyday life is a step I am going to try and make. I will aim to continue to practice self-reflection each day. Each day I will remind myself that if I fail that it is okay, remind myself to use it as a learning opportunity. I will embrace the chaos each and everyday. The knowledge that my mind can be worked on and turned into something completely new excites me.

My daily routine is something I have crafted to help my mind gather and regroup each day. Getting to have some time outside and be physical really gives my mind a good break. Giving myself the recovery I need to mould myself into the person I want to be. I will endeavour to add more time to reflect and breathe in my daily routine.

Sam.