Welcome to Learner Identity — Goals, Mindset & Motivation

This week focuses on understanding how you learn and building confidence in yourself as a student, no matter what your past school experiences have been. Many students arrive in college thinking they are “not good students,” but college is a fresh start. This module helps you recognize the strengths you already have and the new skills you can develop.

Your learner identity, or how you see yourself as a student, is shaped by your background, experiences, and goals. It can grow and change over time. You are not defined by past struggles.

We will explore three key ideas: setting goals that guide your progress, using a growth mindset to see challenges as part of learning, and finding motivation that helps you stay focused when life gets busy. Small steps count, effort matters, and different strategies work for different people.

Throughout the module, you will have choices in how you engage and show your learning. Your experiences and your voice matter. You deserve to feel supported and capable, and this module is designed to help you strengthen your learner identity with confidence.

Module Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

Critically examine goal setting in relation to impacts on academic and personal success. (CLO 2, 6, & 7)
Apply the learning benefits of a growth mindset to personal growth and achievement. (CLO 2, 4, & 6)
Evaluate the effectiveness of internal and external motivational strategies in supporting focus, resilience, and goal achievement as an adult learner. (CLO: 2, 5, 6)

(CLO = Course Learning Outcome)

To Do

Please read/watch all of the module learning materials (readings, presentations, videos, etc.) and complete all assignments/assessments listed below. If you have questions, please contact the course instructor or ask in the Questions About This Course forum.

Read the following.

Review the Presentations:

Watch the Videos:

What is the Hidden Curriculum? [3:29]

Source: HumberEDU. (2017). The hidden curriculum | Part 1 of 2: Norms, values and procedures [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuLhmDE9Exo

The Puzzle of Motivation [18:37]

Source: TED. The puzzle of motivation | Dan Pink | TED. YouTube. Published online August 25, 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrkrvAUbU9Y

Myers Briggs (MBTI) Explained - Personality Quiz [5:30]

Source: Practical Psychology. Myers Briggs (MBTI) explained - Personality quiz. YouTube. Published online June 30, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZF4OM6mrrI

Denzel Washington - University of Pennsylvania [22:42]

Source: Vidbi. Denzel Washington - University of Pennsylvania. YouTube. Published online June 14, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEFbfwg9dek

Assignments/Assessments

Complete the following assignments by the date and time indicated on each assignment page

Grit in Action: Challenge Yourself with a Purpose
Knowledge Check: The Truth About Learning Styles
In Class Activity: Growth Mindset

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