3 Ways to Make Sure You Have the Right Mindset When Learning a New Technology

Written by: Key Metrix, February 19th

Fixed vs. Growth Mindset

A common psychological principle is that people have two common ways in which they approach life: 1) with a fixed mindset, 2) with a growth mindset. A fixed mindset more or less assumes that someone's characteristics (i.e. ability, intelligence) are pre-established and don't significantly change over time. A growth mindset takes the opposite approach. People who choose to have a growth mindset see failure as a learning opportunity and use challenges to expand on their existing capabilities.

I decided to mention this psychological principle because there is no greater test than trying to learn a new technology. Okay I get that's an overreaction, but it can be a frustrating process to say the least. In a previous blog, we discussed 5 tips to use when learning a new technology platform. In this blog, the focus is on how to achieve the right mindset when learning a new technology.

It might seem easy to brush this off and assume that your mindset doesn't really matter when it comes to tech, but trust us, getting in the right headspace can completely change how you go about learning a new platform. Numerous articles have pointed out that choosing to adopt a growth mindset when learning new tech can help you come up with innovative solutions and can help in your comprehension of the platform you're trying to use. This relationship has been found to work both ways, as utilizing technology can lead to people adopting a growth mindset more effectively, even in children. So in saying all this and in knowing that mindset is fundamentally important, here are three things you can do to help adopt a growth mindset when you're learning a new technology.

1) Don't Get Mad at Mistakes, Learn From Them

When you're first learning an online platform, there are going to be things you don't understand, in fact you probably won't understand most of what the platform has to offer. Chances are you'll be fumbling through it and getting mad at the ongoing mistakes that result from your lack of understanding. One of the most important things you can do when learning a new technology is to change how you would normally look at mistakes. Adopting a growth mindset means that you choose to learn from these mistakes and use them to stretch out your previous abilities. So every time that you hit a wrong button, accidentally go to the wrong page or get certain terms related to the platform mixed up, recognize that those frustrating moments are actually the times when you're truly expanding on your previous capabilities related to tech.

2) Ask yourself, "How do I envision using this platform?" Then strive towards that goal.

When you're trying to learn any new tech, it's always' easier to first establish a goal for what you want to get out of it. You can answer this question by asking yourself, "How do I envision using the platform?" Imagine or even draw out a picture of you using the platform effectively and thriving on it. Think of the benefits you'll get out of it; how it will make your life easier, how it will smoothen over your work operations, how it will address the insistent problems you've been having at work. Whatever the platform is, it's easier to understand and feel motivated to use it when you have some sort of end goal in mind. Envisioning yourself effectively using the platform gives you that end destination you can work towards.

3) Always Leave The Platform on a Positive Note

What does this mean exactly? You should make it a goal so that every time you are about to log off of the platform, leave things on a "positive note." You never want to walk away from the platform angry because that will limit your desire to go back to it. Instead, answer one more question, do one more new task, aim to understand one more page on it. Basically, aim to do one more positive thing before logging off, and once you've achieved that, put the platform away. Leaving on a positive note will give you more encouragement to come back to it in the future so you can continue to expand on your understanding.

Conclusion

The immediate thought when learning a new tech platform is to assume that it is going to be a frustrating and time-consuming process. This might be true, but what is also true is the fact that the way you approach this task can change the entire experience. Choosing to adopt a growth mindset is not only better for understanding the platform, but it will also help in expanding your existing personal capabilities. In that sense, learning a new technology not only expands on your existing technological skills, but it also teaches you something new about yourself.

Key Metrix delivers purpose-built innovations in health technology with a focus on Rehabilitation and Human Performance

References

Adopting a Growth Mindset around Integrated Technology at your Association. (2019, May 29). Retrieved January 11, 2021, from http://www.associationtrends.com/blog/technology/adopting-a-growth-mindset-around-integrated-technology-at-your-association/http://www.associationtrends.com/blog/technology/adopting-a-growth-mindset-around-integrated-technology-at-your-association/

Popova, M. (2020, February 16). Fixed vs. Growth: The Two Basic Mindsets That Shape Our Lives. Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/01/29/carol-dweck-mindset/

Promethean. (2020, February 24). Are you using tech to develop a growth mindset? Retrieved January 11, 2021, from https://resourced.prometheanworld.com/develop-growth-mindset-with-tech/