WISE INTERVENTIONS

A total of 1207 secondary schools in Peru were randomly assigned to teach students a 1.5 hour growth-mindset lesson about neuroplasticity and that “with practice” the brain “will grow stronger.” Students in treatment schools greater improvement in mathematics test scores (0.11-.25 standard deviations), with the greatest effects in schools outside Lima where achievement is lower and in helping students out of the lowest bracket of performance. There was no gain in Spanish test scores. Both students and teachers showed improved attitudes with the treatment (respectively, greater expectations of future achievement, greater willingness to encourage students’ learning)