Growth Mindset Email Sample

Subject: Exam 1 grade information
Biology 107 Student,

Exam 1 grades have now been posted on Blackboard.  These scores are out of 100 points.  

Exam overview:
The average score on the exam was 75.5/100 and the median was 76/100.  This is a slightly higher average and median to the scores on the first exam than I've seen in previous semesters. By now you may have already seen your exam grade in Blackboard. In short, you scored either at the average or up to 15 points below the class average on the exam (don’t worry, you aren’t alone). What I want to do with this email is motivate you to continue in the class and show you that with some hard work, seeking help, and using the right strategies, you can challenge yourself before the next exam.

My views about learning, exam performance, and doing well in this course:
I believe that every student, regardless of how well they did on this exam, can improve their skills, learn from their mistakes, and be successful in this course. Remember, learning is a process and often occurs over time.

Now, will you make significant improvements on the remaining exams if you prepare in the same way as you did for Exam 1?  No.  Let me give you a secret to this class-you don’t need to be “smart” to perform at a high level in Biology 107.  You can work hard and work effectively to master the material. Here’s how I know this-I have worked with multiple students every semester who performed poorly on Exam 1, but then turned things around and made 30-40 point improvements on their remaining exams. How did they do it?  It wasn’t by suddenly getting a higher IQ. Instead, they figured out better ways to learn in the course. 

Here’s what they have told me about how they made those kind of improvements.

1.They studied every day after class. They stopped cramming and procrastinating and put a specific time on their calendars when they would work on Biology 107 on MWF and some time on the weekends. They had other classes, but putting in an hour a day for four days was enough to allow them to stay up with the class material.

2.If they didn’t study with a group of other students before, they started doing so.

3.They looked into concept maps or other approaches to start connecting ideas instead of trying to solely memorize facts

4.They stopped reading their textbook or rewriting their notes multiple times and instead learned how to figure out what they didn’t understand after reviewing their notes/textbooks and then fill in the information gaps.

5.They used the Panopto lecture recordings strategically to revisit material that they did not understand the first time in class

 Meeting with me in office hours is a great opportunity to deepen your understanding of the material, discuss learning strategies, and create a plan to improve your skills before the next exam. I recommend that all students attend office hours, as everyone can improve and challenge themselves. My hope is that all students will develop the knowledge they need to do well in this course. If you’re looking for a place to start, let’s talk! My office hours are 9-11AM on Tuesdays and Friday from 3-4PM and there is a guide with some studying tips in Biology 107 in Blackboard.

Here is how your scores on Exam 1 were calculated:

1. There were 15 T/F questions on the exam worth 1 point each and a total of 15 points.  All of your correct answers for T/F questions were added up. 
2.  The 34 multiple choice (MC) questions were worth a total of 85 points.
3.  Your exam total was the sum of the values from the MC and TF sections

There will be no scaling or modification of these scores. Please do not ask if there will be a curve – the answer is “no”. 

Happy to meet during office hours or at another time to discuss this with you.

Dr. Davis