The Growth Mindset: Why Confidence Matters More Than Perfection in STEM Learning

The Confidence Gap in STEM

In STEM education, success isn’t only about mastering formulas or getting every experiment right, it starts when believing you can learn through mistakes.

Although perfection often means reaching the goal, research shows that confidence and a growth mindset matter far more for long-term achievement. A USA experiment found “the growth mindset intervention can lead to sustained academic improvement through self-reinforcing cycles of motivation and learning-oriented behaviour”, which also means when students learned to see intelligence as something that grows with effort, their academic performance and motivation improved significantly (Yeager et al., 2019). This mindset is especially powerful in science, technology, engineering, and math, where challenges and trial-and-error are part of every breakthrough.

What Is a Growth Mindset — and Why It Matters

The idea of a growth mindset comes from psychologist Carol Dweck, who discovered that students who believe they can improve through effort and learning do better than those who think intelligence is fixed. You can watch her explain this idea in her TED Talk: “Developing a Growth Mindset”

When children have a growth mindset, they see challenges as opportunities to learn instead of proof that they “aren’t good enough”. Research shows that programs teaching this mindset make students more engaged and willing to try difficult tasks (Savvides et al., 2021). In STEM subjects, it helps children stay curious and confident when problems get tough and thus made this mindset exceptionally important for STEM study. Stanford’s Teaching Commons (n.d.) explains that it’s not just about “trying harder”, children also need clear feedback and better strategies to improve.

As parents, we can help by praising effort, asking what they have tried, and guiding them to try a new approach next time.  For example, saying “You worked really hard on that coding project!” encourages effort and persistence. But “You’re so smart at math!” might make a child fear losing that label. Just remember, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s progress.

Gender Perspective in STEM Confidence

Confidence in STEM doesn’t grow the same way for every child. Research shows that, despite performing equally well in math, gilrs tend to have lower self-concepts of ability and lower expectations of success (Degol et al., 2018). And when girls developed a growth mindset — believing they could improve with effort — they became more motivated and interested in math.

So if you have a girl, you can make a big difference by showing her that learning isn’t about being perfect, but about progress. Watching real-world STEM stories or role models together can inspire children to imagine themselves as engineers, scientists, or innovators too.

Here are some Real-World STEM Stories & Female Role Models:

1. Dr. Mae Jemison – NASA Astronaut & Engineer

·       Story: Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to travel in space in 1992. As a child, she loved both science and dance, but many told her that girls “don’t become scientists.” She proved them wrong through persistence and confidence in her learning.

2. Reshma Saujani – Founder of Girls Who Code

   ·       Story: Saujani started Girls Who Code after noticing that few girls were choosing computer science. Her goal was to close the “confidence gap,” not just the “skills gap,” by showing girls that mistakes are part of coding.

3. Dr. Katie Bouman – Computer Scientist

   ·       Story: Katie led the team that helped create the first-ever image of a black hole in 2019. The viral photo of her reaction showed pure excitement and teamwork after years of testing and revisions.

Confidence as the True STEM Superpower

In the end, the most powerful tool a child can bring to STEM learning isn’t a calculator or a coding app—it’s confidence. When kids believe they can learn, make mistakes, and keep improving, they build skills that last far beyond the classroom. Whether they dream of exploring space like Mae Jemison or coding the next big idea like Reshma Saujani, what matters most is the courage to try. With patience, praise for effort, and the freedom to fail, parents can help turn everyday challenges into lifelong curiosity.

Reference:

Yeager, D.S., Hanselman, P., Walton, G.M. et al. A national experiment reveals where a growth mindset improves achievement. Nature 573, 364–369 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1466-y

Savvides, H., & Bond, C. (2021). How Does Growth Mindset Inform Interventions in Primary Schools? A Systematic Literature Review. Educational Psychology in Practice, 37(2), 134–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/02667363.2021.1879025 

Stanford University. (n.d.). Growth Mindset and enhanced learning. Teaching Commons. https://teachingcommons.stanford.edu/teaching-guides/foundations-course-design/learning-activities/growth-mindset-and-enhanced-learning