Cultivating a Discovery Mindset: A Contemplative View

Abstract

This article explores the concept of discovery mindset, a way of thinking that actively seeks novelty and discovery in the everyday. Unlike bare awareness, which grounds awareness in present moment experiences, discovery mindset entails the active cultivation of an expectant, forward looking, and anticipatory imagination that orients to everyday situations with a trust that something new will emerge. In educational settings, teachers and students alike can benefit from actively fostering the attitude of seeking the novel, through the cultivation of slowness, suspense, serendipity, and synchronicity. The article ends with some general recommendations on how teachers can cultivate a discovery mindset and incorporate it into their curriculum.