“MindSet” is a book and an education buzzword getting a lot of attention, and this year, it will be used in tri-town classrooms in an effort to improve students’ productivity.

Based on Carol Dweck’s book, the concept looks at “fixed minsets” and “growth mindsets.” The former leads to avoiding challenges, ignoring criticism and other characteristics that hinder learning new things. A growth mindset, on the other hand, encourages students to see that if they don’t grasp something, it isn’t impossible. Instead it's a “not yet.”

The goal, said Superintendent Doug White, is “making sure that we’re never stopping the learning going on in their classrooms.”

In a video lecture shown at the Joint School Committee, Dweck said encouraging a growth mindset has turned around the scores of students in troubled districts in one year.

“I can only imagine the success we would have here in a year,” said School Committee member Christine Winters.

White said the Rochester School Committee already read the book and encouraged others to follow suit, including parents. He said the new focus will be evaluated throughout the year.