As educators we should teach learners to expect:

• A. Positive outcomes
• B. Random outcomes
• C. Negative outcomes
• D. Unknown possibilities

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that fostering a belief in positive outcomes boosts motivation, effort, and persistence in learners. When students expect to succeed, they engage more deeply, tackle challenges with energy, and invest the practice needed to reach their goals. This aligns with a growth mindset: seeing ability as improvable and viewing effort as a path to improvement. In the classroom, teachers support this by setting clear, attainable goals, providing structured practice, giving timely feedback, and highlighting progress along the way. The result is a learning climate where students feel capable, which increases the likelihood of real achievement.

If outcomes were seen as random, students would feel less in control of their learning and be less motivated to put in sustained effort. A focus on negative outcomes can create fear, reduce willingness to take risks, and lower persistence. Emphasizing unknown possibilities without guidance can lead to anxiety and aimlessness. By contrast, a constructive expectation of positive outcomes keeps learning hopeful and directed.