By Karen Boyes
Art Costa, renowned educator and international speaker, co-founded the Habits of Mind. A “Habit of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with problems, the answers to which are not immediately known.
For example: When under pressure /stress do I...
Employ a pattern of intellectual behaviour or unproductive behaviour
See opportunities or downfalls
Strive to reflect and improve/problem solve my performance or react negatively (perhaps to situations and/or others)
It is not only about the answers that are known but about how one behaves in response to those questions and problems where the answers are not immediately forthcoming.
Here are 12 of the Habits of Mind...
**1. Persistence...**
This is what happens when the going gets tough. People often say “I can’t do this” or “it’s too hard” so they don’t have to think any further. Learn perseverance by finding at least 3 ways to solve a problem so people have a back up if one strategy doesn’t work. The more ways you have to solve a problem the more likely you are to keep going....
**2. Managing Impulsivity...**
Impulsive people often blurt out answers and make immediate value judgements. Consider possibilities and consequences of actions before beginning a task. After giving an instruction, Art Costa suggests asking “what would you be doing if you were following the instructions correctly?” I have frequently had success managing impulsivity with the phrase “in a moment but not quite yet...”
**3. Listening to others with understanding and empathy...**
Some psychologists believe that the ability to listen to another person, to empathise with and understanding their point of view is one of the highest forms of intelligent behaviour. We spend 55% of our life listening, yet it’s not often taught. Learn how to paraphrase and ask clarifying questions. Learn to set aside your own views as you listen to others. Ask yourself questions such as “if I were______ how would I think about...”
**4. Flexible Thinking... **
Some people have difficulty in considering alternative points of view. Their way is the only way. Not everything is black and white - there is also a rainbow in between. Use such words as “however”, “ on the
other hand” or “if you look at it this way”...
**5. Metacognition: Awareness of our own thinking...**
What is thinking? What does it mean to think hard? Ryan, a ten year old, suggests “Thinking is what nature hired the mind to do.” Another child suggested it was “What you do when you don’t know the answer.” Up to 50% of people are not aware of their own thinking processes while they are thinking. When asked “how did you solve that problem?” they may answer “I don’t know, I just did it” Invite others to tell “how” they arrived at the answer rather than focusing just on the answer.
**6. Checking for Accuracy & Precision... **
As technology grows at a rapid rate, need for accuracy and precision grows. 99% accuracy for air traffic controllers is not acceptable. In the past students have handed in work and teachers checked the accuracy. Learn to recheck your work over and over. It often helps to leave it a day and then go back over it.
**7. Questioning & Problem Posing... **
Sometimes people are reluctant to ask questions for fear of appearing ignorant. The more people question the more curious they become, leading to enhanced imagination and improved memory and intelligence, according to Robert Sternburg.
**8. Drawing on past knowledge & applying it to new situations... **
Art Costa advocates that probably the ultimate goal of teaching is to apply learned knowledge to real life situations. Intelligent human beings learn from experience. They are able to make meaning from one experience and apply it in a new situation. Phrases such as “this reminds me of...” and “this is like the time I...” are common with people who display this intelligent behaviour.
**9. Precision of Language and Thought...**
Be alert to sloppy language such as non-specific words, for example ‘nice, ‘ok’ and ‘good’ or names of objects as ‘stuff’ ‘junk’ and ‘things’. You might hear “they told me” or “everyone has one.” Promote specific language. An ideal activity is to practice giving directions and instructions.
**10. Using all senses... **
Foster the use of all 5 senses. Provide activities that involve several senses. The more sensory pathways that are open, the more information people can absorb.
**11. Ingenuity, originality & insightfulness...**
Increasingly it is becoming apparent that the capacity to generate novel, original or clever ideas, products or solutions are skills that are able to be developed. Intelligent humans are creative. They solve problems and challenges using lateral thinking. Creative people take risks and test their own limits. They are often intrinsically rather than extrinsically motivated. Accept all ideas and reward creativity.
**12. Wonderment, curiosity, inquisitiveness & the enjoyment of problem solving... **
A person who has an “I can” attitude is heading towards success. More than this, creating an atmosphere where people enjoy learning is paramount to intelligent behaviour. Observe the sense of wonderment at the small things such as a dew drop on a leaf to the inquisitiveness and curiosity of “why”. Make the learning process more enjoyable and important than the outcome or answers. It’s the journey that counts, not the destination...
**References:**
Boyes K. Creating An Effective Learning Environment
Costa A. Discovering And Exploring the Habits Of Mind
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