Arthur L. Costa’s book “Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind (2008), Chapter 2. Describing the Habits of Mind” shares sixteen habits that human beings who behave intelligently acquire and display at times of problems. Human’s do not only behave intelligently in only sixteen ways and there are other attributions that can be added. Costa explains how the habits of mind are composed of many skills, lessons of past experiences and are incorporated into six dimensions which are value, inclination, sensitivity, capability, commitment, and policy. Costas’s purpose for sharing the sixteen habits is to explain these habits help people succeed in a variety of fields and disciplines and to show that people can think intelligibly by training and adapting
to the habits of mind. The habits of mind are what make people successful and by developing these skills people become productive and are able to make ethical decisions. The audience that Costa is targeting are students, adults, and teachers who are open minded and willing take it into consideration the habits of mind and want to become accustomed to using them. Costa wants us to know that results are more effective by using a pattern of intellectual behavior our brains can be wired to think intelligently. The habits of mind help guide to make decisions and apply to different aspects of our lives whether it’s education, work or solving a problem and overall makes us ethical, better decision maker and successful human beings.
Whether they are positive or negative, our habits are an integral part of our lives. Because of this, when Professor James VanderMey addressed the 33rd annual Honors Convocation at Mid Michigan Community College, he decided to speak on the topic of habit. In his speech, entitled “Remarks on Habit,” VanderMey (argues against Sartre’s point of view by) discusses the advantages of having good habits, especially the habits represented by the Diploma Qualification Profile, a series of proficiencies that students learn as they are educated at Mid Michigan Community College. First, he shows that good habits lead to creative problem solving. Then, he argues that our habits make us who we are. Finally, he shows how good habits may grow and multiply. Habits, especially DQP habits, are positive and useful, because they allow one to think creatively, become a better person, and find innovative ways of doing.
Arthur L. Costa explains the habits that people with growth mindsets acquire over time in “DESCRIBING 16 HABITS OF MIND.” Costa’s eighth habit, “Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations” is all about using past knowledge in order to work through new problems. I agree that this is a very important habit to have in order to make problem solving easier. Those with a growth mindset use this habit in order to learn more and understand better. This habit allows them “to abstract meaning from one experience, carry it forth, and apply it in a new and novel situation” (Costa 7). They use their past experiences and apply that knowledge when they are faced with a new problem. If they would forget everything they learned and never use any of their past knowledge they would not be able to move on when faced with a new
“There is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs,” was said by motivational speaker and American author Zig Ziglar. This relates to Carol S. Dweck’s article “Brainology” and Sherman Alexie’s essay “Superman and Me.” Ziglar, Dweck, and Alexie all feel that it isn’t easy for someone to become successful. It takes hard work, perseverance, and the want to learn and grow. In Dweck’s article, she stated that someone with a growth mindset would become more successful and knowledgeable than someone with a fixed mindset, which was demonstrated by Alexie in his essay, and by a personal experience of my own.
In The article “Brainology” “Carol S Dweck, a professor of psychology at Stanford University, differentiates between having a fixed and growth mindset in addition how these mindsets have a deep effect on a student’s desire to learn. Individuals who have a fixed mindset believe they are smart without putting in effort and are afraid of obstacles, lack motivation, and their focus is to appear smart.. In contrast, students with a growth mindset learn by facing obstacles and are motivated to learn. Dwecks argues that students should develop a growth mindset.
Also, in Carol Dweck’s research article “Brainology”, she states the subtitle “Transforming Students’ Motivation to Learn”. She dishes mindsets and achievement, how do students learn these mindsets, and so on… … Dweck suggests, “Many students believe that intelligence is fixed, that each person has a certain amount, and that’s that. We call this a fixed mindset, and, as you will see, students with this mindset worry about how much of this fixed in intelligence they possess”. Many students believe that the challenge encountered in learning is a threat to their growth path. She put forward two different minds of the ideological study contrast, the finds showed that students studied with a growth mindset were more interested in learning and
Reading L112RC: Self-Awareness and Leadership Philosophy: Why Leaders Need One and Why they Need to Write It Down; CGSC Blackboard.
Chapter 3 in the book Mindset taught me that students with a fixed mindset give low effort because they think they were either born smart or stupid and there’s no way to change that. The fixed mindset people try to avoid challenges and think mistakes as they are a failure and aren’t smart enough to accomplish it. If they happen to get a challenge they give up after the first setback. They think that it’s too challenging and that they can’t do it. People with a fixed mindset think that there’s no point in effort, you are either born smart or stupid and no matter how hard you try you can’t change that. They also believe that there is no need to study. They are smart enough to pass or to dumb to even do anything. They think that there
Leaders must think to survive in every form of physical and mental conflict. Army leaders are responsible to solve problems, from “the mundane to the magnificent’ , with an expectation of complete success in determining the best possible decision to a given problem. Utilizing cognitive training tools to expand a stagnate mind (Drs. Paul and Elder’s Eight Elements of Thought) and following proven models of success (Army Problem Solving Process) facilitate a positive outcome for Army officers when they are making difficult decisions. Drs. Paul and Elder developed eight elements of thought that assist Army officers and provide additional definitions to the thought categories in the seven steps of the Army Problem Solving Process.
Below each level is identified, along with tools and techniques to help one achieve their goals of mind shifting. The author himself has provided specific examples of his skills and experience as a change agent and innovator.
A habit of mind is a way of thinking that one acquires over time. It is a type of thought that involves thinking beyond what society considers right or wrong, but acknowledging through complex thought, what is morally right. It is not easily achieved and is somewhat like a muscle, in that you have to build it up over time through intellectual work and hardship. Not everyone can achieve a strong habit of mind, in fact most don’t. The habit is a way of thinking that allows one to communicate with knowledge when the answer is not initially apparent. In order to think in this complex manner a person has to be well educated in all subjects of intelligence. Having a good education goes hand in hand with having good habits of mind, because in order to have positive functioning habits, a person has to be well rounded enough to considered every possible solution to the problems or questions posed. Being able to use a habit of mind also requires a type of thinking where others nor any outside force constrains any ideas or solutions . This by definition is a habit of mind.
This was not as easy a read for me. I suppose I am a victim of my generational upbringing, in that, I feel the need to be informed in an entertaining manner. This book has good information, but I had to continually check my focus. Those times when I was truly drawn in were the times when the writer was relating back to a story from his life or others and how it worked in to the particular habit he was teaching at that time. That being said, the following areas are where I believe I can use to make myself and my team better.
Still, even if one does put their mind to use, one must then use it in a way that will benefit society or improve oneself. Regret often comes to...
“The phenomena of closed and open-mindedness are at the heart of the interface between cognitive and social processes. Every intelligible judgment, decision, or action rests on a subjective knowledge base held with at least a minimal degree of confidence” (Kruglanski, 2004). How come it is that there are people who seem to make continuous progression in their personal and professional lives, while other people are cursed to repeat their same mistakes continuously? While the feedback is not cut and dry, there is a very interesting mind-set difference between two groups: these two groups approach challenges and difficulties very distinctively. The one group goes through life with an open mind. And the second group digs their heels in at the first
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (Covey, 2004) has become the cornerstone of leadership and management wisdom. The habits emphasize personal responsibility and personal leadership. There is challenge in living everyday under the guidance of the habits but there is also great benefit as living the habits can influence everything we do in life. I was introduced to Covey’s seven habits through a one day seminar at my workplace several years ago. I learned some of the terminology and a few of the concepts but never really understood the power of the practical application of the habits. Reading the Covey materials has taught me that life is not about all the tasks that I accomplish but instead about accomplishing the tasks that support what is important to me. Covey has taught me that there are elemental components that are applicable across the many roles that I have in my life. Those universal elements are integrity, vision, discipline, and passion. Embracing these ideas has opened my eyes to the endless applications and benefits of living the seven habits.
As former President of India, Abdul Kalam, once stated, "My message, especially to young people is to have courage to think differently, courage to invent, to travel the unexplored path, courage to discover the impossible and to conquer the problems and succeed." In its essence, Abdul Kalam clearly exemplifies one of the principle aspects of the IB [International Bachelorette] Learner Profile. Centering around both the fundamental values of ethical behavior and the attributes of a successful member of society, the ten traits found in the Learner Profile serve as an ideal means of instituting a foundation for the people of tomorrow. Fixated on implementing the development for the betterment of a person as an individual and as a part of a global community, the following characteristics are portrayed in the Learner Profile: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. As an individual, I have been gifted with countless blessings including intellect, love, understanding, wisdom, the ability to think, and various others (including the traits found in the Learner Profile). However, circumstances arise where the use of balance is vital; yet, it is not taken into consideration and failed to be acted upon. An evaluation of the use and importance of being a thinker, to that of the significance in maintaining balance, will demonstrate the reasons for which each feature is desired and equally paramount.