Habits of mind

The Habits of Mind are a collection of 16 thinking dispositions designed to help people develop their critical and creative thinking skills. The Habits were developed by Professor Arthur L. Costa and cover a range of skills such as 'persisting' and 'thinking and communicating with clarity and precision'. The Habits of Mind are not designed to be thinking tools, rather they are designed to be dispositions one adopts when using a thinking tool.

Professor Arthur L. Costa is currently Emeritus Professor at California State University at Sacramento.

The 16 Habits Of Mind are:

1.Persisting – Stick to it.

2.Thinking and communicating with clarity and precision – Be clear.

3.Managing impulsivity – Take your time.

4.Gathering data through all senses – Use your natural pathways.

5.Listening with understanding and empathy – Understand others.

6.Creating, imagining, innovating – Try a different way.

7.Thinking flexibly – Look at it another way.

8.Responding with wonderment and awe – Have fun figuring it out.

9.Thinking about your thinking (metacognition) – Know your knowing.

10.Taking responsible risks – Venture out.

11.Striving for accuracy and precision – Check it again.

12.Finding humour – Laugh a little.

13.Questioning and problem posing – How do you know.

14.Thinking interdependently – Work together.

15.Applying past knowledge to new situations – Use what you learn.

16.Remaining open to continuous learning – Learn from experiences.

ee also

* Adaptive expertise

External links

* [http://www.habitsofmind.net/ HabitsofMind.net]
* [http://www.habitsofmind.net/booklists.htm Reading List]
* [http://www.artcostacentre.com/ The Art Costa Centre for Thinking]