#Habits of mind persisting trial#

Planning a strategy before embarking on a course of action assists us in keeping track of the steps in the sequence of planned behavior at the conscious awareness level for the duration of the activity. Probably the major components of metacognition are developing a plan of action, maintaining that plan in mind over a period of time, then reflecting back on and evaluating the plan upon its completion. While 'inner language,' thought to be a prerequisite, begins in most children around age five, metacognition is a key attribute of formal thought flowering about age eleven. It is our ability to plan a strategy for producing what information is needed, to be conscious of our own steps and strategies during the act of problem solving, and to reflect on and evaluate the productiveness of our own thinking. Occurring in the neocortex, metacognition is our ability to know what we know and what we don't know. While there are many possible perceptual positions-past, present, future, egocentric, allocentric, macro centric, visual, auditory, kinesthetic-the flexible mind is activated by knowing when to shift perceptual positions. Flexibility is the cradle of humor, creativity and repertoire.

They tolerate confusion and ambiguity up to a point, and are willing to let go of a problem trusting their subconscious to continue creative and productive work on it. Flexible thinkers display confidence in their intuition. We operate from this second position when we empathize with other's feelings, predict how others are thinking, and anticipate potential misunderstandings.

By contrast, allocentrism is the position in which we perceive through another persons' orientation. One perceptual orientation is what Jean Piaget called, egocentrism-perceiving from our own point of view.

Thus, flexibility of mind is essential for working with social diversity, enabling an individual to recognize the wholeness and distinctness of other people's ways of experiencing and making meaning.įlexible thinkers are able to shift, at will, through multiple perceptual positions. They understand not only the immediate reactions but are also able to perceive the bigger purposes that such constraints serve. They understand mean-ends relationships being able to work within rules, criteria and regulations and they can predict the consequences of flouting them. Flexible people know that they have and can develop options and alternatives to consider. Their minds are open to change based on additional information and data or reasoning, which contradicts their beliefs. They envision a range of consequences.įlexible people can approach a problem from a new angle using a novel approach They consider alternative points of view or deal with several sources of information simultaneously. They create and seek novel approaches and have a well-developed sense of humor. They engage in multiple and simultaneous outcomes and activities, draw upon a repertoire of problem solving strategies and can practice style flexibility, knowing when it is appropriate to be broad and global in their thinking and when a situation requires detailed precision. They have the capacity to change their mind as they receive additional data. Flexible people are the ones with the most control. Sometimes they shout out an answer, start to work without fully understanding the directions, lack an organized plan or strategy for approaching a problem or make immediate value judgments about an idea-criticizing or praising it- before fully understanding it.Īn amazing discovery about the human brain is its plasticity-its ability to 'rewire', change and even repair itself to become smarter. Often students blurt the first answer that comes to mind.

#Habits of mind persisting trial#

They decrease their need for trial and error by gathering information, taking time to reflect on an answer before giving it, making sure they understand directions, and listening to alternative points of view. Reflective individuals consider alternatives and consequences of several possible directions prior to taking action. They strive to clarify and understand directions, develop a strategy for approaching a problem and withhold immediate value judgments about an idea before fully understanding it. They intentionally form a vision of a product, plan of action, goal or a destination before they begin. Effective problem solvers have a sense of deliberativeness: They think before they act.