Habits of Mind

Curiosity: All the lessons that were introduced to me over the past 3 weeks are valuable. By being exposed to new learning methods, I find the closed reading practice the most effective one in aiding my comprehension skills. The essay I had to read was “Looking into the Magic Mirror” by Hass and Trapdeo. For reading assignments in general, I only skim over the text as I thought grasping the main idea and walking away was the most crucial aspect. However, with the detailed instructions from the reading activity, I became more curious about the excerpts and the meaning behind apparent facts that I would never truly understand if I did not pay attention. This habit is one that I will continue practicing in the future.

Openness: I am really interested in our course topic, which is Disney & Gender. In the past, my perception of Disney movies was simply on the surface. I looked at the stories about all of these princesses to be “perfect.” How they act, how they find love and happiness are the goals everyone should be working towards. However, looking at the films from different perspectives, I learned to be more open with the information I received. For instance, “toxic masculinity” was one big point that the movie Beauty and the Beast emphasized throughout the film. I recognized the importance of these issues as they happen in our everyday lives and that we need to use our voices to challenge false ideas in society.

Engagement: As we discuss new topics in class each week, I get to see feedback and comments from my classmates. Engaging with my peers really helped to maximize my online learning experience. I am looking forward to producing a podcast with my group. Communicating, clarifying our purpose, and achieving goals together are good opportunities for us to find the creativity within ourselves and utilize it.

Creativity: In the previous weeks, I did not go out of my way to develop creative ways of doing things. Therefore, I think the group project assigned to us is a perfect chance for me to implement my ideas in order to help my team function well and provide a good quality podcast together. To me, creativity is a skill that requires more attention, and I am working towards strengthening that skill.

Persistence: Striving to go beyond my ability levels is what I am aiming for. Obviously, a class topic could catch one’s interest easily or be incredibly boring for another person. For instance, I have never watched any Star Wars movie in my entire life because they are just not my type. However, I am willing to get out of my comfort zone and learn about the gender roles portrayed in these movies.

Flexibility: This is the habit I find myself struggling with the most. Prior to being engaged with this course’s activities, I knew that we would have to spend at least 12-14 hours to produce good pieces of writings. I realize that I’m a slow writer. I always take more time than most people to process the ideas; thus, this class is very time-consuming for me. However, I am trying to manage time more effectively to open up space for other class works so that I wouldn't be behind.

Responsibility: From the beginning, my purpose of learning was very clear. I wanted to attain all the knowledge provided to me and achieve the goals I have set for myself. By finishing the assignments each week, I learn something new. It is my responsibility to overcome obstacles and take a step closer towards the learning outcomes.

Metacognition (reflection): Through metacognition, I raised awareness about the processes in learning that were most effective to me. By looking back at my writings each week, I get to see if my perceptions about an idea have been changed. Also, reflection on my process points out my weaknesses and helps me see which strategies work best. I think reflection plays a critical role in improved learning overall.