always implies a further journey to the next place. They understand that
expertise is not knowing everything but knowing the next, more sophisti-
cated level of the work. As each level of knowledge is achieved, a whole
new set of questions emerges (see also pp. 194–196).
These students are willing to let go of the need for the safety of “right-
ness” to claim the uncertainty of new investigations and knowledge. They
strive to learn and are dissatisfied with mere judgments. They demon-
strate a willingness to risk the potential of a lesser grade for the possibility
of a greater challenge. They are resourceful, and they use the resourceful-
ness of others. They are proud to admit that they don’t know an answer or
a solution, and they are intrigued by the potential for further inquiry. We
hear them say things like, “That’s an interesting idea. How could we find
out more about it?”
In Summary
There is great value in making the Habits of Mind explicit with indicators
that guide us in observing growth and improvement. As we develop a com-
mon language for describing the Habits of Mind, we bring attention to a
developmental growth students experience as they become aware of what
the habits mean, learn to build their capacity for becoming more skillful
in using the habits, value the benefits of the habits as they work more
productively, and make a commitment to using the habits. Ultimately, stu-
dents internalize the habits as a way of being. Assessment provides a mea-
sure of that developmental growth and, with explicit language, provides a
cognitive map for continuous growth and learning (see Chapter 4).
References
Barell, J. (2003). Developing more curious minds. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Perkins, D. (1995). Insight in minds and genes. In J. J. Sternberg & J. E. Davidson
(Eds.), The nature of insight(pp. 495–533). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Swartz, R., Costa, A., Beyer, B., Kallick, B., & Reagan, R. (2007). Thinking-based
learning: Activating students’ potential. Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon.
Defining Indicators of Achievement 189