We need to work through the best ways to boost our disposition towards study – how we make specific choices about what we will and will not do to maintain a positive approach towards taking responsibility for our learning in your academic program.
Furthermore, we need to be conscious of the mindset we carry into learning and study. Too often, we can approach our education thinking that we have the answers already. We can find ourselves too eager to confirm and communicate what we already know, rather than challenge ourselves to learn something new. Our study, indeed our life, should be full of curiosity and wonder at all of the opportunities we are presented with on a daily basis. Attention should be paid towards being present when we are learning, and in particular having an open mind. We need to recognise the possibility that we might learn something new. We need to soak up all of what is on offer, rather than just rote learn content for a test that leaves our minds after we hand in the paper. A disposition towards study equips us for a lifetime of learning and growth on The Pathway to Excellence.
We can contemplate our Disposition Towards Study by considering the following questions:
- Do I have effective study habits that work for me and am I constantly evaluating how well they help me succeed in my courses so that I can make adjustments as necessary?
- Do I realise that I need others in my class to help me succeed and to learn well, and do I take care to develop good relationships with my classmates?
- Do I bring the habits of open-mindedness, curiosity and wonder to my learning?
- Will I seek help from my teacher/instructor for guidance when I encounter difficulty?
- Do I take full advantage of the opportunities to learn from different perspectives and to think deeply about the topics in my courses?