A "Habit of Mind” means having a disposition toward behaving intelligently when confronted with
problems, the answers to which are not immediately known. When humans experience
dichotomies, are confused by dilemmas, or come face to face with uncertainties--our most
effective actions require drawing forth certain patterns of intellectual behavior. When we draw
upon these intellectual resources, the results that are produced through are more powerful, of
higher quality and greater significance than if we fail to employ those patterns of intellectual
behaviors.
Employing "Habits of Mind" requires a composite of many skills, attitudes cues, past experiences
and proclivities. It means that we value one pattern of thinking over another and therefore it
implies choice making about which pattern should be employed at this time. It includes sensitivity
to the contextual cues in a situation which signal this as an appropriate time and circumstance in
which the employment of this pattern would be useful. It requires a level of skillfulness to employ
and carry through the behaviors effectively over time. It suggests that as a result of each
experience in which these behaviors were employed, the effects of their use are reflected upon,
evaluated, modified and carried forth to future applications