If there’s one thing about college that I have learned, it is that there will always be group projects. Whether it’s a presentation, a research project, or a semester-long assignment, I have worked with a group on each one of these. At first, I thought they were just something that I had to get through to finish an assignment and get my grade; however, through my college career, I have learned that they have given me some of the best opportunities to further develop my four Habits of Mind, which Plymouth State emphasizes as “purposeful communication, problem solving, integrated perspective, and self-regulated learning.” Plymouth State describes the Habits of Mind as a “usual way of thinking” or in other words, a way to engage with everyday life. This definition helped me realize that I don’t just practice the Habits of Mind in the classroom, but that I use them when I interact with people, handle challenges, and approach my responsibilities.
Purposeful Communication
Group projects have challenged me the most in purposeful communication because when I communicate with other people, I have to think about how I communicate the idea to them, if they understand what I mean, and how my message might come across. Sometimes I must explain my idea in a different way because they didn’t understand it the first time. Other times, I listen to another groupmate’s idea or suggestion and be flexible enough to change how I originally planned to approach the project. Plymouth State explains that purposeful communication involves creating meaning through interactions with people and texts and expressing ideas in ways that a designed for a specific audience. Group projects have helped me move beyond just communicating information. They showed me how to communicate it.
Problem Solving
Problem-solving is probably the most obvious Habits of Mind in a group project. Almost every project starts with some kind of problem like what are we supposed to do and how should we divide the work? In these group projects, I have often taken on the role of helping my group figure out what needs to happen next. Plymouth State’s signposts for problem-solving include framing the problem, identifying challenges, developing a plan, making decisions, and then evaluating the progress. I see almost every one of these steps in group projects that I have completed. I’ve also learned that a plan that may seem like it will work in the beginning does not always turn out right once the group starts putting it together, so being able to be flexible has also become a key factor.
Integrated Perspective
Integrated perspective is another Habit of Mind that becomes very obvious during group work because no two people will approach an assignment in the exact same way. Everyone brings their own experiences, knowledge, and opinions to the project. I have worked on projects where some people suggest an idea that I would not have thought of myself, and the outcome of the final project was better because we combined different ideas instead of sticking with just one person’s original plan. Plymouth State explains that integrated perspective involves recognizing the limitations of a single point of view and learning from others to integrate multiple perspectives. I think this is something I have developed significantly throughout my time here at college as I have been more comfortable listening to other people’s ideas even when they’re different from mine.
Self-Regulated Learning
The fourth Habit of Mind, self-regulated learning, might seem less connected to the group projects at first; however, I believe it is present throughout the entire process. When I am responsible for a portion of the group project, I have to be able to manage my own time and figure out what I need to learn and when I need to meet deadlines. Plymouth State describes self-regulated learning as taking responsibility for one’s own learning, setting personal goals, and monitoring your progress while also developing an awareness of how you learn. I have become much more independent as a student since starting college. I’ve also become better at recognizing when I am falling behind and need to change my approach. Group projects taught me that my work affects everyone else, which gives me another motive to stay accountable.
Still Climbing
Looking at all four Habits of Mind together, I think the biggest thing that I have learned is that they are not separate skills. They constantly overlap each other. A group project is a good example because I must communicate with my group while solving problems, consider everyone’s perspectives, and manage my own learning and responsibilities all at the same time. After three years in college and countless group projects, I know I have developed these habits much more than I had when I first started college; however, I wouldn’t say that I have completely reached the “summit” yet. The summit is not really a finish line where there is nothing left to improve. There will always be a more difficult problem, a different perspective to understand, or a better way to communicate, so for me, climbing means recognizing how much I have learned while still being willing to grow.
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