Welcome to the Dr. Long's Freshman Orientation: Habits of the Mind page!

The goal of the Freshman Experience: Habits of the Mind seminar is to help new students adapt to the academic environment of the University. Quoting President Hinkley, we want you to acquire "intellectual discipline" and develop your spirituality. You are special or you would not be here. We know you can succeed. On behalf of the faculty, I want you to know that we are here to help you. You CAN do it.

The following list is six “habits of mind” that help students acquire intellectual discipline.
(Pres. Hinckley’s goal for BYU’s graduates)

• Curiosity
• Questioning
• Observation (through paying attention)
• Analysis (understanding the parts)
• Integration (understanding the whole)
• Persistence

Many opportunities—programs, presentations, concerts, sporting events, socializing with new friends, and so on—are available to you. You should take advantage of them; they constitute an enjoyable part of your university experience. Be engaged. Participate in campus life!

At the same time, I caution you—based on long experience—to choose wisely how you will employ your time at BYU.

Since BYU is a university, your first task, your first priority, is to begin to master those habits of mind that lead to powerful learning in post-secondary school settings. I urge you not to substitute some other, less significant, goal for that one. You do not have to forego social opportunities in order to focus on acquiring powerful approaches to learning. Nevertheless, since activities other than study are often more appealing, you do have to choose, intentionally, to learn.

For some of you—not all, but a substantial number—taking classes at BYU will be a new experience. Why? Because, compared to secondary school, more attention may be paid at BYU to your ability to develop an idea than to memorize it, to ask questions than to answer them, to distinguish good from bad reference sources than simply to find sources.

Educational research has shown that the study habits students adopt as freshmen generally do not change during their succeeding college years. So, paying attention to the “culture of learning” at BYU early on will increase the likelihood of your academic success

Common Mistakes:
• Not asking questions…
• Short-timer mentality before mission
• Finances
• Late nights
• Skipping class
• Missing deadlines
• Avoiding responsibility…relying on others to be responsible for you
• Not advancing above high school level work
• Assuming you are alone
• Forcing a decision about a major/Not researching a major
• Letting growth opportunities pass you by
• Passive learning vs. actively developing positive habits of mind

Links:

BYU Habits of the Mind Page

BYU New Student Orientation "Habits of the Mind"

Notes: HabitsMind/ ShortIntro_8_2005.ppt HabitsMind_8_2005.ppt PRES0.PPZ PNGSETUP.EXE