Assessing personal responsibility

Assessing personal responsibility

Examine your own learning processes. As you read the choices below, be thoughtful and honest. Circle the number of the statement that best applies.

1. Typically, how curious are you when you are given an assignment with a topic you know little or nothing about? Which of the following statements would you say apply to you?

A. I look up the topic on a surface level, and get some basic facts.

B. I pursue information beyond the surface that might give me a new insight.

C. I am usually not satisfied with basic explanations. I will look for deeper information. Often I will learn new things and develop an interest in the topic.

D. When I study a topic that is new to me, I study it so as to learn all I can about the topic.

Add a short paragraph that explains your answer.

2. Typically, when you are given assignments, how do you approach the task?

A. I will complete all (or most) of my required work, but I am usually happy to just finish the assignment.

B. I will complete the task and sometimes I will take initiative to work on my skills or improve my knowledge.

C. I am willing to put in a lot of time outside of class learning about my topic. Sometimes I will ask for extra help or guidance from experts (such as librarians.).

D. Often I see in my assignments good opportunities to pursue new ideas, abilities and skills.

Add a short paragraph that explains your answer.

3. Typically, when you are reading for or working on your college assignments, how do you apply your prior knowledge?

A. I don’t spend much time thinking about my past experiences inside or outside of the classroom. I don’t usually make many connections between my past life events and a college assignment.

B. I will think about things I have learned in the past, both in class and in my life. Sometimes I can see connections between my prior experience and my new learning.

C. Often I can think about my past experiences and see that what I have learned in the past helps me build new perspectives about my education and my life.

D. I consider my past experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom, every time I have a new assignment or task. I use my prior knowledge as a foundation for expanded knowledge and to make sense of new perspectives.

Add a short paragraph that explains your answer.

4. Typically, what is your general attitude toward learning when you are NOT in the classroom?

A. Sometimes I find myself showing interest in learning more about my academic subjects and pursue more information/knowledge on my own.

B. I will sometimes pursue additional knowledge and independent educational experience.

C. I often want more knowledge and will actively pursue independent educational experience.

D. My interest in my educational interests flourish outside the classroom. I look for more knowledge and experiences.

Add a short paragraph that explains your answer.

5. Typically, when completing assignments or studying a new idea or skill, how to you apply your previous learning?

A. I don’t usually find that older material helps much when I have to understand and perform in new situations.

B. Sometimes I can use references to and apply previous learning to show I understand and can perform in new and different situations.

C. I can often refer to previous learning and I can demonstrate my knowledge and skill by applying it to new and different situations.

D. I always try to access what I’ve already learned and I think of new ways to apply my knowledge and skills to novel situations.

Add a short paragraph that explains your answer.