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About Institute for Habits of Mind

Borne out of Art Costa’s work on Intelligent Behaviors (Costa, 1981), Art was clear about the need to think critically and creatively as central to their growth as problem solvers and finders. Art put together Developing Minds (ASCD, 1991) where he brought together philosophers, cognitive psychologists, researchers who were all focused on the development of thinking. As he studied what all of the contributors were saying, there was a real pattern in thinking and initially naming the 16 habits began to clarify the skills, behaviors, and dispositions central to growing efficacious thinkers. When Bena Kallick partnered with Art and brought her work with group dynamics and alternative assessments in the mid 1980s, the interplay of their ideas became the basis for honing the intelligent behaviors into 16 Habits of Mind which turned into our first book Assessment in the Learning Organization (ASCD, 1995). Their collaborative work became so generative through teaching and learning in the field as well as through many collaborative conversations as we proceeded to write many more books and articles. When Allison Zmuda brought her extensive and thoughtful work on personalized learning to write with Bena on the synergy of her work with Habits of Mind, it led to numerous contributions for the Institute as well as the book Students at the Center (ASCD, 2017). Our Habits of Mind work has become strengthened by her thinking and became so synonymous with the mission of the Institute that she was invited to join the work as a Co-Director. We have seen practices of Habits of Mind in schools and communities over the past 30 years and it is remarkable to see evidence of how it has impacted learning and culture. Join us.