DOCUMENT by: Christopher Rounds
Subject: Independent Learning Skills

Independent Learning Skills
by Christopher Rounds

Observations

Discipline:

How would you characterize your ability to set tasks for yourself, carry out those tasks, and resist distraction while you’re engaged in the task?

Ability to Complete Tasks	at Home	at Work
Very good	_________________________	_________________________
Pretty good	_________________________	_________________________
Okay	_________________________	_________________________
What was the question?	_________________________	_________________________

Concentration:

Do you expect that your ability to concentrate on a reading or writing project will be a problem in your efforts to complete assignments? Explain.




Writing Skills:

How would you characterize yourself as a writer?

_____ I love to write!
_____ I’ve done well at tasks requiring writing in the past.
_____ I didn’t mind ‘writing intensive’ classes in the past, but don’t use it much.
_____ I haven’t had much exposure to writing.
_____ I see writing as an academic skill area I need to work hard at.

How much writing do you do?

_____ I write every day, both on the job and off.
_____ I write on the job, and do quite a bit of it.
_____ I write occasionally, but not a lot.
_____ I don’t write very much, or don’t feel comfortable writing.

Given the academic and professional goals you have set for yourself, how would you characterize the challenge you face with regard to writing?

_____ I think the abilities I now possess will serve me well.
_____ I think my skills need some polishing.
_____ I think I’m going to have to work hard to rise to the expectations inherent in my academic and professional goals.

Reading Skills:

How would you characterize the reading you normally do at home?
_____ I read only occasionally...newspapers and popular magazines.
_____ I read books, but for personal enjoyment.
_____ I read "serious" books and think of myself as a reader.

How would you characterize your work-related reading?
_____ I’m not required to read much at work.
_____ I read a good deal, mostly technical stuff.
_____ I read a lot, including reports and professional journals.

How would you evaluate yourself as a reader?
_____ I’m very confident that I’ll be able to read and learn effectively on my own.
_____ I enjoy reading, but haven’t done it very seriously in a while.
_____ I’m not used to doing much reading, but it hasn’t posed a problem before.
_____ I’m concerned about my ability to keep up, and to absorb information and to remember what I’ve read.


Levels of Reading:
Read the observations on Levels of Reading first before answering the following :

How would you characterize yourself regarding reading for understanding?
_____ I have not engaged in reading in this way.
_____ I have read for understanding, but only occasionally.
_____ I’m comfortable with this concept and read for understanding often.

How would you characterize yourself regarding critical reading?
_____ I can’t think of a time when I’ve engaged in critical reading.
_____ I read critically as an aspect of my job.
_____ I have read critically in previous college courses.
_____ I find myself reading critically both at home and work...I’m comfortable with it.

Can you describe a situation in which you have engaged in comparative reading?




Can you imagine a situation in which the skills required for comparative reading would serve you well in your community or at work?





Analytical and Critical Thinking:

Can you describe a situation in which you have been obliged to think critically about a problem or issue?






Is critical thinking a skill you feel comfortable with, or does it make you uneasy? Explain.






Can you identify someone you know well whom you would characterize as a critical thinker? Why?






If you were asked to place yourself at some point along this continuum, where would it be? Explain.

------------------------->	------------------------->	------------------------->	------------------------->
I’m already a critical thinker	I engage in critical thinking sometimes but not often.	I want to learn and I understand the need for critical thinking.	I haven’t done it and don’t see the usefulness of ever doing it.

Observations