Learning Autobiography
Assessment A – Expert Review
Due at the start of Lab C
Wednesday, September 9 or Thursday, September 10
Context
An Honors Mindset is formed through the development of attitudes, habits, and skills that you
independently and intentionally apply. The identification and evaluation of your progress in
developing an Honors Mindset is best discovered through systematic reflection. In the first unit
of study, you encountered and explored Angela Maiers’ Habitudes, Carol Dweck’s Fixed and
Growth Mindsets, and Ken Bain’s Learning Profiles, Styles of Learning, and Types of Experts.
You contemplated and discussed each of these concepts in a systematic and reflective way.
Goal
This assignment is an opportunity for you to reflect on your own learning experiences (past,
present, and future) by applying the concepts you explored in Honors Mindset Seminar. A
thoughtful, written reflection will provide evidence of how you have analyzed and synthesized
the course content.
Process
Reflect on your “learning history,” including successes, challenges, and missed opportunities.
Analyze your learning experiences in relation to the concepts presented thus far in Honors
Mindset Seminar.
Compose an autobiography by analyzing your learning experiences in relation to the Habitudes,
Fixed and Growth Mindsets, Learning Profiles, Styles of Learning, and Types of Experts.
Autobiographies typically include the author’s reflections on his/her experiences through time
(past, present, and, in some cases, future events). In this case, your “past” could be
categorized as learning experiences prior to this semester, your “present” learning experiences
as occurring this semester, and your “future” learning experiences beyond this semester.
An exceptional Learning Autobiography is a narrative that goes beyond a retelling of events; it is
a synthesis of thoughtful reflections connecting your learning experiences to the ideas
presented during Honors Mindset Seminar.
Product: Reflective Essay
 150 points possible (15% of overall grade)
 Evidence for “Analyzing Learning” digital badge
Expectations
 Reflections should integrate your personal learning experiences with:
 Angela Maiers’/Habitudes concepts;
 Carol Dweck’s/Mindset concepts;
 Ken Bain’s/How the Best College Students Learn concepts; and
 Be the guided by the reflective process described by Carol Rodgers.
 The format of your final product should a typed document of no more than four, doublespaced pages of 12 point type, and include a thoughtful title. Your full name and course
section number should be included on the first page.
 The final version of your Learning Autobiography should be submitted two ways:
1. Bring a printed copy to Lab C of your Honors Mindset Seminar
(Wednesday, September 9 or Thursday, September 10); and
2. Save the document as a .pdf to be uploaded during Lab C.
Note: Please bring your laptop to Lab C.
Assessment Continuum
Component
Emerging
Expected
Excellent
Exceptional
Points
Integration of Course Concepts
Angela Maiers’/Habitudes
/40
Carol Dweck’s/Mindset
/40
Ken Bain’s/How the Best
College Students Learn
/40
Cohesiveness
 Balance of past, present,
and future learning
experiences
 Specific examples and
connections integrating
course vocabulary
 Overall “flow” of the narrative
/20
Format and Mechanics
 Format of document
 Grammar; sentence
structure
/10
Point Total
Overall Evaluation of Evidence
/150
Emerging
Expected
Excellent
Exceptional
Comments
Expected, excellent, and exceptional products will be recognized with the “Analyzing Learning” digital badge;
exceptional products may be recognized with an additional badge.