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Barry Musson and Matt Allen
Lindisfarne College
Hastings, Hawkes Bay • New Zealand
Lindisfarne College is a Year 7 to 13 boys’ college enable them to become effective problem solvers and
situated in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. The College is decision makers so they can increasingly make choices
‘integrated’ meaning it is funded by the State and by about their actions which will improve their success
fees paid by parents. It is a decile 10 school with about and achievement. We want them to habitualise the
45% of students being boarders. behaviours which make successful people successful.
We also wanted to use Habits of Mind as a framework
In 2004 the Rector expressed concern about the real or to explain why our high achievers were so successful.
perceived ‘achievement’ gap between boys and girls.
The Rector, Mr Grant Lander, felt we had a responsibility We believe that to improve any actions we first have to
improve the quality of the thinking, and that like any other
to seriously investigate this issue and look critically at our skill thinking can be taught and learnt.
own achievement.
Questioning and Problem Taking Responsible Risks
Posing Going beyond our established limits,
venturing out and trying new things had
Given our clientele we needed to think the potential to deliver new opportunities
critically about our achievement evidence for our students, risks worth taking.
and justify our performance against a variety of criteria.
Once we had chosen Habits of Mind to be a school-
Over many years Lindisfarne has performed extremely wide focus, the Rector ensured there was release time
well in the national examination results and is highly allocated to enable the lead teacher, Mr Barry Musson,
ranked among local and national schools of a similar to become informed, knowledgeable and confident
type and decile (socio-economic ranking). Lindisfarne about the Habits of Mind. This was a key decision.
has a very successful, experienced and competent It is crucial for any school intending to pursue and
but aging teaching staff and the Rector was keen to incorporate Habits of Mind in their teaching, learning and
re-invigorate the teaching pedagogy by infusing some thinking culture to ensure they know and understand
additional, proven and successful learning strategies into what the Habits are before they can effectively implement
the College culture. them into their school or college.
Grant Lander, Rector, Martin O’Grady (ICT coordinator We believe that to get the real benefits of Habits of Mind
and now Assistant Rector, Middle School (Years 7-10) you have to be convinced, persuaded and passionate.
and Barry Musson (Head of the Intermediate Department You have to be a believer. This takes time but it’s crucial.
and now Specialist Classroom Teacher) visited three Only then can you really incorporate and infuse Habits
successful schools in Auckland to see what they of Mind into your teaching and learning in a way that is
were doing to advantage student achievement in their natural and empowering. Take time, proceed slowly.
schools. We visited St Kentigern’s, Kings College and St Come to grips with and understand each of the Habits of
Cuthbert’s and came back with a number of ideas which Mind and you will find countless opportunities to infuse
we believed could be incorporated and infused into the them into your learning culture to benefit the learners in
thinking and learning culture at Lindisfarne College to your care. Living the Habits as a teacher is important in
advantage our students. both really understanding them and setting an example.
It takes time to absorb all the ideas and ramifications but
Remain Open to Continuous we believe it is an essential starting point before one can
Learning make a meaningful commitment and gain the powerful
benefits Habits of Mind can deliver. This is particularly so
There is an ongoing need to search for with whole-staff development.
better ways, resist complacency and keep
an open mind, so we can improve. There is a fourteen-page article entitled Describing 16
Habits of Mind by Arthur L Costa Ed.D. and Bena Kallick
After visiting the three schools in Auckland we decided Ph.D., which is adapted from the same authors’ 2000
that David Hyerle’s Thinking Maps and Art Costa’s publication Habits of Mind. This is a succinct, convincing
Habits of Mind were two powerful thinking philosophies and readable summary of the four books in the
and tools we could infuse and incorporate into our Developmental series. For busy classroom practitioners
teaching, thinking, learning and behaving practices this is an essential and powerful read. It is extremely
at the College. We believe Habits of Mind have the convincing and persuasive and is an excellent starting
potential to give our students an ‘edge’ which will better point to becoming informed and knowledgeable.
Australian National Schools Network and Learning Network New Zealand • 19