Habits

Habits are the skills and characteristics prepare students for college, work, and life. They are one of the ways our learners are assessed throughout MC2, and are a critical element to our competency-based learning system. College admissions counselors and community internship mentors alike have praised MC2 for its thorough assessment of students' proficiency in these skills.

"The habits never leave you"

~ Bradley Hinkell '18

Habits are an important framework for helping students recognize and grow in their learning behaviors, but habits don't only happen in studios. All learning opportunities, all experiences, even, are a chance for students to show their habits. Students and staff alike are expected to reflect on habits in studios, projects, morning meeting, internships and gateways, but they also can evaluate habits for family interactions, peer coaching, changing attendance behaviors, holding down a job, and persevering through a challenging work.

Habit ratings (see below) are reset at the beginning of each term. A learner demonstrating proficient habits in one term doesn't necessarily continue the trend. Similarly, a student who had a difficult time with a habit gets a chance to "start fresh" after each break. Habits need to be maintained for at least half a term to be considered "proficient."

The Habits

  • Ownership,

  • Community,

  • Self Direction,

  • Collaboration,

  • Character,

  • Quality Work,

  • Curiosity and Wonder,

  • Critical Thinking,

  • Creative Thinking,

  • Decision Making,

  • Information,

  • Technology,

  • Management,

  • Organization,

  • Leadership,

  • Problem Solving

  • Communication

Habit Indicators

Each of the 17 habits have indicators for the specific levels of the habit that a learner can demonstrate.

The habits are assessed on the following scale:

  • Emerging (lowest)

  • Progressing

  • Proficient (the preferred average)

  • Exemplary

  • Lifelong (highest)

Students are evaluated through these habits through proficiency. Proficiency is shown when comparing an action against a rubric describing different levels of habits. Students are evaluated with these rubrics in studios, in personal interactions, in community events, and by staff members. Students may also submit habit evaluations through Project Foundry that can be evaluated by your advisor later.


PDF breaking down habit indicators on emerging to lifelong scale.

MC2 Habits.pdf
Habit Indicator List

Phase habit requirements

Habit Requirements per Phase.docx

While a learner in any phase can demonstrate and have any of the 17 habits assessed for them, each phase has a specific requirement for habit proficiency as part of the checklist.

The progression of habits through the phases is described in our J-Curve.

J Curve.pdf

Privileges and Promotion

Habits not only determine progress though the phases, they also establish requirements for certain privileges. Students may earn Off Campus privileges, Athletic Eligibility, and Independent Work/Blocks through the demonstration of habits.


Policy habit requirement posters.pdf

Assessing Habits (in Project Foundry)

Habit assessment is done in Project Foundry. Advisors should be evaluating relevant habits weekly for all learners in their studios and advisory. But habits should be continuously evaluated by all staff when appropriate. Internships, independent projects, community service, treks and any learning opportunity are just some of the many avenues in which a student can demonstrate habits. Good rule of thumb: If they're demonstrating it, assess it!

Students are also encouraged to advocate for habits they may have demonstrated and propose a habit evaluation for a staff member to complete.

See the video below for a how to assess habits in Project Foundry

Habit Evals in PF.mov

Habit Heatmap

Each learner will have a habit "heatmap" accessible in Project Foundry. This heat map shows all habits that the student has earned on the emerging to life long scale. This can be filtered to show all habits earned through all time or by specific time frames (habits earned over a quarter for example). It is encouraged that learners frequently check their heatmap and use it to document habit growth.

See the video below for how to view a learner's habit heatmap in Project Foundry.

Heat map how to.mp4

Additional Resources:

MC2 derives its habit model from the Critical Skills Classroom from Antioch University, New England.