Can I adapt?

The ability to pivot and change is called cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility goes beyond pivoting about plans. It’s also about stretching our imagination to see ourselves and others in our environments in new ways.

After the video, you’ll have a chance to talk with a peer to reflect on connections to your own experiences.

As you watch, what resonates with you?

Pair activity

• Talk with your partner about what resonated in the video and reflect on a situation that has arisen in your academic journey where things didn't go as you had planned.

• After about 6 minutes, each pair will have about 2 minutes to share out

Due: Wednesday 11/17 before class

On your web site, create a new reflection entry. You may choose whether to use a written (1-3 paragraphs) or recorded (1-3 minute audio/video) format.

Creating a plan requires a great deal of mental energy, focus, and direction. Yet we also need to be able to step away from a plan that no longer serves us. Can you think of a time where you had to give up on a plan and wished you’d let go of it sooner?

1. Reflect on how you engage in planning and adapting when something unexpected occurs. Use these prompts to guide your reflection:

   • Creating a plan requires a great deal of mental energy, focus, and direction. Yet we also need to be able to step away from a plan that no longer serves us. Can you think of a time where you had to give up on a plan and wished you’d let go of it sooner?

   • Viewing a problem from different perspectives can help generate multiple paths forward or identify a "bug" in your approach. Sometimes, when we pause to pull back or zoom in, we gain new insight into the problem at hand. Can you think of other situations where a different vantage point has moved you past an obstacle?