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//**__HABITS OF MIND__**//


 * __Quarter One:__**
 * Creating, imagining and innovating**

In our last class, we had to complete an assignment about the VSEPR theory. It explains the shape of different molecules based on the position of the electrons around the atom. This was a new concept for me as I have not learned about it in any of my chemistry classes in the past. At first, the assignment was confusing as there are many elements to which effects the shape of a molecule, especially 3-D shapes. However, I then started to use the knowledge i have accumulated from the past. I used the learning I had from geometry and applied it to the VSEPR theory. I remembered the different shape names like trigonal pyramidal and tetrahedral. I also reminded myself that the angles are different for every shape and in a linear model, it should add up to 180º. Apart from the math that i used, I also had previous knowledge from past chemistry classes and knew that electrons are negatively charged which is where the repulsion force comes from. After reviewing these concepts, it helped me understand the VSEPR much clearer and faster.




 * Learning continuously**

In this chemistry course, I have been learning continuously. Even though most of the topics we have covered so far have been mostly review, I am still learning. Through the many experiments and activities we have done, I have found that I am still able to gain and gather knowledge from various different sources. New information is still constantly being exposed to me as I become a more wiser person not just in chemistry, but in all aspects.

In the beginning of the year, as this was my first chemistry class in more than a year, I had some difficulty remembering the concepts involving chemistry. I did not understand some of the webassign assignments we had to do. However, once I kept on learning continuously, all the concepts started to come back to me.

__**Semester Two:**__ There have been many times this quarter where we have had to work in a group on an experiment. Working with other people can have many benefits as we can learn from others. In order to be successful working in a group, I have tried to be cooperative by offering both positive and critical comments to help other people and also listening to what they have to say. I have also realised that having many people working together on one thing can increase the efficiency of our lab work also it may improve the results we achieve. Sometimes, we're not paired or grouped with our friends and this opportunity lets us learn to how to cooperate with different kinds of people. Through these group labs, I have found that I improved upon my communication and team work skills as each one of us learn to respect each other in order to efficiently complete the labs.
 * Thinking interdependently**

During Quarter 3, I chose to work on the habit of managing impulsivity. In the titration experiment, a lot of patience was needed when dropping the acid slowly into the base. One drop too much could completely alter the results and we could tell that this happened if the colour of our final solution was too dark (see picture below). This happened to me and my partner many times and it nearly made us lose our patience. We knew that our first trial was incorrect because of the darkness of the colour therefore we repeated this experiment many times. In the end it took us many trials to finally get the right light pink colour. After this we were able to more successfully get the right concentration every time after that trial. This experiment showed that I did not make immediate judgements throughout the process and the results reflected this as well as we got the desired concentration for the acid.
 * Managing impulsivity**

Throughout the year, there have been instances where I am making careless errors on tests, quizzes, or experiments. For example, I would forget to convert the unit into the standard form or even just completely forget to put on the unit on the answer. This has cost me a few points off my tests or having wrong data in my experiments, therefore this semester, I have been trying to strive for accuracy and precision. I used to speed through all my calculations quickly as I want to finish everything quickly, however, I realised that this is not the best way to work and in order to get a higher grade, I needed to work carefully and thoroughly check my work after I am done. In the last two quizzes based on pH calculations, I have been doing this and the results showed this habit of mind as I made no mistakes. I believe accuracy and precision is very important in scientific calculations as one wrong number can completely alter an experiment.
 * Striving for accuracy and precision**

I have never scored perfect on my unit tests even if I thought I did very well on the test. When we get our tests back, I look at some of the problems that I did not get and try to figure out what I did wrong. We have the chance to makeup our tests and I always use this to fully understand the material and improve my grades. Sometimes the problems can be very hard, however, I learned to not give up on anything even when the answers are not apparent. I take the time to work on questions that I got wrong on the test in order to fully understand each of the learning objectives. My actions are rewarded with getting full points on my test makeups therefore improving my grade significantly.
 * Persisting**