- Cognition (learning from experiences)
I would say cognition is the most important skill in the Common Reading assignment. Learning from experiences is not only important in everyday life but also in learning and for the better of our world’s future. Even just reading Chapter 7 of What the Eyes Don’t See, the problems presented are extremely important. I did have some previous knowledge on the Flint Water Crisis but regardless it is very present to learn from these experiences, especially being in the middle of a pandemic, the topics at hand and are very relevant to prevent things like that in the future.
2. Ethical Responsibilities
This is also an extremely important skill to have. In the situation presented in the book, she described that health departments were not taking action to help with the crisis because of certain jurisdictions. Everyone has an ethical responsibility to their well being and for thee future. If these people conformed to their ethical duties then the crisis could have been cut short or prevented.
3. Empathy
I feel like empathy is a very important and hard skill to learn. I personally struggle with this. When Hanna- Attisha describes the children and their conditions due to the water they have been using, it pictures a very sad and helpless community. In order to feel just how bad the crisis is, you have to have empathy to see it through the children.
4. Engagement
You have to feel some type of engagement to the problem to be invested. This also leads me to curiosity.
5. Curiosity
In order to be curious, you must be engaged in the topic. If you are not engaged in something, you are not going to be curious about it. Curiosity isn’t always necessary for assignments and topics.
6. Openness
I feel like this isn’t as important a skill to have relating to the assignment. In life, this is definitely one of the more important skills to have. But I feel like when doing the assignment, there wasn’t a need to be open. The topic was very factual and not opinionated.
7. Creativity
I feel like this is also one of the lesser important skills to have. It isn’t necessary.
8. Obsession
This is also a very unnecessary skill to have when doing this assignment. This would be needed if you wanted to go beyond the assignment and would be optional. If you became “obsessed” with this story of crisis then you could dive deeper into it, but is not necessary.