Connecting the Dots

If you've visited my e-portfolio thetechchick.org you may have noticed a common thread across my pages: light.  To continue with that theme,  I would say the BHAG serves as the lighthouse for the course or program, acting as the guiding force for every lesson, activity, and project within its scope. As the program is being designed, the lighthouse, or BHAG, must be kept in sight in order to stay on course.   This will serve not only to give the program purpose and cohesion, but also to help the facilitation of connecting vs. collecting dots for the participants.  With a clear BHAG, and all facets of the program focused on that goal, making connections will come naturally.  Without a BHAG, classrooms work in a framework of 5-6 ‘objectives’ a day that may or may not have any connection between them, usually to satisfy state standards timelines or district assessment calendars.  By employing Fink’s taxonomy, teachers might be bucking the system of data collection and frustrating their administrators, but their students will benefit from the deeper learning that takes place.