Making Connections that Count (EDLD 5313)

As I have mentioned in previous post, I struggled with developing my BHAG and still do not believe I am set on it. However, as my understanding of the BHAG has grown, I feel that I am learning the value that it can play in a course. As a mathematics teacher, my courses are very content driven and unfortunately as I move into higher level concepts, not all of them have a ton of real life application. With that said, it is important that I can put my students in a position where they can make connections between the content and their future/present/past.

Creating a well-developed BHAG provides direction for both the learning facilitator and the learners. I created my UbD and my 3-Column Table in my Honors Algebra 2 setting, where I consistently challenge my students to discover, think critically, and problem solve. This is how we learn in my room, and when I say we, I am the referencing the collaborative process that both my students and I take part in. I struggle to pinpoint myself as an independent or dependent learner as I think I vary so often. There are times when I need to individually convince myself on a topic, however, having conversations and meaningful discussions with peers only increases my comprehension of whatever the topic at hand may be. Hearing varying viewpoints that both align and differ with my own is where learning reaches the next level.