One can begin to implement the "Becoming A Brilliant Star" framework right away. Download the Brilliant Star graphic (pdf format) and assess yourself. The terms provided will help you identify where you are now in each dimension. A description of how I use this in a classroom setting (pdf format) is available.
After you have drawn and colored your star ask yourself the following questions:
• What does my star look like now?
• What would I like it to look like?
Decide where you are now and where you would like to be in each of these areas. Then select one or two areas for concentrated attention.
You might want to develop a vision statement and mission statement as part of a process to think about your priorities. In addition, Waitley (1996) advises imagining what your life would be like if time and money were not an object in your life. That is, what would you do this week, this month, next month, if you had all the money and time you needed and were secure that both would be available again next year. Write down 100 items that you would like to achieve during your lifetime.
Next, set some one year goals and some immediate goals and write them down. Take some action everyday as you work to complete your goals. Develop an affirmation statement that you can repeat daily to help you stay on track. Make a checklist, start a journal, dialogue regularly with a mentor, or do something similar to hold yourself accountable to achieving your goals. You might also start each day with a"Thought for the Day" exercise that will help you focus on the qualities necessary to become a Brilliant Star.
As we start a new century, there is wide-spread belief that we must alter the schooling and education of our children and youth (Huitt, 1999). A variety of educational programs have been developed to address the important concerns of vision, character, and competence. One problem with most educational programs is that they focus on only one goal (e.g., high academic test scores or character development) to the exclusion of other important desired outcomes (e.g., emotional stability or self-regulation). Additionally, the foundation of the majority of these programs has been based on a limited range of principles identified through philosophy or science. Unfortunately, many of these programs have been a disappointment to their founders. One reason may be that the programs were not founded on the best information provided through scientific investigation and research. However, another reason may be that the programs were founded ONLY on the principles of science. Fundamental truths offered by spiritual or religious teachings of the major world religions, philosophers, historical figures, authors, artists, or other important sources were perhaps ignored or not utilized. Since vision and morality are fundamental to all religious teachings, the omission of insights from religious scripture is likely significant. However, since science has discovered many principles related to learning and development that are not intuitively obvious (see Slavin, 2003), using only an alternative source such as religious scripture or philosophy and not using the scientific method to develop educational programs is equally difficult to justify.
The purpose of the materials at this site is to begin to remedy this deficiency. The materials are intended to be used to develop courses and programs of study that will allow the knowledge base developed through science (e.g., see the course materials for a graduate-level course in Educational Psychology), religion, philosophy, history, and the arts to guide the holistic development of the education and training of young people. A formulation of objectives that can be addressed in a PreK-12 environment has been developed to provide some initial structure for developing methods, materials, and evaluation of core elements and domains. As an example of how academics can be combined with the development of attributes in the other domains, a webpage is being developed that provides links to lesson plans focusing on both academics and moral character. A reading project is also under development that addresses how multiple academic objectives and Brilliant Star objectives can be simultaneously addressed in classroom learning activities.