1. Becoming A Brilliant Star
William G. Huitt, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology & Counseling
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, GA
October 1999

2. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Much discussion in education and psychology about the need to prepare young people for the 21st century.
But what exactly does that mean?

3. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The SCANS report (1991) described the necessary skills for the workforce.
The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills. (1991). What work requires of schools: A SCANS report for America Washington DC: U.S. Department of Labor.
Huitt, W. (1997). The SCANS report revisited. Paper delivered at the Fifth Annual Gulf South Business and Vocational Education Conference, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, April 18.
My critique expanded those skills based on the writings of futurists and behavioral scientists (Huitt, 1997).

4. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The concept of "Becoming a Brilliant Star" is an attempt to combine these ideas as a guide to developing home- and school-based educational curricula for parents, educators, and others responsible for developing the qualities of children and youth.

5. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The Brilliant Star approach focuses attention on three critical issues facing young people today:
Dreams and goals of what is possible and desirable to do
Vision

6. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The Brilliant Star approach focuses attention on three critical issues facing young people today:
The habits or patterns of thinking, feeling, willing, and behaving that relate to right and wrong, to justice and equity, and to morality
Character

7. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The Brilliant Star approach focuses attention on three critical issues facing young people today:
The knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills that link to successful performance
Competence

8. Becoming A Brilliant Star
All three issues are intertwined and difficult to isolate, although our experience suggests these can be observed separately in people.

9. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The Brilliant Star is comprised of nine domains..

10. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Five are in essence more internal:
Soul
Connection with the divine
Spirit
Purpose of life

11. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Five are in essence more internal:
Physical
Body
Relation to nature

12. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The internal focus also includes three faculties of mind traditionally identified in psychology:
Thinking
Cognition
Reasoning
Intelligence

13. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The internal focus also includes three faculties of mind traditionally identified in psychology:
Emotions
Affect
Values

14. Becoming A Brilliant Star
The internal focus also includes three faculties of mind traditionally identified in psychology:
Will
Conation
Volition

15. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Four of the domains are in essence more external:
Mate selection
Family
Spousal relationships
Parenting

16. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Four of the domains are in essence more external:
Training
Work and Career
Job
Entrepreneurship

17. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Four of the domains are in essence more external:
Definition of true wealth
Wealth and Finances
Material wealth
Stewardship

18. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Four of the domains are in essence more external:
Human relationships
Social
Peace
Regional, national, and global governance

19. It is in these nine domains that one is expected to develop competence.

20. Character (one’s morality and ethics) and personal style (one’s dispositions, preferences, and habits) are central to development and are shown in the middle of the star.

21. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Character education is one of the factors that Haynes and Chalker (1997) identified as a component of a “world-class” educational system.
Haynes, R., & Chalker, D. (1997, May) World-class schools: What does it mean to be "world class"? And how close are U.S. schools to getting there? American School Board Journal.

22. Becoming A Brilliant Star
Vision relates to all of these domains in that one's ideas about possibilities and desires leads one to set goals and strive for excellence in each area.

23. Becoming A Brilliant Star
A fundamental principle guides the development of the Brilliant Star concept:
W.Y.M.I.W.Y.G -- What You Measure Is What You Get (Hummel & Huitt, 1995)
Hummel, J., & Huitt, W. (1994, February). What you measure is what you get. GaASCD Newsletter: The Reporter,
Any construct or domain that is not consistently attended to through measurement and evaluation will decline in importance

27. Summary
A variety of educational programs have been developed to address the important concerns of vision, character, and competence.
The foundation of the majority of these programs has been based on principles identified through philosophy or science.

28. Summary
A variety of educational programs have been developed to address the important concerns of vision, character, and competence.
In addition, most programs have focused on one aspect or domain (e.g., academic achievement or self-esteem or character).

29. Summary
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.

30. Summary
Unfortunately, many of these programs have been a disappointment to their founders.
However, another reason may be that the programs were founded ONLY on the principles of science.

31. Summary
Unfortunately, many of these programs have been a disappointment to their founders.
Fundamental truths offered by spiritual or religious teachings of the major world religions were not utilized.

32. Summary
Unfortunately, many of these programs have been a disappointment to their founders.
Since vision and morality are fundamental to all religious teachings, the omission of religious scripture may be significant.

33. On the website links are provided to materials from both science and religion.

34. Summary The Global Education program addresses these issues:
Four key building blocks
Twelve governing principles
Curriculum materials

35. The End