Now that we are in the higher learning levels of the Affective Domain, it is even more essential we move through the critical thinking process.  Once valuing has been achieve, organization must take place.  Without organization, valuing can promote stress instead of a positive result.  Organization involves prioritizing those items that are meaningful in our lives.  How many times do we feel that we have a multitude of tasks that all must be done first?  When that occurs the resulting stress can be debilitating.  

I can think of no better way to explain organization than the following anecdote:

Philosophy 101 Revisited
    A professor stood before his Philosophy 101 class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.  

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open  areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He then asked once more if  the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - - yes.

The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour the entire contents into the jar effectively  filling the empty space between the sand.  The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to  recognize that this jar represents your life.  The golf balls are the  important things - -your family, your partner, your health, your children, your friends, your favorite passions - - things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still  be full.  The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.  The sand is everything else - - the small stuff.  

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life.  If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.  Take time to get medical checkups.  Take your partner out dancing. Play another 18. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal."   

"Take care of the golf balls first - - the things that really matter.  Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers!!
 

Here are two examples of Organization Objectives:

Objective [Related to cognitive domain]:  

By the end of this lesson given information on good listening techniques and the importance of oral hygiene, students will explain how good oral hygiene can be implemented into their own personal routine daily.

Assessment Tool:

Students will explain how good oral hygiene can be implemented into their own personal routine daily.

Objective [Related to psychomotor domain]: 
 

By the end of this lesson given information on the value of participating in an on-line discussion on distance learning, students will prioritize tasks to allow participation in an on-line discussion daily.

Assessment Tool:

Prioritize your tasks to allow participation in an on-line discussion daily.

Comments: 

Until we reach the level of organization, our life and its demands manage us, usually to our detriment.  One we reach organization, we begin to manage our lives.  This is a lesson most of us need to learn, relearn, and learn again.

Other Activities: