Small pieces loosely joined

Analyzing the difference between tightly joined and loosely joined pieces while teaching a class. I find that even with a strict and defined direction governed by lesson plans, I find that I am always deviating from the rigidness of that plan.

I find that students govern where we go during the class. More often than not someone will ask a question about the subject at hand and inorder to answer that question I must wander into territory that I have not planned for.

Even if the content of the class is set and handed out before class, we do find ourselves in that wonderful world not planned for. Usually by the end of class we have completed the topic of the day and all those loose pieces are now joined tightly and we are ready for the next class.