Having clear Goals and objectives enables me to communicate more accurate with the class and enable me to be able to evalauate myself
NaKeta,
Thank you for sharing your story with us. You have reinforced the value of having clear and concise goals and objectives for your students to review and understand.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Jelitza,
All good points about clear goals and objectives. They are a must if students are going to know what the expectations and requirements of the course are and how to be successful in the course.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Having clear goals and objectives take a lot of pressure off of the instructor. As a new instructor, I have experienced not having precise goals and objectives. This brought a lot of unncessary confusion with students not having realistic expectations of the class. So needless to say, I now define the expectations beforehand so no one is in question.
Developing clear goals and objectives will allow the students to see what they are expected to learn and be able to perform at the end of the course. It also serves as a study guide for students and a checklist for instructors to ensure that all objectives were met during the lesson and the course.
Harold,
Good point and one that is critical in instructional planning. This is how everyone gets on the same page which results in the establishment of an effective learning community.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Developing Clear Goals and Objectives help the facilitator & students visualize what is best for them, also clear goals keep students focus and interested in the lesson.
Misty,
Good point about how we must offer our students clear goals and objectives. They need to know where the course is going and how they can be successful within the course. If we don't they will be drifting just as you mention.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Ive also noticed in my classes that if the student dont have a clear objective or directive they often will not do the work. They dont ask or clarity they just set it down and walk away, because with confusion comes lack of passion. If a student has no passion or want to complete tasks they often wont. If they dont want to complete an assignment they will take up any reason not to do it all. Also confusion with the instructions makes it easy for students to remove them selves from the active learning process.
William,
If this is not done at the beginning of the course then both the instructor and the students will be wondering exactly where the course is going. They need to be on the same page.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
So that both the students and instructor know hwat is expected of them in the weeks to come.
Maria,
Clear goals are essential if students are going to stay focused for the entire course. Everyone needs to be on the same page and going in the same direction if the same destination is going to be achieved.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Having clear goals for the Instructor and student allows the course and class to progress easier, with the ability to understand what is expected of the student and what the student is expecting from the instructor.
Kayla,
I ask my students right away because their responses give me an idea of how realistic their aspirations are as well as any misperceptions they may have about the field. Gives me a great starting point upon which to build my instructional content and delivery.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As well as goals for the course, at what point should I ask my students their career goals for the field that they are in? Is that something we could discuss right away or once they have learned more about their field of study?
Sharon,
Right you are in relation to clear and concise goals and objectives. Without them the class will be adrift and students will be frustrated since they won't know what they expectations are.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is vital to have clear goals and objectives for your course as that is what a student should gain from taking the class. The more precise and specific they are, the greater the chance that one has to identify, understand, move toward and then achieve.
Megan,
The goals and objectives are the rails upon which the courses glides. By making sure they are clear and concise the students will see what they are going to learn and then know when they have covered the content within the goals and objectives.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an instructor, it is important to have clear goals and objectives for a course in order to stay on track, teach everything that needs to be taught, and make sure the students are understanding and learning the content. While it is very easy to get tangental and lose focus, if the instructor has clear goals and objectives firmly stated in the course outline and/or lesson plan, he/she can reference that to get right back on track so that the students get the knowledge and skills they need to be successful.
Alfonso,
Good comments about the value of having clear goals and objectives as well as good planning. This sets the stage for learning success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
