Not only are goals and course objectives important but cannot always be just generic. Effort needs to be taken to tailor then to the class your dealing with thats why is so important to get that handle on your students.
Cleveland,
Clear goals and objectives are the guide posts for the course. They map out where the course is going to go and what is going to be learned in the process. Without them as you say there will be chaos and a high level of student frustration. There is no reason for this to occur with some good planning and preparation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Dr. Meers,
Clear goals and objectives help to guide the discussion, activities and lecture with clarity and focus. With clear goals and objectives, an agreement has been reached concerning what we plan to accomplish. This unifies class and connects the instructor with the students in that we are aware of our collective focus. Unclear goals and objectives lead to chaos because they leave too much room open for distraction which leads to boredom in some cases. I have also noticed that some students are frustrated and confused. I have experienced this in one of the classes that I taught.
Cleveland Sigh
Wendy,
Right you are. Clear and concise goals illustrate the sequence of objectives and everyone can see what is to be covered and accomplished.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Goals and objectives should go hand-in-hand. If the goal is to Start a car; need to ensure the objective(s) match the goal, by listing the steps to perform the function. Avoid confusion.
The student need to know what I expected from them and what they can expect from me. If I am clear and concise there will be little room for confusion.
It is important to have clear goals and objectives, because it puts the class in motion. It states clearly where you are going as a class. It doesn't leave room for surprises, as stated. This also allows for structure to take place in a classroom. It shows you have a road map, and know where you're going.
I like to explain to my students that the "Objectives" area is good if you ever want to summarize what we learned in the classroom/course. It's your measuring tool of whether or not you've obtained credit in that course.
Rosa,
You won't know when you have arrived if you don't know the destination. This is why clear goals and objectives are so important. Good point.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It is really important because it reduces confusion and frustration on both sides. If the students know exactly what to expect from the course/instructor they are better prepared and there are no surprises later.
