Hi Bianca,
You are correct. No matter how well you present the course goals and objectives the first time the students will need to be reminded of them over and over. This is due to the need to focus on the goals and objectives change as the course progresses and the students see the value of the material they are learning.
Gary
As mentioned by others having clear goals and objectives should be importnant in giving the students a sense of direction. However, I find that many students don't pay attention to written or verbally given goals during early parts of the course. As a result they end up feeling like they have no direction or they don't understand why the course is important. I therefore have come to the conclusion that the students needs to have the goals presented to them multiple times during the course.
Hi Martha,
It also helps to reduce student stress. They know what the expectations, requirements and polices are of the course. They then can determine how they will best fit within the course structure and your teaching style.
Gary
The reason why I think its important to have clear goals and objectives is to give the students an idea of what they are going to learn in my class.
Clear goals eliminate confusion for the students and shows them where they are going, what they will experience in the learning process. The objectives show students specifically what they have to learn & what they will do that will help them learn. It gives them structure and direction for the class.
Without clearly stated goals and objectives, students may misinterpret project requirements or even miss deadlines for assignments, which leads to frustration and time lost for students and the instructor.
As a result, the opportunity for a deeper understanding of what is being taught gets forfeited in the process.
Hi Germain,
What have you found to be the most effective ways of getting across the expectations of your courses?
Gary
I agree that the instructor should be clear on the goal of the course
So the students know what to expect in the course taught
I think it is important to have clear goals and objectives so that students have a clear idea about what is expected of them and expected of the instructor.
Hi Russell,
Good point. Having been an instructor for many years I know as do you that with clear and concise goals the class flows much better. The students know the expectations and deadlines so the can work toward meeting them. Reduces misunderstandings and frustration.
Gary
If you have clear and concise goals the chances of obtaining them are more likely and well as staying on the course to meet or exceed the objectives. If as an instructor you have clear goals you can expect the students to understand the importance of setting goals for themselves.
Clear goals and objectives provide a framework to lead both the students and instructor to the outcomes of the course. They give you structure - direction - and purpose.
Establishing clear goals and objectives allows the instructor to design appropriate and valuable lessons. Knowing what the learning goal and objective is allows the instructor to design lessons that having depth, value and purpose. Students learn best when they believe that what they are learning has merit and will help them to achieve their career goals.
Do you mean why is it important? With clear goals and objectives last minute suprises are avoided. Suprises like which homework is due when or what tools are required for a certain day's production.
Hi Michelle,
You are right on target with your comment about needing to be clear with your explanations of the course requirements. By doing so you are going to greatly reduce your frustration later on when you are faced with students saying they don't understand what is required of them.
Gary
The least amount of confusion the better! Students will try to find every way to prove they don't understand the objectives for various reasons. So, the better explained your goals and objectives are the less time you spend going over them and the more time you have to help the student develop those objectives and fulfilling his/her goals.
Clear goals enables the students to have an understanding of what the course offers. The student will be able to envision the end of result of the knowledge that will be gain by the end of the class. It is also important to break the objectives into smaller bites, daily or weekly to allow the students to digest the information that will be learned. Goals are a roadmap to the future and will allow the students to be more successful when communicated effectively.
I try to remember my experiences in college when I didn't have clear expectations and goals, or even a clear syllabus. It creates a lot of confusion, frustration, and anxiety for the student and, as I know now, the instructor. Creating clear goals and objectives gives me a path to follow in the course and the students a clear view of what is expected of them throughout it.
