Joyce,
Very good point. Clear and concise communication reduces student frustration and keeps the class forward focused. This way they know what assignments are due and when so they don't spend their time wondering but instead spend it working.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is very important because it is a clear communication tool between me & my students, making sure we're on the same page on what they can expect from the course & what is expected from them.
In planning a course, it is important not only to establish goals and objectives but also to distinguish between instructional goals and objectives. Instructional goals are general statements of the overall purpose of a course and they may be broad directions and may not be easily measurable. Instructional objectives describe what the student will be able to do after completing a unit of instruction. They define specific, measurable outcomes like skills, knowledge or attitudes.
To have clear goals and objectives means you have a plan. The students know what to expect, and you are prepared. This will help with Time Management and the overall flow of your course. Students must know what outcomes they can expect when taking the course, and to share these goals and objectives upfront will give them that expectation.
Its important to have clear goals and objectives for our course to become and be successful.
Christopher,
It is essential that you have clear goals and objectives identified for your students. If not there is going to be a lot of frustration as you know. Good approach in terms of keeping them informed.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important so that you have directional indicators of where the course will be going. also, so students know what they should be able to do in order to be successful.
I believe that clear goals and objectives are the only way to handle any situation that you need to master or get a handle on. To muddle along not knowing if you are nearing your destination nor having any markers that let you know if you are making progress is a ludicrous endeavor. It is imperative to know what you need to accomplish on a daily, weekly and per session and term periods. Without this knowledge, you are pretty much like the blind leading the blind. From what I have learned so far in this course, it encourages me to review all course goals and objectives to ensure that they are in perspective with the rest of the curriculum.
Cory,
By providing support and encouragement you will help your students to settled into the course and feel that they can be successful. This forms the foundation for the development of respect and rapport.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
students in general are insecure about your course until YOU make them feel secure. They want to know what they are going to learn, and how they are going to be assessed on their learning.
Rick,
Goals are the overall directional indicators of where the course is going to go. The objectives are specific to the content that will be delivered and competencies that will be achieved.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
Writing goals and objectives help us as instructors to stay on task, and have a clear cut plan in what we need to accomplish during the term of the course. It provides a means to which I can better prepare in my delivery of material and what I need to do in order to meet the students needs.
If we don't have clear goals and objectives how can we measure whether we have succesfully taught the student what it is we want him/her to learn.
We organize our objectives and then observe if the student can successfully execute the operations. Whether they are math skills or machining operations.
I have a syllabus that is broken down into the 3 major learning areas of my module. Mathmatics, Blueprint Reading and Machining Fundamentals.
Within each of these categories are specific skills that we intend to teach them as well as the chapters in the textbooks that discuss these specific skills.
One area that is difficult for me is to clarify the difference between goals and objectives.
I see the phrase "demonstrate a level of competencty" used as our goal before we list the specific skills (objectives) in each of the three areas of study.
So that students have a guide within the classroom to lead them. If they don't know what their purpose is, it makes it more difficult to learn and understand the concepts within the course.
Vincent,
Yes, it is. This way they won't become frustrated because they don't know what the expectations are for the class.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important that my students know the direction the class is headed. The obstacles they must overcome and the path we are taking them to get there.
Important in order to focus/facilitate learning. What you need the students to know and so can measure that success. Also, keeps the teacher on track -- feedback and reflection on the teaching process for these particular goals/objectives.
Steven,
Clear and concise goals and objectives are the road maps that students follow to achieve the needed knowledge and competencies.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
It is important to have clear goals and objectives for your course to provide a road map for the students to follow. Setting the expectations from the very begining is very important.
Eric,
I like the example you site in terms of how a lesson plan should work along with the goals and objectives.
Gary
Dr. Gary Meers
