Goals
By setting goals for a student, this will give them the ability to achieve a higher standard.
Anthony,
Without a goal, how will anyone know when they have reached their destination?
Barry Westling
I think it also helps them to focus.
Robert,
You've made a valid philosophical point. In my institution, we have a whole hierarchy of "goals", that include (in ascending order) daily class objectives (DCL), course learning objectives (CLO's), program learning objectives (PLO's), and institutional learning objectives (ILO's). Course assessment questions (quizzes and tests) have to be aligned with the CLO's and be linked to a PLO. So, in one sense, the student is responsible. But in a more general sense, without objectives, there can be no standard to measure performance against.
Barry Westling
Not sure that we can set a student's goal. We can set goals for what we as an instructor want the students to learn or be able to do. We can guide them in:
- our objectives for the class;
- a timeframe (class length);
- work required to learn or accomplish;
- benefits that we see for the student (grade, knowledge;
but until the student actually identifies a benefit to themselves they don't take ownership of the goal. Until that time it is the teacher or the school, or in a work situation the boss' goal.
We can be a cheerleader, but we cannot force the ownership of a particular goal.
Andric,
Goals provide milestones for students to measure their progress towards a good and successful career in the wok setting.
Barry Westling
i think it is a good idea to set goals for a student or help them set a goal for there self to help them get to where they need to be or to finish a project for a grade or set a goal to help them through the situations or studys and it gives them the drive to move on with what they are working on
Candace,
One idea is to present the end product, then work backwards, elaborating on each step, until arriving at the beginning. Then, students can see what has to occur to reach their hoped for goals. This also helps keep the instructor and student aligned with the same goals and outcomes.
Barry Westling
I believe we all should have long and short term goals and should reevaluate those goals often. By giving the students goals in the classroom it breaks the elephant into bite sized pieces so they can take it in and feel a sense accomplishment with each step.
Nestor,
Of course we have the course learning goals for student emphasis. After a few weeks of class, I like to chat with students, give them an idea of where there at and perhaps, how they might improve, etc. This is a sort of goal setting time and students nearly always appreciate the gesture of time and interest in their success.
Barry Westling
I like to give goals to my students so that they have something to look forward and work at it and keep their enthusiasm going.
Steven,
Without a roadmap, how will the student know when they reached their destination (goal)?
Barry Westling
