Goals
Just about everyone has goals, however, as an instuctor when it comes to the students I think that it is very important to make sure that they are given the essential tools needed to help them achieve their goals. Most students say that the the reason they decided to come to college is so that they can provide a better life for them and their family. If instructor's take the timeout to remember and keep in mind that they were once a student at some college with those same goals as the students they have in their classroom now, then maybe they would continue to work harder to help the student to be successful.
Diane,
I would propose a problem to them in relation to the course you teach. This problem could be set up the first or second class meeting. The answer to the problem would be the information/content that you are going to share in the first few class meetings. The key is to show them how they can accomplish a short germ goal by gaining new information in a short period of time. Then you build on that information base with additional content. This way they see how the parts become the whole which for them is graduation.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I find that students come into my entry-level classes with the goal of "graduating." At that point, they don't have short-term goals. Any thoughts on how to help students set short term goals instead of only focusing on the long term?
Helping students attain to their educational goals is one of my first priorities as an instructor. To do this, I do ensure that I follow the outlined syllabus and curriculum. I also developed a teaching strategic plan - where students are given opportunities to voice out their opinions and/or areas of concerns should they need additional coaching. In addition, I designated four hours one-on-one coaching skills for my students per week. This coaching period is an opportunity to review more course contents in full with my students; and, will enable my students to build good mastery skills on their weak course topic areas.
Hi Zita,
You make a good point about supporting student effort. These students need to know we care about them and their success. By encouraging them throughout the course phase they will be more prone to stay with the class and be successful.
Gary
It is also important that we continue to encourage our students throughout the term. Esp. when we've been made aware of adverse conditions outside of school.
It is necessary to provide students with the proper materials and curriculum to achieve their academic goals.
I agree. When I 1st start teaching I was then on the other side of the desk and I can rememeber how I was as a student. So when I teach I try to remember I was sitting right where my students are once.
As I stated in my post everyone has goes, however it is up to us as instrcutors to make sure that students are given the essential tools need in order for them to reach their goals.
Evelyn
Hi Georgie,
Very true. How do you establish goals for your classes that are reasonable and attainable?
Thanks for your input on this.
Gary
It is so important that students realize they have something to strive for and that would be the goals we help them set. If a student is having a bad week, I try to remind them of the total picture and the ultimate goal.
Hi Evelyn,
This is such an important and powerful point that it needs to be central to our instructional planning. We need to keep the reason for them being in our classes as we do our instructional planning.
Gary
STUDENT SHOULD HAVE REASONABLE AN ATTAINABLE GOALS
