It is important for students to have clear goals and objectives.I once was a college student myself and if any thing was out of order it just made the course more difficult. Everything that an instructor presents needs to be clear and precise so there is a clear understanding for all students.
In that way everyone involved in the educational process is aware of the course expectations and how the validity of the process will be measured
It is important to have clear goals and objectives, because it is your road map to getting your students to understand the content and the importance of the information you are presenting. It is also important because it allows you to stay on point and have structure within your class setting. Clear objectives and goals are set so there is no misundertanding amongst students and allows you to be obective in your scoring technique.
I think that you mean WHY is it important to have clear goals and objectives for a course...right?
This is vital because learners want to know why they are taking the class, what they will learn that will help them in their professional lives by putting what they learn into practice. For my online adult learners, I highlight, reiterate and repeat course goals so my students can see clearly where they have been, how they have attained to where they now are and the next steps to where they are going. One of my students is doing coursework to earn his associates and is not a skilled writer. I helped him identify a goal to communicate more effectively through the written word, because his professional goal is to become a medical coder, necessitating communications with physicians and insurance companies. As a direct result of outlining goals and showing him specifics using his own writing samples, he is improving dramatically in his writing skill level.
Clear, concise goals with a road map to objectives. This is working well in my online class.
Having clear goals and objectives will help students have a good idea of what is expected of them from the start.It will also help eliminate any confusion that a student may have.
You must have clear goals. Without clear goals you will lose the interests of the students. I try to have a clear goal and objectives to keep the student engaged. This helps the students learn.
Both professor and student needs to know upfront what the content of the class will be and what they will be able to do at the end of the class. It is important that these be simple and clear so there is no misunderstanding between professor and student.
Hi Gary,
Good point about making your expectations clear. The key word is "listening" which sometimes students forget to do. So we keep reminding them over and over again and they eventually get it and find out that as a result of listening they know what is going on. Surprise!
Gary
I make sure to tell my students - during the first week of Live Chats - what is to be expected and how I grade assignments. As long as they listen or listen to the recorded session, they usually do well.
It is always important to have clear goals because a confused student is an annoyed, unmotivated student. The clearer I am the easier the class, the smoother the lectures and class time is better spent on discussion and activities instead of rehashing what should have already been laid out.
Clear goals and objectives not only help the instructor stay on task, but they also help give the students a sense of what they can expect and what is expected of them.
It is important to state data clearly. Keep statements simple but with well defined information, utilizing proper gramar/sentence formation with professionally appropriate terms. Include the four key compenents in writing the objectives: Audience, Behavior, Condition, and Degree.
Goals and objectives provide students with concrete learning outcomes. Students can start with the end in mind and think / act intentionally about achieving the course learning objectives. Goals and objectives help to inform and shape the learning choices students make (ie amount of study time, when to seek extra help, etc.)and thus students are more likely to know how to take an active part in shaping their educational experience.
Hi Tisha,
You make a good point about how clear goals and objectives can benefit both the students and the instructor. They give accountability and structure to what is going on in the class.
Gary
Hi Barbara,
You are right. There has to be structure to instruction or much of the effectiveness of it will be lost. I like your example because nothing is worse than setting through a class and finding out you never did hear "the fat lady sing". Somehow in the confusion of poor planning the key points of the class were lost.
Gary
Having clear goals and objecties allows the students to focus on their learning and not have to continually worry if they are going to learn enough to pass the class. They can use the goals/objectives to reassure themselves that they are on the right path.
You can't chart a course if you don't know where you are going. A course is the same way.
Gives students an idea of what they will learn during the course and provides a tool for the instructor to measure how the students are progressing throughout the course.
In having clear goals and objectives it lays out what students will learn and what is expected. While it eases the students fears, it also helps the instructor to remain on task and gather the necessary materials that will enhance the ability of student's to learn the objectives.
I agree, and to revisit them throughout the course.
