Setting goals is a significant step for improvement. Goals typically follow reflection, where you consider areas for growth based upon past experiences. One of the best goal-setting protocols, called SMART Goals, encourages you to develop goals that allow for maximum accountability, to hold yourself to what you decide to do. Once you've made a commitment SMART Goals provide you the critical information for knowing what you specifically expect to accomplish, how you'll know when success has been achieved, and the limitation of time for achieving the goal. Also the protocol asks the questions, Is this challenging? and Can you realistically do it?
Before you set a SMART Goal, you should take time to reflect to find something relevant that needs improvement. Below is a general reflective tool for considering where you are in relation to the Learner Profile attributes and the Approaches to Learning skills. Following the reflective tool is the full SMART Goal protocol with step-by-step instructions.
The IB Learner Profile
Approaches to Learning
What is one LP attribute or ATL skill trait that you are particularly proud of? Explain using a specific example.
What is one LP attribute or ATL skill that you would like to focus on for improvement? Explain using a specific example.
SMART Goal Setting
Write a SMART Goal statement that addresses the Learner Profile attribute or Approaches to Learning skill that you would like to focus on for improvement. Complete this Goal Statement at the first Student-Led Conference with the help of your parents and HR teacher. Use the table below to check that your goal is SMART.
How will you make sure you are making progress towards your goal?
How can your family members and homeroom advisor help you to achieve this goal?
Here is a practical example, starting with a typical, but not especially SMART, goal:
Here is a way to make it SMARTer:
But it's not SMART yet because it has no action plan or benchmarks. Here is a pretty SMART goal:
I will do better on my report card in the next marking period.
In the next marking period, I will get at least a C on all my math tests, and at least a B on most of my quizzes and homework assignments.
In the next marking period, I will take careful notes and review them at least two days before tests and quizzes so that I can ask the teacher questions about what I don't understand. I will do my math homework before I do things with friends, and when I hand it in, I will ask the teacher about anything I am not sure about. When I get anything wrong, I will make sure to ask the teacher, or one of my classmates how they got the right answer.
It's not easy to write SMART goals. A goal is an outcome, something that will make a difference as a result of achieving it. It can't be too ambitious to be out of reach, but also not so simple that it does not challenge. A goal has to be realistic with a stretch, requiring effort and focus to achieve it. That's why goals need timeframes and measurable action steps along the way so that we can keep track of progress and make adjustments as necessary.
Elias, Maurice. "SMART Goal Setting With Your Students." Edutopia. Edutopia, 27 Aug. 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2015. <http://www.edutopia.org/blog/smart-goal-setting-with-students-maurice-elias>.
Medina, Jane. Semester One Reflection and Goal Setting. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Word.