Setting goals

Did you begin your goal correctly?

Write only: My goal is to...

Stop beating around the proverbial bush. Cut to the proverbial chase. Be direct.

Why is setting goals so important?

For years, teachers have tried setting SMART goals: specific-measurable-attainable-reasonable-time sensitive goals. If you want to achieve something specific, you need to set specific goals. If you want to be rich, you can't expect much success when you simply state that your goal is to get rich. How will you begin to amass wealth? What plans do you have to reach that wealth? What does "rich" mean to you? How will reasonably achieve that goal? If you state that you want to reach the State Championship, you are putting the cart before the horse. How are you, one member of a team, going to focus on your position, your role, in aiding to a team's win? Again, specific-measurable-attainable-reasonable-time sensitive goals.

You probably understand the basic corollary between that example and your goals for CAS. You need to be specific so that you will know when you have attained your goal. You need to be reasonable so that you are setting yourself up for success rather than the vague outcomes that come from vague goals. You need to think about the time frame so that you can plan effectively. Goals are important because you are important and your success is important. The more vague you are, the more vague your outcomes are. And, dare I say, so are you. Don't be vague. Be SMART. Ha! I crack myself up. Check out the following article to find out how to make your goals more manageable.

• "Experts Swear By This Easy Method to Make Challenging Goals Way Less Overwhelming" from ApartmentTherapy.com

How do i set Strong goals?

Counterintuitively, try to stay away from the specific language of the Learning Outcomes. Refrain from repeating the same language so that you can be even more specific. When you repeat that language, many of your goals are derivative or even vague: My goal is to be healthy. My goal is to commit to the season. My goal is to collaborate. Of course you are going to collaborate when your chosen Learning Outcome is Collaborative Skills. You must still tie your goals to the specific Learning Outcomes that you have identified. 

How can you demonstrate that you met these Learning Outcomes? What substantiation, objective or subjective, can you offer in your reflections that helps me to understand your growth? However, think about the specific skills within that Learning Outcomes, e.g. Collaborative skills: interpersonal skills, active listening, balancing different viewpoints, engaging others, seeking and using feedback, etc. You can find more example for each Learning Outcomes under the subpages linked above.

You want to clearly define how your ideas for the “Description of CAS Experience and Goals” connect to the goals portion of your description. You may need to revisit your description and add to it. You may need to sit down and think. Whatever you do, if you start with stronger goals, you will often see better reflections and a different type of success.

What you can use are the bullet points under each of the Learning Outcomes that IB offers. Revise them and add to them to refine goals specific to your experiences. Here is an example from the strength and growth Learning Outcome.

The student:

• is aware of own strengths and weaknesses;

• is open to improvement and growth opportunities;

• is able to propose experiences according to own interests and talents;

• is willing to participate in different experiences;

• is able to undertake a thoughtful self-evaluation;

• is able to see themselves as individuals with various abilities and skills, some more developed than others.

When do i set goals?

Ideally, you set your goals before you begin an experience. I imagine that you began your experience with some goals in mind. If your experience already ended, you will have to think back to what your mindset was before you began the experience or determine how you developed goals over the course of that experience. 

Example from ManageBac

resources for setting goals

• "SMART Goal-Setting Worksheet"

• "20 Exceptional Tips for Setting and Achieving Smart Goals"