“Broadly defined, goal setting is the process of establishing a direction for learning. It is a skill that successful people have and have mastered to help them realize both short-term and long-term desires.” Classroom Instruction that Works Marzano, Pickering, and Pollack, 2001
“When anyone is trying to learn, feedback about the effort has three elements: recognition of the desired goal, evidence about the present position, and some understanding of a way to close the gap between the two. All three must be understood to some degree by anyone before he or she can take action to improve learning."Inside the Black Box: Raising Standard Through Classroom Assessment Black and William 1998
“Given clear requirements for success, students are better able to gauge the appropriateness of their own preparation and thus gain control over their own academic well-being. Students who feel in control of their own chances for success are more likely to care and to strive for excellence.” Student-Involved Assessment for Learning Richard Stiggins, 2005
“When we sense that our actions bring meaningful results, we have greater incentive to perform those actions.” The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Covey, 1990
Keywords: goal setting, student involement in assessment
Comments
Sarah,
Thank you for the synopsis on helping students set goals. I do this EVERY quarter. Does it help? I'd like to think that it helps those who care. I had a student miss his goal of getting perfect attendance because he was just a few minutes late to class. He vowed to be there every day this quarter. He did not make his goal, but he was driven for a few weeks! I write and post four or five personal goals on a big poster in my room at the beginning of each school year. Seeing them everyday helps keep me on track.
Beth