LMS & GOAL SETTING

What are goals

Goals are the ends towards which we direct our effort .

In other words , goals are things we want to achieve , things we aim for as we pursue a certain course of action .

You can improve your academic performance in college by learning to set goals that motivate you to do well and also increase your chance for success .

Characteristics of goals

To be both useful and motivating , the goals you set must have some important characteristics .

Self – Chosen

Goals that are set by your parents , teachers or friends may not always work for you.

You need to determine or choose your own goals .

You need to decide what you want to accomplish . if you set your own goals , you will be more motivated to achieved them .

Positive

Negative goal statement tend to make you feel that you can’t really be successful ; they aren’t motivating .

Example : “ I don’t want to get any lower than a C in any of my classes ” , “ I won’t go to dinner until I get this calculus work done ” .

You will always do better if you are working toward something when you have a positive attitude .

Avoid using words try , think and hope when you describe your goals .

Finite

Goals need to have a limited time frame .

Example : If a paper is due by Friday , you need to have it done by Friday . However , you might decide to have the paper done by Wednesday so that you can prepare for your big Biology exam on Friday .

It is important to set deadlines for all of your goals .

Specific

The more specific your goals are , the more motivated you will be to achieve them .

Example : Getting a B in College Algebra is a specific goal , while getting a “ good grade ” in College Algebra is not .

Measurable

A goal is measurable if you can determine whether you reached it .

It would be difficult to determine whether you achieved your goal if you just wanted to “ do well in course ” .

It would be much easier to measure your success if you had aimed for an A or a B .

Realistic

Think about whether your goals are attainable .

Example : It would be unrealistic to expect to get a B or better in Calculus if your math background is very weak and your high school grades in math were never higher than a C .

To set realistic goals , you must carefully evaluate your chances of achieving each goal .

Moderately challenging

One way to set moderately challenging goals is to consider what you have done in the past .

Goals can always be revised , if you discover you can achieve more than you originally set out to accomplish .

Long and short - term goals·
       

Long – term goals are the objectives you set for yourself for the end of the year , for four or five years from now or even for a lifetime .

Short – term goals can be set for an hour from now , for the end of the day , week , month or term

Example : Short – term goals include things like completing a reading assignment , writing an essay , getting a B in a course , getting of probation or making the Dean’s List .

Think of your short – term goals as steps towards achieving the long – term goals you have set for yourself .

10 tips to get off to the right start this semester .

·         Be selective in choosing classes .

·         Go to all classes and take notes .

·         Keep up with your reading assignments .

·         Learn to say no .

·         Create a good study environment .

·         Set realistic grade goals .

·         Study for exams by writing and reciting out loud .

·         Learn to predict exam questions .

·         When taking exams , relax and be sure read the directions .

·         Go to your college learning center when you need help .