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Student Resources

Setting Learning Goals

You learn most successfully when you set well-defined learning goals. Goals provide direction and energy; and if you know your goal, you can manage any setbacks and interruptions on the way to reaching them. Most importantly, review your goals aften to stay on track.

Goals that Lead to Success

The goals you set should be positive, realistic, measurable, and clear. Make sure that you write your goal down and set a deadline!

Let’s have a closer look at an example. Goal: “I will study Unit 1 of my class, Introductory Psychology, for two hours on Saturday, and I will take the practice test for Unit 1 online and get automated-feedback on my achievements.” This goal is:

  • Positive because you express what you want in terms of achievement, using a word like “will” instead of “want,” and you don’t use negations, such as “I don’t want to be late with reading study Unit 1.”
  • Realistic because you will be able to reach that goal by sitting down at your desk for two hours with materials ready for studying.
  • Measurable because you can watch the time, two hours, and you get feedback on your achievements in the study test.
  • Clear because you have detailed information on the time, the unit to cover, and the feedback from the test.

Goal Setting and Following Through

Let’s go through the process with course-related goals.

  • Formulate your main learning goal. First, come up with your main course goal, such as “I will learn and thoroughly understand all major concepts presented in my course.”
  • Set sub goals. To achieve your main goal, you need to have a look through the course syllabus and at the course learning objectives in particular. Draw on them to formulate your sub goals. For example, list completing all the unit readings and other readings as sub goals. Sub goals are more task-oriented. Sub goals should also be positive, realistic, measurable, and clear.
  • Write down your goal and set a deadline. It helps to have a contract with yourself to commit fully to reaching your goals. Set deadlines for your single tasks, such as “I will read Unit 1 before Monday.”
  • Monitor your progress towards your goals. It feels good when you notice your progress towards goal completion. Stay motivated and on task by penciling off your sub goals when you have achieved them. Also, reward yourself after finishing tasks or assignments; for example, by going to watch a movie.

UNCG’s Learning Assistance Center offer further information on goals at http://success.uncg.edu/lac/.