Setting Goals – An Overview

Elements of the goal-setting process

• Identify short- and long-term goals.
• Break goals into smaller pieces and be as specific as possible.
• Determine steps to achieve each goal.
• Determine which goals are most important to work on first.
• Record the goals in a learning plan.
• Develop a timetable for accomplishing each goal.
• Determine how you will know when you have reached a goal.
• Every time you reach a goal, celebrate in a way that is meaningful for the learner.
• Review the learning plan regularly and revise it as necessary.

Some tips for setting goals

• Include your learner in the planning process.
• Ask your learner what he hopes to accomplish.
• Establish realistic time frames for achieving the goal.
• Use one of the questionnaires to help determine the learners’ goals.
• Find your learners’ strengths.
  • Idea: You could ask your learner to name three things he is good at.
• Beginning learners have difficulty stating goals. You may need to find out
  • more about your learner
  • what is happening in his life
  • if the learner knows what a goal is
• The first goal could even be to focus on learning how to learn.

Review the goals often because they can change.

Remember that the reason to set goals is to

• help your learner to realize he is making progress
• help you determine what progress he has made
• help you and your learner know what to work on

Handout 4.6