Good Start to the Semester Setting Smart Goals Jennifer Beattie Tri-County Technical College

Outcomes  What do you hope to gain from this experience?  What do you want to walk away with?  What do you hope to learn?

Experiences  What would you like to do while you’re here?  What do you hope to experience?

Be SMART!  Specific  Measurable  Attainable  Realistic  Timely

Specific  Who is involved?  What do I want to accomplish?  Identify a location  Establish a time frame  Identify requirements and constraints  Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of reaching the outcome.

Measurable Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each desired outcome.  How much?  How many?  How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable & Realistic  Can this outcome be achieved?  Is it related to something likely to be covered?  Is it too big? Too much to expect?

Timely When do you expect to attain this desired outcome?  By the end of the semester?  After a specific chapter in a specific class?  After a specific day?

Examples  Not SMART Outcome: I want to learn about time management  SMART Outcome: At the end of the semester, I would like to have learned at least 3 new strategies for managing my time more effectively, so I can be a successful college student.

Examples: Experiences  Not SMART experience: I want to talk to people about how they deal with stress.  SMART experience: By midterm, I will talk to at least three classmates about how they deal with the stress of attending college full time while working, so I can try applying some new techniques to help keep me from being overwhelmed.

Your turn!  Take the focus questions you started this class with—your vague goals, and make them SMART!