- A
Goal Setting Model for Academic Success
Goal
Setting for Academic Success
-
- Goals
which measure academic success might
include:
-
an
increase in grade-point-average,
-
improvement
in note taking effectiveness, and/or
-
increased
usage of an effective study system.
- Improvement
requires clear behavioral goals, clear
outcomes and ways to monitor
self-management of goal-oriented behavior.
- Goals
must be well defined. A goal is well
defined when the following three criteria
are met.
-
A
goal can be stated as an outcome.
-
The
outcome can be specified as actions.
-
The
outcome can be numerically measured.
A
learner needs to master defining goals using all
three approaches.
The magnitude of improvement in academic and/or
personal behavioral goals is influenced by the
clarity
of goal statements. Use the following exercise
to stimulate thought about your academic and/or
personal behavioral goal(s).
Effective
Goal Setting for College Students
In
Which Areas Should I Set Goals?
Doing
well in college requires goals to be set in
multiple areas. Visualizing a circle that can be
partitioned into segments is one way to
subdivide your
daily and weekly activities. You may configure
or
develop goals for segments which represent
priorities
of
your daily and weekly life.
Goals
should be set which satisfy the following nine
areas:
1)
Goals which improve my problem
identification and problem
solving skills.
2) Goals
which help me allocate time to important
activities;
3) Goals
which help me understand the institutional
structure and rules of the University or
College;
4) Goals
which help me communicate and listen effectively
in class, academic and social situations;
5) Goals
which help me understand my
textbook and improve
my note taking skills;
6) Goals
which improve my test preparation and test
taking skills;
7) Goals
which help me control and/or reduce stress due
to University life and academic rigor;
8) Goals
which help me improve self-motivation and
determination; and,
9) Goals
which help me improve
my long term memory.
Developing
Self Determination and Motivation
A.
Evaluation of my reasons for attending
college.
* Are my reasons personally realistic?
* Are my reasons personally meaningful?
B.
Evaluation of
my occupational aptitude and interest.
* What occupational goals are most
suitable for me?
* What educational program is most
appropriate for me?
C.
The relationship between
my courses and my occupational plans.
* What knowledge and skills are required
for my chosen vocation?
* How will these courses help me acquire
the necessary training?
D.
Meeting people who share my educational
and occupational interest.
* Are there professional organizations
that I should join?
* Are there local group meetings that I
can attend?
E.
Seeking work experiences related to my
chosen occupation.
* Are opportunities for related volunteer
work available?
* Are appropriate part-time or summer
jobs available?
F.
Setting short-term educational goals for
myself.
* What grade do I wish to make in each
course?
* What must be done to earn the grade I
desire?
G.
Keeping a visual record of my progress in
each course.
* Am I making satisfactory grades on
assignments and tests?
* Which courses require additional effort
to achieve my goal?
H.
Developimg more efficient study skills.
* What are my how-to-study strengths and
weaknesses?
* Where can I get help in improving my
study skills?
Goal
Setting and Problem Definition: Modalities of
Behavior
(BASIC ID):
Setting
a goal in one area of your life may affect other
areas of your life. Arnold Lazerus (1976), a
noted educator, maintains that potentially seven
areas of a person's emotional, physical or
psychological life may be involved with a
specific goal. In setting a goal consider each
of the seven areas in relation to an established
goal(s).
1.
Behavior
What
things do you do or what habits do you have that
reduce your academic, social, or interpersonal
performance?
2.
Affect
These
are your emotional states. What feelings and
emotions do you have that are troublesome, that
you believe interfere with your performance?
3.
Sensation
These
are physical states - headaches, muscle tension
aches, etc. that affect your performance. What
physical reactions interfere with your
performance?
4.
Imagery
These are imaginative states - daydreams,
images, and the like - that are unpleasant and
hamper your performance. Do you have any?
5.
Cognition
These are your beliefs, values, thoughts, and
truths. Are there any that contradict your
academic and social goals?
6.
Interpersonal
These are your relationships with family and
friends, which can be helpful or detrimental
(supportive or unsupportive)
to your performance. Do you have any
relationships that are unsupportive?
7.
Drugs
This would reflect your physical and mental
health and the drugs and medicines you may take
to modify the state of your health.
If you are drowsy or high a large part of the
time, this would interfere with your
performance. Are drugs that interfere with your
performance?
Readiness
Exercise for Group Discussion: Self Awareness
Exercise About Achieving Goals Proficiently
Describe a
skill or activity that you perform well e.g.
playing the piano,roller skating, assembling
models, cooking, walking, jogging etc. Focus on
your attitudes and/or behaviors that helped you
become proficient and maintain your level of
skill. The goal is to heighten your awareness of
operational thinking, self-attributive
statements and actions required to maintain a
skill or behavior. Record your insights. You
will be discussing them later.
With you
group discuss the attitudes and strategies you
used to develop the skills or behaviors you
selected.
Self
Awareness Exercise: Achievement Through Goal
Setting
Section
A
Directions:
Rank the following study behaviors from most
important to least important. Write an action
plan describing how you would accomplish the top
10 from your list. Give attention to attitudinal
and behavioral actions.
1. Improve
Time Management
2. Improve
Self-Concept
3. Control
Interferences
4. Improve
Classroom Listening Skills
5. Improve
Reading Comprehension
6. Study
Regularly
7. Study
in a Quite Place
8. Use
Sources of Help
9. Learn
and Use University Rules and Regulations
10. Learn
to Balance Obligations
11. Keep
Commitments
12. Plan
Assignments in Advance
13. Use
an Effective Note Taking System
14. Review
at Least 3 Times Weekly
15. Take
Lecture and Textbook Notes
16.
Be Consistent
17. Say
No Often
18. Learn
to be an Independent Thinker
19. Participate
Actively in Class
20. Reduce
Nervous Tension During Test
21. Reduce
Drug and/or Alcohol Dependence
22. Use
an Effective Reading System
Section
B
1.
List the courses you are taking this
term. Project the grades you expect to obtain.
Write an action plan that includes use campus
resources, instructor resources and your study
plan. Be specific.
2.
My academic strengths are:
Share your
essays and strengths with a group of interested
others. Focus on realism and your need for
support. Goals will become evident. Set your
goals and grow. Study
Skills and Test Preparation
Test preparation,
avoiding procrastination, and time management
Last
Minute Study Tips
From The Fun Guide to Surviving College, here
are three great tips to help you if you left
your studying to the last minute. Try to
avoid the need to use these!
Making
Life Unforgettable
From CliffsNotes, methods and tricks to improve
your memory.
Preparing
for a Test
Steps you should take to prepare for a test,
including starting to study early, not missing
classes, and learning the important information.
From Shenandoah University.
Procrastination:
Ten Ways to "Do It Now"
From Virginia Tech, find out what causes
procrastination, what excuses you might be using
to avoid homework, and how to beat
procrastination.
Psych
Yourself for Studying
From Student.com, if you think you work best
with a fast approaching deadline, you'd better
read this.
Study
Habits and Test Anxiety
From the University at Buffalo, a thorough
checklist of study environments and preparation
tips, including a section on goal setting.
Studying
for Tests
From Infoplease.com, a selection of tips for
before, during, and after a test, to make taking
them a little easier.
Surviving
Test Day
From CliffsNotes, quick tips include being on
time, relaxing, and remembering to bring your
eraser.
Time
Management for High School Students
From Middle Tennessee State University,
suggestions to help students organize their
homework and study time better.
Study Tips on the 'NetWe've
searched the 'net and found some good study
materials. Let us know what you think of them
and be sure to tell us about any other great
sites that should be added to this page.
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