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!

SpecificMeasurableAttainableRealisticTimely

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!