Goals vs. Wishes

Tuesday night Zach and Karen did a great job presenting the topic of goal-setting. They opened up the night with the quote "a goal not written down is only a wish." It's so true. I make goals for myself all the time but I find if I don't write it down for myself to see or at the very least tell someone about it who can hold me accountable to it, it's really easy to forget about it and have it not happen.

Tuesday night in class Zach and Karen did a great job of introducing the topic of goal-setting. In the chapter it laid out two forms of goal-setting techniques. The SMART goal probably most of us have heard of or done before. They are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-limited. To me, these goals are more short-term, very specific. They don't allow for a lot of leeway because they spell out exactly what needs to happen when and why.

The second goal-setting method is the Four M's. This includes motivation, make comments, modify environment, and monitor actions. To me, a goal in this setting would be more suited to long-term goals. It's basically a map to get to the ultimate end point and SMART goals can be made inside each step of the way through the process.

In class we were to make our own goals for our next year in the Hixson program, our college education, and our lives after college. I chose to use the SMART goal technique to make all of mine for the fact that it's a little easier to lay out. For this next year I want to learn the names of the students in my section withing 2 weeks and the names of the students in our sister section as well as at least 20 other students in the large group lecture by the end of the semester.

Last year I knew my students and a handful of others. I could recognize faces of those students in our sister section, but I could only maybe name one. Knowing the names of our students is so important in the relationships that we're trying to build. I know from my own classes that if the professor/TA knows my name, I feel like I'm not just another face in the crowd and that I'm important enough for them to know me. It's a simple thing that I can pass on and work with for my upcoming students in the fall and do better with this year.

Goals are important in that they give us something to strive and work towards. The sense of accomplishment that goes seeing it get done is a great feeling as well. We need to continually work to show our students in the fall that goal-setting is important but not only in lecture or by word of mouth. Just like so many other topics covered this past semester, it is sometimes best shown by example, making the greatest impression.




--Sorry this is a little late. I guess the autodraft wasn't working last night and it all went away when I went to submit it. I figured it'd be better to calm down a little before I worked on the new post in its stead. See you all tonight and tomorrow! :)