How to Write Education Goals

Write education goals before attempting to educate students.

Recognition and determination of goals precede the success of any endeavor, education included. When educators have discovered their aim or expected outcome, a certain sensitivity to the activities that assist in meeting those goals occurs. So if one goal is to make students more aware of their talents, you'll be sensitive to lesson plans, ideas or articles that promote that quality. Otherwise, the topic would pass you by. Maryland Faculty Online says, "Written objectives are a vital part of instructional design because they provide the roadmap for designing and delivering curriculum." Therefore, any educator who desires a successful year will begin with education goals.

Things You'll Need

• Job description
• School and/or department mission statement
• Roster
• Student files

Instructions

1. Read and review the job description. Understanding the expectations of the position will help fulfill duties and cover all the bases expected for the benefit of the students.

2. Get a copy of the school's mission statement, and if available, the department mission statement. The mission statement explains what the school purposes to do. Most times, the school will have a vision statement as well, explaining what they hope to accomplish through their mission. Reflect on both statements so it is incorporated in the education goals.

3. Know the number of students on the roster. This will help with writing education goals because the number of students plays a definite role in the type of lesson plans and educational approaches used to reach those goals. For instance, the more students on the roster, the more difficult it is for one-on-one instruction---and activities and goals might be structured around combating that dilemma.

4. Find out who the students are. Many times, you'll get student files before the school year, so browse through them for need areas. It's much more difficult to help someone and produce a lasting effect when you don't know anything about them. Perhaps you can do a basic questionnaire asking students about their goals, history or beliefs over the summer, or at the top of the school year. Using the information gives insight into discovering what need areas the goals can resolve.

Tips & Warnings

• Develop a mission statement for the classroom, too. It can be developed before or after your education goals are written.

• In cases where education goals can't be written before the school year begins, use a mission statement and expectation list until the goals are finalized.

References

• Maryland Faculty Online:The ABCD Model for Writing Objectives

Resources

• Writing Educational Goals and Objectives