SMART Objectives for Faculty
Let's talk SMART, specifically SMART objectives.
Setting achievable goals is essential as we prepare for the new school year to help us stay focused, on track, and motivated. Setting attainable objectives is essential for personal and professional growth, and we can accomplish this by implementing the SMART objective-setting framework, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish. Instead of saying "improve student learning," a specific goal would be to "increase the average test scores in math by 10%." Including the quantitative metrics allows for a finite definition of success versus an open-ended, more ambiguous goal, leading to the next qualifier.
Measurable: Make sure you can track your progress. This could involve measuring with numbers, percentages, or other quantifiable methods. For example, "increase student involvement by 20% through regular communication and events."
Achievable: Your goals should be realistic and attainable. Setting targets that challenge you but can still be achieved with effort is important. "Implement two new teaching strategies in the classroom and assess their impact on student engagement and learning."
Relevant: Your goals should be aligned with your overall objectives and relevant to your role as an educator. For example, "Attend at least three professional development workshops on integrating technology in the classroom to enhance my teaching skills."
Time-bound: Set a deadline to create a sense of urgency and motivation. "Complete the curriculum mapping for the next school year by the end of the first term."
When using SMART objectives, keep them visible as a reminder of what you're setting out to accomplish and your progress priorities for the semester (or year). Track your progress and remember to celebrate the wins as you achieve each objective (this will also serve you well when you need to write your annual report). Lastly, if an objective is not serving your greater aim, update it.
This link features a great "how to" article on using SMART objectives, along with a template to get you started:
https://pce.sandiego.edu/smart-goals-teachers-examples/
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