Page 51 - Foundations of Learning, 4th Edition (Revised)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Revisit your two educational goals from Chapter 1. Compare them against the list of criteria on the opposite
page. Rewrite your goals so that they meet all these criteria. Don’t just assume you’ve met the criteria; be
sure to actually compare them against the list.

While you strive to meet those goals, let’s get some quick goal-setting results: write a single short-term
goal that can be accomplished in the next week. This goal should meet all the criteria previously listed and
should relate to improving your performance as a student in some way. Explain why the goal is important
to you and sketch a brief plan for how you’ll go about meeting this goal.

John’s response:

Within the next 3 days, I will go through all the syllabi for the classes I’m taking
this semester and organize a schedule of important dates and deadlines.

I have a tough time staying organized...it drives my parents crazy and I have to
admit that I don’t like having to look in my notebooks, all over my hard drive, in
my e-mail, on my desk, in my backpack, in my car and a bunch of other places
just to find out when the midterm is scheduled for my math class. (Last week I
found my English syllabus under my printer; if I hadn’t needed to swap cables,
I’d NEVER have found it. That was a real wake-up call.)

Before the weekend, I will take my old corkboard and organize it into columns (with
detailing tape) so that I have a section devoted to each class I’m taking. I’ll write down
major assignments, exams, and deadlines and post the information on the board.

Chapter 2 — Strengthening Identity 45