SMART Objectives in Education: A Comprehensive Guide

SMART Objectives in Education

What is a SMART Objective?

A SMART objective is a specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goal set for student learning. Each element is crucial for creating effective learning experiences:

Specific

The objective has to be precise enough to show the learning outcome you want to get with your students.

Measurable

How will you know that your students have achieved the goal? What kind of indicators will I see, hear, or feel by the end of the lesson?

Achievable

The objective can be reached by students taking into consideration time, previous knowledge, and other constraints of the group.

Relevant

The objective has to be meaningful for students and it has to meet, if possible, students’ interests.

Time-Bound

Will the amount of time I have be enough to perform all activities and achieve the goal?

Adjustable

The objective has to be flexible, taking into consideration that you may have more or less students, students may go faster or slower than expected, or the group of students may be heterogeneous.

Objective Parts:

• Product: What are we getting by the end of the process?
• Reason: Why are we doing this activity?
• Manner: How will the goal be achieved?

SWBAT: Students will be able to…

Stages of Learning

Encounter

It is the first time the learner faces the new material or information.

Clarify

It is a cognitive process in which the learner asks questions about the new material or information.

Remember

It is the process in which the new information is stored in the learner’s short-term memory.

Internalize

The new information is stored in the long-term memory so that the learner can retrieve it when needed.

Fluency

Students use the new information fluidly according to their current understanding and level of internalization of the material.

VAKT Learning Styles

VAKT is a learning style model that gives information about students’ abilities. It is also useful to design learning methods and experiences that can match students’ preferences. Describe what kind of learning style the teacher is applying and in which the student is/students are better.

Visual Examples

• Write instructions on the board.
• Apply colors to ideas or use mind maps.

Auditory Examples

• Use audiotapes or CDs.
• Re-phrase something another student said.
• Engage in interviews or debates.

Kinesthetic Examples

• Clap out the stress of a word.
• Raise a hand or fingers to signal a mistake.
• Connect a motion with a word or idea.

Tactile Examples

• Match pictures to vocabulary cards.
• Play a memory game with cards.
• Use puppets or dolls.