HTML Preview Consultant Smart Goals page number 1.
SMART Learning Goals
Training on how to set Goals
Writing down your goals and learning plans is an important step in achieving them. For many a well-defined goal statement
formalizes the details of the goal: What is to be accomplished? Who will be involved? When will the activity be completed? How
much will it cost and what resources will be used? For others, describing the topic, activities, success indicators and target date is
more flexible. Two options for developing your learning goals and learning plans are provided.
SMART goals form a focus of recording and tracking learning for many people. Using this format provides clarity about the goals,
what they mean and how and when you will achieve them. Writing out a Learning Plan that highlights the topic, activities and
success indicators (and date) is another method of recording your plan. Some questions to consider when working on your goals
are presented below. It is not necessary to record answers to these questions. They are provided simply to assist in developing
your learning goals.
To assist in learning how to write SMART learning goals, a SMART Learning Goals Exercise provides sample goals for you to
evaluate. Following that is a form for creating your own SMART goals. Two sample SMART Learning Goals are provided for
illustration purposes.
If you wish to write out a Learning Plan, a form is provided for that purpose. Two sample Learning Plans, along
with answers to the questions posed below, are provided for illustration purposes.
• Clinical skills
• Professional obligations
• Research
• Teaching
• Administration
• Writing skills etc
• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Presentation skills
• Time management
• Project management
• Other
What category does my learning goal fall under? Some examples are:
Use these questions as a checklist. They will assist with planning the specific steps to be achieved
on the way to accomplishing a goal.
Why did I choose this goal as a priority?
What do I need to do to achieve this goal?
What is the activity to be accomplished?
Who is responsible for each activity?
What information and knowledge do I need?
What help, assistance or collaboration do I need?
What resources can help me?
How can I make this work?
Have I checked out my assumptions?
Is this the best way of achieving this goal?
What obstacles might block the attainment of the goal?
How much will achieving this goal cost in dollars, resources and time?
How will I know that I have learned?
What are potential areas for changes in my practice?