Teach your students to set their own SMART targets.

1. Setting SMART targets

2. SMART target setting principle is used
across the range of disciplines such as
business, sport, education and personal
development –
because it is highly effective!

3. The benefits are huge:

4. It increases motivation and determination

5. It reinforces the desire to keep working
and builds self-confidence

6. It helps you identify areas for
improvement

7. It gives you a starting point to monitor
progress

8. It makes you feel good about yourself

9. What is a SMART target?

10. SMART is an acronym for:
S Specific
M Measurable
A Achievable
R Realistic
T Time bound

11. If your target is specific, measurable,
achievable, realistic and time bound, it is
SMART .

12. It does take a bit of practicing to become
good at setting SMART targets.

13. But once you master it, it will
become a habit…

14. And you will never again say:
“I want to lose weight”
(this is an example of an un-SMART -------
target, in case you wandered…)

15. How do I set my own SMART
targets?

16. When setting your targets ask yourself
following five questions:

17. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Are my targets Specific?
Are they precise and well-defined? Are they
clear? Can everyone understand them? Make sure
they are not too general.

18. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Are my targets Measurable?
How will I know when the task has been
completed? What evidence do I needed to confirm
it? Have I stated how I judge whether it has been
completed or not?

19. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Are my targets Achievable?
Is it within my capabilities? Have I got sufficient
resources available to enable this to happen? Can
it be done at all?

20. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Are my targets Realistic?
Is it possible for me to perform the objective?
How sensible is the objective? Does it fit into the
overall pattern of how I work?

21. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Are my targets Timely?
Is there a deadline? Is it feasible to meet this
deadline? Are there review dates?

22. And few more tips:

23.  Simplify your targets.
 Make them short term.
 Enter them on your ILP and
write them down.
 Revisit them regularly.

24. Words to avoid when setting SMART
targets:
more improve
successfully
less timely
effectively
good communication
efficiently

25. Here are some examples:
I will complete minimum of 60 work placement
hours over next two weeks to meet the course
and progression requirement.
This is a good target but you have to remember to
enter the date in the appropriate box on your ILP.

26.  Improve my attendance
 This is not a SMART target. The word ‘improve’
isn’t measurable.
Attend every lesson for the next two weeks
This is a good target if you are struggling with
attendance.
Maintain 100% attendance for the next four
weeks to win ‘100% attendance challenge’.
This is a good target whether you are struggling
with attendance or not.

27.  I will improve my spelling by the end of this year.
 This is not a SMART target as it is neither specific
nor measurable.
Practice spelling five words from the spelling list
each day until the end of May.
This target meets all the SMART criteria!

28.  Achieve Distinction for all units at the end of the
year.
 This is not a SMART target as it may not be
realistic and it is too long term. You need to break
it down into series of shorter term targets such as
following:
Complete and submit Unit 3 D1 task by
Wednesday.
This is a SMART target!

29.  I will make an effort to contribute towards class
discussions.
 This is not a SMART target as effort can’t be
measured.
I will make a voluntary contribution to class
discussion in our next Tutorial session.
This is a SMART target.

30. Attend at least four university open days over
the summer.
Complete the Personal, Additional Information,
Student Finance, Employment and Education
sections on my UCAS form by next Wednesday
Submit second draft of my personal statement
by the end of week
All of the above are SMART targets!

31. Your SLA will help you with target setting and
make sure your targets are SMART.