A Procedure for Goal Setting in the Classroom

Abstract

TO WHET student interest and to encourage individual student research in my introductory survey courses in American history, I devised a system of goal setting which other historians and social studies teachers might find useful. Resting on the assumption that the sweep of the American history survey can be explored from a variety of angles, the goal-setting process gives an instructor a clear picture of what a particular classroom of students wish to learn in an introductory course. It also allows the instructor to shape the course-within reason-to meet student interest, creates class unity, and in my experience can generate more productive student effort than either the teacher or the students might initially expect. The process is built around three sequential questions, which are treated in separate phases. The method insures that each student participates actively and is not overwhelmed by an active minority. The entire effort is usually accomplished in two class meetings. First, I pass out 4x6 index cards and ask the students to record