Learning Targets

Learning targets place a special focus on students learning as well as the skills that are intended for learning. They also focus on the teacher's instruction and assessment. Learning objectives are used to show the actual achievement of the student in grabbing the concepts, not just covering material for the students. Learning targets and goals work together in a manner that is quite interesting. Goals give direction and purpose and targets get a little bit more into detail and expect an outcome. So together the two feed off one another to produce different levels of learning, yet both are meant to have a success. Hopefully by the time the student is done learning they have gained more knowledge and can proceed to a higher level of thinking within the subject area. Learning targets may be long and tedious, or they can be very simple. I strongly feel the teacher and students should have a good relationship as to where the learning target can be known amongst them so the students are aware of what they need to do. While making a target specific a teacher should also identify key points and focus points to create an acceptable learning target. Aside from teachers having students know their learning targets the student also has a role in the learning process. Students are the role models for the learning target. They can be observed, asked to make statements, or even given an assignment to see just how well learning targets are coming along. They can help the teacher realize if the learning target may have been a bit much, or even too little. Keeping and alignment of both assessment and instruction is very crucial because without it being aligned the student will most likely be doing the wrong things. Not only that , but their are also state standards and other targets that need to be met in the entire process.