Module 4: Planning for Learning - Those Obnoxious Objectives

Why bother with Goals and Objectives?

If you decided to visit a relative, you could drive around until you happened upon someone related to you, or you could have a GOAL in mind. You decide it is time to visit Aunt Minnie so now you have a goal.

You are not sure where she lives, but you think she lives to the east. You could drive east, but without a better idea of where you are going, you could drive aimlessly around after you cross the Mississippi River looking for Aunt Minnie. You learn that Aunt Minnie lives in Ashtabula, Ohio. Now you have an OBJECTIVE—visit Aunt Minnie in Ashtabula.

Now you need to determine how you will get to Ashtabula. Without a map it is possible to drive east and come to the Atlantic Ocean and miss Ashtabula. You could decide that I-70 is the major highway to the east, but you would have no idea whether this highway goes to Ashtabula. You will need SUBOBJECTIVES. You decide to take I-70 and Effingham, Illinois. This is a subobjective so you know you are on the right pathway to Ashtabula. Indianapolis may be your next subobjective and a good place to stop to eat, and so on.

You don't want to be like some of your relatives and knock on Aunt Minnie's door or call her from a phone booth and say, "Hi, Aunt Minnie, I just happened to be passing through and thought I would stay a few days with you. You will want to develop additional objectives and sub-objectives for your visit. Hopefully, you would call Aunt Minnie a few weeks before your planned visit to check to see if your visit would be convenient and to give a purpose (Objectives) of your visit. Objective: I would like to spend time (July 4-5) visiting and catching up on family news. Objective: I would like to visit with Cousin Jim and his family while I am in Ashtabula.