Objectives! Objectives! Objectives!

I have found that students are very familiar with the fact that learning / lesson objectives are found on the board for each of their lessons. So much so that they will point out when they arent there and ask if 'they are ours' when they come into the room.

However, my concern is that they have become a little bit complacent about these guidelines for the lesson due to:

• the varied nature of use by teachers,
• relevance to the lesson,
• reference in the lesson
• and even ambiguity of meaning of these objectives for the particular period they are in your room.

As a result I like to spice it up every so often by getting them to create their own objectives for the lesson. Give them the topic and then say 'right what do you want to get out of today? Set L/O's which will help you to do that'.

At the end of the lesson evaluate the progress and challenge made in the lesson and then rank or RAG (red amber green) the objectives in terms of these areas.

Students can then set a target for next time based around the idea of challenge and progression for them to aspire to.

The majority of students I have done this with are incredibly honest with you and with themselves in this feedback area stating that they went for the 'easy' option and didn't set targets which pushed themselves as much. They then realise what you are on about when you are 'nagging'...encouraging(!) them to push on and add more into their work.

I have found it to be a worthwhile and very encouraging activity which students love to do and which challenges them to push on in their own learning and you to step out the way and let them!