If someone is planning a trip s/he must first know the destination and how many stages it will take to get there. It is exactly the same with learning; you must first have a goal and you must divide the path to this objective into subgoals, so that you can reach the objective.
Example:
- In ten days you have to give a presentation about lions. Your goal is to give a really good presentation and to obtain a good grade. You now have to divide this goal into partial goals for the next few days:
| Monday | Obtain and look through books from the library about lions. Take notes. |
| Tuesday | Conduct an internet search. Take notes of important links. |
| Wednesday | Look through your notes. Create a first sketch about the structure of the presentation. |
| Thursday | Continue working on the sketch for the structure. Obtain missing information. |
| Friday | Write a first draft of the presentation. |
| Saturday and Sunday | Look for pictures to show with your presentation. |
| Monday | Re-read the presentation a few times, make necessary corrections. |
| Tuesday | Practice giving the presentation 2 times at home, also showing the pictures. Measure the time. |
| Wednesday | Practice giving the presentation by heart 2 to 3 times at home. |
| Thursday | Give the presentation in class! |
- Consider with every major assignment what your goal is and into which sub-goals or steps you want to divide the path to reach this goal!
- Also, consider every day at the beginning of your assignment hour what your objectives and partial objectives are for today.
TIP
Each day, make a work plan at the beginning of your assignment hour in which you state the tasks to be accomplished today and the goals and sub-goals!
TIP
With bigger assignments, also enter the partial goals that belong to this task on your weekly plan! The above example shows you how.
Exercise 7
Think about which longer assignment you have to complete in the next two to three weeks. Create a plan with partial steps and partial goals (see above). If you do not have a longer assignment due at this time, imagine the following: in two weeks, you have to give a presentation about your favorite hobby. How do you proceed? Make a plan of subgoals and partial steps!
