Set Goals and Recognize Improvements in Learning

Setting goals for learning, and recognizing when the learner meets those goals, encourages learners to continue learning. Set learning goals for using Math Skill Builders such as: achieving a certain skill by a certain date, achieving a certain score in Practice or Assignment, completing a certain number of problems, achieving a set time for a set of problems, or any combination of objectives. To identify goals, and recognize a learner's achievements, you can:

The learner always knows the current goal by looking at the skill definition on the screen. Discuss what the learner is learning at each skill level.

Learners can become goal-oriented. By having access to the entire skill structure--both skill definitions and example problems--students know which skill they are currently perfecting, how many skills they have yet to complete, and what those skills are. See Skill Level Definitions and Skills for the lists of skills in the program. Use these lists to plan and project what skills the learner will learn. Help learners project when they plan to accomplish long term goals such as completing all the skill levels in an operation. Help learners set short term goals they plan to accomplish soon, such as completing a specific skill level by a certain date, or completing a set number of problems in a set amount of time.

Each time the learner completes Practice or Assignment, the program immediately shows a box reporting the results of that activity. Discuss these results. At the end of each Practice there is a report that tells if the learner progresses to the next level (or returns to an earlier level). Note this progress as a learning achievement.

When the learner demonstrates competence in an operation, the program awards a certificate of accomplishment. The learner progresses to the next operation. You could observe this learning achievement by displaying the certificate in a prominent place, or storing it in the program binder.

Look at Reports to help learners monitor their progress. A personal status report is always available. Reports tell which skill the learner is working on, and provide additional measures of progress, such as the percentage of problems solved correctly, the time taken to complete problems, the time spent on an operation or skill level, the number of operations the learner is working on, and so on. Encourage and praise any improvements shown in reports.

Keep the printouts of the Assignments and the student's solutions. Discuss how much more complex the problems are getting and how successful the learner is. Note the accomplishments of solving more problems, and solving more complex problems. Comment on the neatness and accuracy of number writing and keeping numbers in line for the more complex skills. You can store assignments in the program binder.