Russell County Schools
December 8, 2010
Pam Wilson
Explain the benefits of
Clear Learning Targets.
Write a clear learning target for a
class you teach.
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 “Teachers who truly understand what they
want their students to accomplish will
almost surely be more instructionally
successful than teachers whose
understanding of hoped-for student
accomplishments is murky.”
-W. James Popham
Clear Learning Targets shift us
away from what we, as teachers,
are covering towards what our
students are learning.
Task:
 Think about one of your classes that you will
teach tomorrow.
 Think about one thing you want your students
to know or be able to do by the end of that class
tomorrow.
Learning Targets
aka
Content Standards
Lesson Objectives
Benchmarks
Essential Questions
Learning Intentions
Learner Outcomes
Expectations
Frayer Model
Definition
Facts/Characteristics
Clear description
of what is to be learned;
Provides a clear vision
of the ‘destination’ for
student learning
Examples
• Measureable & attainable
• Focus on intended learning
• Focus on “chunks” of a standard
• Clear, specific language
congruent to standard
Learning Target
I can add fractions with
unlike denominators.
I can identify key
characteristics of a
linear function and
use them to create a graph.
Nonexamples
Adding Fractions
Do Exercise 3.7 on pg 148
Learning Activities
Tasks
Pre-Requisites
Assessments
A learning target can take from
“five seconds to five weeks”
depending on
 Complexity of the knowledge, skill,
reasoning or product;
 Its overall importance in the curriculum
 Students – age, abilities, prior experience
and cognitive development.
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STANDARD
LEARNING
TARGETS
for teachers
Plan & Deliver
•Assessments
•Instruction
STUDENT
FRIENDLY
TARGETS
for learners
self-assess
I can …
I am learning to…
Success criteria
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“Students can hit any
target they can see that
holds still for them.”
~Rick Stiggins
 Be posted daily for students to see
 Be discussed with students at the
beginning of the lesson
 Be reviewed with students at the end
of the lesson
 How do you know students reached
the target? (formative assessment)
Is it really worth it?
The answer is,
“YES!”
Teacher Benefits
 WHAT to assess – instructional guide – keep focused.
 CLARITY in planning – look for instructional activities
& strategies to help all students reach that specific
target.
 Better BALANCE of “in depth” study vs. “just covering
the material.”
 Know what your assessments REFLECT at a finer grain.
 Help to MAXIMIZE student achievement.
 OPPORTUNITY to work collaboratively with other
teaching professionals.
Student Benefits
 Able focus on the aspect at hand and
not get distracted by other things.
 Able to look at the posted target to
remind themselves of what they are
supposed to be doing.
~ Clark, 2001, pp. 25-26
When Learning Targets are
communicated with parents, they
 Know what’s happening in the classroom.
 Can focus on assisting their student in
productive ways / locating resources.
 Understand what the grades mean in terms
of what students have learned and have not
learned.
 Talk specifically with students about their
strengths and areas for improvement.
“Magic Triangle”
Learning Targets
Standard
Learning
Activities
Assessment
This triangle represents the relationship
between learning targets, assessments and learning activities.
If these three components are congruent,
…they achieve an exact match with the Standard,
then teaching and learning is enhanced.
Write a clear learning target
for a class you teach.
1. Recall your class &
1 thing you will teach tomorrow.
2. What is it you want
your student to know or to be able to do?
3. Create a student friendly target using
I can… or I will be able to…
4. Write it down.
5. Post it in class on Thursday.
6. Refer to it at the beginning of the lesson.
7. Review it at the end of the lesson.
8. Assess it & Reflect.
Learning Targets in the Classroom
 View the video of Jessica Addison sharing how she uses
Learning Targets in a high school math class
http://www.education.ky.gov/KDE/Instructional+Resources/Highly+Effective+
Teaching+and+Learning/Characteristics+of+Highly+Effective+Mathematics
+Teaching+and+Learning.htm
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Students who
can identify
what they
are learning
significantly
outscore
those who cannot.
~ Robert Marzano
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