Goals and objectives and activities.. oh my!!

Much like Dorothy and her friends in the Wizard of Oz felt when entering the forest chanting lions and tigers and bears, the process of identifying goals, objectives and activities can be downright intimidating. A goal is defined in the Websters New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, as "An object or end that one strives to attain." According to Dictionary.com, objective is defined as " Something worked toward or striven for; a goal." Now then those definitions make the difference as clear as mud right? So what is the difference?

For the sake of program planning, goals are directly tied to the problem and the mission of the organization. The goal is the result of the main problem being addressed. In simpler terms, the goal explains the benefit that the project will have on the target population. An example of a goal for a new charter high school may be "To provide a solid educational foundation for each student." A program or project can have more than one goal, but they should be broad and somewhat generalized.

Objectives spell out what needs to be met in order to achieve the goal. These must be specific and measurable. For example-93% of all high school seniors will graduate within four years. This shows that students are gaining knowledge and able to succeed in school.

Other objectives should be indicators that students are receiving a solid education, which is the goal. Realistically there should be about 4-5 objectives per goal in order to make each objective obtainable. This will vary depending on the scope of the program.

Finally, activities are the bread and butter of the program. They show exactly who will do what to meet the objectives and ultimately the goal. Examples of activities may include- Students and their teachers will formulate a learning plan each semster to increase their chance of successful graduation. Another activity may be-The school counselor will meet with each student on a monthly basis to ensure the student is following his or her learning plan. Activities should be carefully planned as actual people will be responsible for their delivery.