Steps for Goal Setting
In her book, Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning (2009), Chappuis provides the following steps to lead students to use formative assessment results to set goals:
Step 1. Score the assessment and return it to students with a form that scaffolds the review of their results. The form has a column for students to write the learning target for each item and whether they got the answer right or wrong. For each wrong answer, they decide whether the error was a simple mistake or they don’t get it. The form can be a simple table with these column headings:
|
Problem # |
Learning Target |
Right |
Wrong |
Simple Mistake |
Don’t Understand |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
Step 2. Students review their results and complete the form. This gives them the evidence for determining their strengths and weaknesses.
Step 3. Students then transfer the learning targets to a goal setting form. They sort the targets into three categories–strengths, priorities for studying, and need for review.
Step 4. Students make a plan to improve on a goal setting form.

Download a copy of the Steps for Goal Setting.
Follow the links below to sample goal setting forms or conduct your own Internet search.
- “Using Data to Change Instruction: Student Goal Setting and Self-Assessment” on the Tools for Great Teachers Web site
- “Goal Setting Form” on the Teaching Moments Web site
- “Student’s Goal Setting Sheet” on the PicstoPin Web site
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