Developed by Edwin Locke and Gary Latham within an industrial and organizational psychology framework, goal setting theory has impacted how individuals perform.
According to Locke and Latham, “Goals are effective even when they come from different sources; they can be assigned by others, they can be set jointly through participation, and they can be self-set. In the latter instance, goals are a key element in self-regulation.”
Imagine a scenario where students tested Locke and Latham’s theory using Adaptive Reader’s leveled texts.
Presumably one of the biggest concerns educators might have with leveled texts is learners choosing to take what they perceive to be the safest reading path (i.e. the Silver version) automatically and chronically in order to avoid challenge.
In charting that course, students may find themselves becoming more apathetic to reading because they are embarking on a voyage that does not engage their zone of proximal development.
Therefore, how can we prevent reading apathy in our classrooms and foster a willingness to engage with rigorous course content?
Creating Student Opportunities for Goal Setting
Prior to reading an assigned Adaptive Reader selection, consider a possibility where we, as educators, ask our students to create reading goals based on Locke and Latham's five principles: clarity, challenge, commitment, feedback, and task complexity.
Below are helpful examples to consider as students create their own text specific reading goals.
Clarity: Specify Your Reading Goals
Challenge: Increase Your Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
- I will challenge my ZPD by increasing my reading goal difficulties each week.
- I will know my goal is too easy based on how quickly it takes me to accomplish my reading goal task.
Commitment: Stay Dedicated to Your Reading Routine
- I will share my reading goals with my best friend.
- I will text my favorite family member and share my reading goals with them.
- I will share my reading goals with one of my classmates.
Feedback: Review and Reflect on Your Progress
Task Complexity: Break Down Your Reading Goals
Conclusion
Through the act of goal setting, learners can work toward greater progress and remain accountable through specific and measurable means.
Sources:
PD.locke-and-latham-retrospective_Paper.pdf (stanford.edu)
Understanding Locke and Latham’s 5 principles of goal-setting | UpRaise