Writing SMMART Objectives for Florida Extension Programs
Objectives are NOT Goals. Goals are… Derive from needs assessment Broad, relatively brief statements of intent Provide focus and vision for planning Represent the reason for the program Guide educational objectives Do not have to be measureable
Objectives on the other hand…
Objectives are NOT goals. Goals are broad, objectives are specific.
An objective is a statement which specifies, in measurable terms, the changes we expect in our targeted audience that result from our Extension programs.
Objectives provide a specific roadmap of where we hope to go that others can follow.
Levels of Objectives
Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills & Aspirations (Behavioral intentions)
Behavioral or Practice Change Social, Economic & Environmental
Conditions
Questions About Objectives
Are they realistic with the limitations of audience capacity, instructional expertise, and the diffusion of change?
Are they feasible within the limitations of time, budget, and other resources?
Are they consistent with the values of Extension and the community, and with our legal responsibilities?
Writing Useful Objectives
Use strong verbs
State only one purpose or aim
Specify a single end-product or result
Specify a time frame for achieving results
Elements of SMMART Objectives Specific- tells what change is going to occur. Has
a clear focus Meaningful – relates to identified needs Measurable- definite means to measure to see if
change occurred. Can observe it empirically Assigned to a specific target audience Realistic- can be accomplished Timed- specific time to be achieved by
Strong & Weak Verbs for Objectives
Strong: to increase to adopt to describe to demonstrate
Weak to promote to encourage to understand to become
aware
Building Your Objectives
Who will change? Assigned What specific change will take place as a result of
your program? Specific target When will the change take place? Timed How will you know the change has taken place?
Measurable. What standard or method will you use to know that the condition has changed.
Meaningful and Realistic are taken into account at every step of objectives development
To (increase/decrease) (what) by (% number) among (whom) by (when) as measured by (how do you know).
Note: Under certain extreme conditions, in the short-term, you may want to maintain (not increase/decrease) a problem at a certain level that has been steadily getting worse.
Critique the Objectives Increase older adults knowledge of and participation
in educational and behavioral activities recognized as leading to healthy aging
To provide effective educational programs to Florida's citizens and consumers at various levels, leading to improved food handling practices, and consequently, to a safer food supply
To provide information concerning sustainable commercial production practices that will be cost-effective, including practices such as fertilization, crop protection, and rotational crops. It is anticipated that 40% of the growers will adopt such practices within the next four years
Sources:
Author: Glenn D. Israel, Professor, Agricultural Education and Communication Department, University of Florida
Adapted from EDIS publication:Guion, L. A., Baugh, E., & Marcus, J. 2007. “Writing SMMART
Objectives." Gainesville, FL: UF/IFAS Extension –Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. 4 pp. FCS 6016. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FY824.