It’s based on the article SMART objectives for media training which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.

Learning objective

Students will design a SMART objective outline for a media training session, ensuring it is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. They will evaluate the effectiveness of their objective by aligning it with the training goals and participant needs.

• Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson participants will be able to create a clear and effective set of SMART objectives for a media training session and check if it fits the training goals.
• Standards: Participants will learn how SMART objectives can be used to provide a clear framework for media training.

Learning activities

Warm-up

• Notice and consider: Display a simple media-related scenario, such as a brief description of a media training session. Ask students, “What do you notice? What do you think?” Give them a few minutes to think and discuss with a partner. Then, invite several students to share their observations and questions. Record these for all to see. Guide the conversation towards the importance of setting clear objectives for media training, preparing them for the lesson on SMART objectives.

Direct instruction

• Introduce SMART objectives: Begin with a brief explanation of SMART objectives. Define each component: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. Use a real-world example, such as a media training session aimed at improving interview skills. Describe how a vague goal such as “improve interview skills” can be transformed into a SMART objective such as: “By the end of the month, participants will conduct three mock interviews, receiving feedback and achieving a score of 80% or higher on their evaluation forms.”
• Analyse examples: Present two examples of media training objectives. One should be a SMART objective, and the other should be vague.
  • Example 1: “Participants will learn about social media strategies.”
  • Example 2: “Within two weeks, participants will develop a social media strategy for a specific campaign, including three measurable goals and a timeline.”
• Ask students to identify which is SMART and why. Discuss the importance of each SMART component in making objectives effective.
• Create a SMART objective: Guide students in creating their own SMART objective for a hypothetical media training session. Provide a scenario, such as training journalists to use new digital tools. Ask students to draft an objective that includes all SMART components. Encourage them to consider the needs of the participants and the goals of the training.

Guided practice

Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through refining their SMART objectives.

• Think: Ask students to individually review their drafted SMART objectives from the direct instruction activity. Encourage them to identify any missing components or areas for improvement.
• Pair: Have students pair up with a partner. Each student shares their objective, explaining how it meets each SMART criterion. Partners provide constructive feedback, focusing on clarity and alignment with training goals.
• Share: Invite pairs to share their refined objectives with the class. Select a few examples to discuss, highlighting strengths and areas for further refinement.
• Class discussion: Facilitate a class discussion on common challenges encountered in creating SMART objectives. Encourage students to share strategies for overcoming these challenges.
• Revise: Allow students time to revise their objectives based on peer feedback and class discussion. Ensure each objective is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Independent practice

• Exercise: Direct students to complete an exercise where they create a SMART objective for a media training session focused on combating misinformation. Use a provided scenario to guide their work.
• Observation: Circulate the classroom, observing students as they work on their objectives. Offer guidance and support as needed, ensuring they incorporate all SMART components effectively.

Assignment

Ask students to answer these questions:

1. How does a SMART objective differ from a vague objective in media training?
2. Why is it important for a media training objective to be relevant to the participants’ needs?
3. What’s one question you still have from today’s lesson?

Suggested answers:

• Suggested answer to Question 1: A SMART objective is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, while a vague objective lacks these clear criteria.
• Suggested answer to Question 2: Relevance ensures the training is applicable and beneficial to the participants’ real-world work, increasing its effectiveness.

Teacher resources

Differentiation guide

• Advanced learners: Encourage them to create multiple SMART objectives for different scenarios, focusing on complex media training topics. Challenge them to critique and refine each other’s objectives, emphasising precision and alignment with broader training goals.
• Striving learners: Provide additional examples of SMART objectives and break down each component with simple, relatable analogies. Offer guided templates to help them structure their objectives. Pair them with peers for collaborative support during activities.
• Recommended reading: This lesson plan is based on the article SMART objectives for media training which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.

Notable definitions

• SMART objectives: A framework for setting goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
• Measurable: A characteristic of an objective that allows for tracking progress and assessing completion through quantifiable indicators.
• Relevant: Ensures that the objective aligns with the overall goals of the training program and addresses the needs of the participants.

Required materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Projector and screen
• Printed scenarios for exercises
• Handouts with SMART objectives framework
• Access to computers or tablets for online exercises
• Evaluation forms for peer feedback

Lesson summary

• Warm-up
• Direct instruction
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Assignment

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.

Related article

SMART objectives for media training

The post Lesson: SMART Objectives first appeared on Media Helping Media.

In the dynamic world of journalism and media, training is a constant necessity. But simply delivering information isn’t enough; training must be effective, measurable, and impactful.

This is particularly crucial in a ‘trainer of trainers’ (ToT) course, where the goal is to equip experienced journalists and media professionals with the skills to become effective educators themselves.

To ensure these courses hit their mark, the use of SMART objectives is essential.

What are SMART Objectives?

SMART objectives are:

• Specific: Clearly defined and unambiguous.
• Measurable: Quantifiable, allowing for progress tracking.
• Achievable: Realistic and attainable within the given resources and timeframe.
• Relevant: Aligned with the overall goals of the training program and the needs of the participants.
• Time-bound: With a defined deadline for completion.

Applying SMART objectives in a media ToT course:

Here’s how SMART objectives can be integrated into a ToT course for journalists and media professionals:

1. Defining learning outcomes:
   • Instead of vague statements like “improve training skills,” SMART objectives would specify:
     • “By the end of week three, participants will be able to design a training module on fact-checking tools, including three measurable learning objectives and a detailed lesson plan.” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
     • “Within four weeks, participants will deliver a micro-training session that is evaluated by their peers, and achieve a minimum score of 80% on the session evaluation form.” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
2. Structuring training modules:
   • Each module within the ToT course can be designed with SMART objectives in mind. For example, a module on “Digital media training techniques” might include:
     • “Participants will demonstrate the ability to use an online learning platform to create and deliver interactive training content within two weeks.”
     • “Participants will generate a list of five relevant digital tools and demonstrate how to train others on those tools, by the end of the digital media module.”
3. Evaluating participant progress:
   • SMART objectives provide a clear framework for evaluating participant progress. This allows trainers to:
     • Track individual performance
     • Identify areas where additional support is needed
     • Measure the overall effectiveness of the ToT course. For example a trainer can check the creation of lesson plans, the scores from evaluation forms, and the successful application of new digital tools.
4. Enhancing training relevance:
   • By aligning objectives with the specific needs of journalists and media professionals, SMART objectives ensure that training is relevant and applicable to their real-world work.
   • For instance, if the participants work in an area where misinformation is prevalent, then the objective would be to have them train others on how to combat misinformation.
5. Promoting accountability:
   • SMART objectives create a sense of accountability for both trainers and participants.
   • This fosters a focused and productive learning environment.

Benefits of using SMART objectives:

• Clarity and focus: SMART objectives provide a clear roadmap for the ToT course.
• Measurable progress: They allow for objective evaluation of participant learning.
• Increased effectiveness: They ensure that training is aligned with real-world needs.
• Improved accountability: They create a sense of responsibility for both trainers and participants.
• Enhanced learning outcomes: They contribute to more effective and impactful training experiences.

In conclusion, SMART objectives are an indispensable tool for designing and delivering effective ToT course for journalists and media professionals. By providing a clear, measurable, and relevant framework, they ensure that training is not only informative but also transformative.

Questions

1. What does the acronym SMART stand for in the context of setting objectives?
2. Why is it important to use SMART objectives in media training?
3. Describe how SMART objectives can enhance the effectiveness of a ‘trainer of trainers’ (ToT) course.
4. Provide an example of a specific SMART objective that could be used in a media ToT course.
5. How do SMART objectives contribute to the evaluation of participant progress in a ToT course?
6. Explain how SMART objectives can ensure the relevance of training for journalists and media professionals.
7. Discuss the role of accountability in the context of SMART objectives within a training course.
8. Analyse the benefits of using SMART objectives in terms of clarity and focus for a ToT course.
9. Evaluate how SMART objectives can lead to increased effectiveness and improved accountability in training.
10. Assess the overall impact of SMART objectives on the learning outcomes of a ToT course for journalists and media professionals.

Answers

1. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
2. They ensure training is effective, measurable, and impactful.
3. They provide a clear framework for defining learning outcomes, structuring modules, and evaluating progress.
4. “By the end of week three, participants will be able to design a training module on fact-checking tools, including three measurable learning objectives and a detailed lesson plan.”
5. They allow trainers to track performance, identify areas needing support, and measure course effectiveness.
6. By aligning objectives with the specific needs of participants, ensuring applicability to real-world work.
7. They create a sense of responsibility fo
8. r both trainers and participants, fostering a focused learning environment.
9. They provide a clear roadmap, helping participants understand goals and expectations.
10. They align training with real-world needs and create a sense of responsibility, enhancing training effectiveness.

Lesson plan for trainers

If you are a trainer of journalists we have a free lesson plan: SMART objectives which you are welcome to download and adapt for your own purposes.

The post SMART objectives for media training first appeared on Media Helping Media.