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.