ABCD's of SMART Objectives

Working Above the Lineas a Cooperative Extension

Service Professional:

ABCD’s of SMART Objectives

Rebecca WhiteProfessorOrganizational Development

& Evaluation

If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you gonna’ know

when you get there?

-Yogi Berra

Program components that help to direct us to where we are going

Mission/Vision

Goals

Objectives

Very

Sp

ecifi

cVery

Bro

ad

Not Measurable

Measurable

Definition of Goals/Outcomes and Objectives

• A goal or outcome is an overarching principle that guides decision making.

• Objectives are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timely steps that can be taken to meet the goal.

Writing SMART Objectives

Questions to ask as you write objectives• Specific – What exactly will you accomplish?• Measurable – How will you know when you have reached this

objective?• Achievable – Is achieving this objective realistic with effort and

commitment?• Relevant – Why is this objective significant to the program?• Timely– When will you achieve this objective?

Use Active Verbs when writing SMART Objectives

• Change• Complete• Demonstrate • Increase• Identify• List• Name• Recognize• Specify

• Adopt• Apply• Complete• Demonstrate• Establish• Initiate• Produce• Show• Use

For Short Term Outcomes For Medium Term Outcomes

Active verbs to avoid• To know• To understand• To enjoy• To appreciate• To grasp• To comprehend• To believe

ABCD’S OF SMART OBJECTIVES

A - AudienceB – Behavior

C – Conditions D – Degree

ABCD components for writing better objectives

• Audience – program participants• Behavior – expected learning/behavior changes/results • Condition –

• Circumstances that lead to change/result• When change/results are expected to occur

• Degree – • How much change occurs (%) for how many participants (#)

Format for Writing SMART Objectives

(When change will occur) + (circumstances that leads to change)

+ (who/what will be impacted) + (how much change occurs)

+ (what learning or behavior will change).

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area - Horticulture• Outcome/GOAL - Participants adopt recommended practices for

environmental sustainability• Content Area – Volunteer Development or Horticulture (Home Gardens)

• SMART Objective – In 2014 -15, of twenty (20) gardeners participating in XYZ Parish MG training program, 85% will achieve the Certified MG designation by mastering the MG curriculum and providing 30 hours in volunteer service to the local Extension Service.

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area – Environment and Natural Resources• Outcome/GOAL - Participants adopt recommended practices for

environmental sustainability• Content Area – Environment -- Water Management (Quality)

• SMART Objective – In 2014 -15, of forty (40) farmers participating in XYZ Parish Crop Production Program, 50% will adopt three (3) or more recommended best management practices concerning nutrient management.

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area – Human Nutrition and Food (Adults)• Outcome/GOAL - Participants adopt recommended practices for healthy

living• Content Area – Healthy Living -- Foods & Nutrition/Dietary Guidelines

• SMART Objective – In 2014-15, of forty (40) participants completing all 8 of the Let’s Eat for the Health of It sessions, 80% will adopt 3 of 5 recommended health practices (increase consumption of fruits and vegetables, decrease consumption of sugar and salt, increase consumption of calcium, decrease consumption of saturated and trans fats, increase routine personal activity).

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area – Human Nutrition and Food (Adult)• Outcome/GOAL - Participants adopt recommended practices for healthy

living• Content Area – Healthy Living – Physical Health and Fitness

• SMART Objective – In 2014-15, of forty (40) adults participating in XYZ Parish Let’s Eat for the Health of It /America on the Move program, 60% will find a walking partner and/or form a family walking group and walk routinely (2-3 times per week) for 6 weeks.

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area – Youth Development• Outcome/GOAL – Youth are actively engaged in learning and gain

mastery• Content Area – SET (Other)

• SMART Objective – In 2014-15, of eighty (80) youth completing all 5 lessons of the Youth Wetlands Education (SET) program, 70% will increase their awareness, increase their knowledge and change their attitude about wetlands by 25% from pre to post test.

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Smart Objective Examples Using Outcomes (Program Goal) in our Dynamics System

• Initiative Area – Youth Development• Outcome/GOAL – Youth are actively engaged in learning and gain

mastery• Content Area – SET (Other), or Citizenship, or Leadership

• SMART Objective – In 2014-15, of eighty (80) youth SET participants of the Youth Wetlands Education (SET) program, 70% will participate in a Wetlands service project and 50% will share knowledge with others.

• Audience - Purple Behavior - Red Condition - Green Blue - Degree

Inspecting Your SMART Objectives

ABCD’S OF SMART OBJECTIVES

A - AudienceB – Behavior

C – Conditions D – Degree

THANKS FOR WATCHING

Rebecca Whitebwhite@agcenter.lsu.edu