Activity Objective

The goal of What Are We Learning Today?: Setting Goals to Improve Student Learning is to use a method introduced by Shirley Clarke to encourage independent learning, provide accurate feedback and enable students to be accountable for their learning by identifying learning goals and success criteria for a given task.

What You Need

Prep Time:

10 minutes
- Prepare WALT and WILF board
- Select a task

Task Time:

10-20 minutes
- Teacher explains task
- Teacher and students discuss WALT and WILF
- Teacher records learning goal and success criteria

Materials Required:

Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Colorful construction paper

What You Do

Teacher Role:

Direct instruction:
- while explaining task

Facilitator:
- while classes discusses WALT and WILF and learning goal and success criteria are recorded

Student Grouping:

Whole class:
- during explanation of task, discussion of WALT and WILF and recording of learning goal and success criteria

Assessment Ideas:

- Use the success criteria to guide you when providing formative feedback
      a. For example: Record anecdotal comments on students' work and include strengths and next steps

- Student Self-Assessment: Guide the students in a self-assessment by having them use the criteria to determine their success in achieving the learning goal

- Encourage students to "bump up" their work by making revisions or adding details

Quick Tips

Activity Extensions:

- Have students brainstorm individual learning goals and success criteria related to specific subjects
      a. Set goals 2-3 times throughout the year
      b. Reflect on student success in meeting the learning goals

- Use past exemplars to model how to successfully achieve the learning goals
      a. For example: Share a piece of writing from a past student that clearly meets the learning goal

Additional Comments:

- The acronyms, WALT and WILF, were developed by Shirley Clarke as a guide to help students and teachers identify the learning goals and related success criteria. 

- WALT stands for "What Are We Learning Today?" and outlines the learning objective or intention, the aim of the lesson as well as the topic being covered and the skill being taught. WALT is the teacher's lesson objective written in student-friendly language.

- WILF stands for "What I Am Looking For?" and describes the success criteria, concepts to focus on, learning outcomes and the focus of assessment. Explicitly stating the lesson outcomes and the steps involved in achieving the learning goal will provide students with a model of how to achieve the learning goal.

- WALT is a learning goal. A learning goal is the specific curriculum expectation rephrased in student-friendly language. When creating learning goals with your students clearly explain what and why they are learning it. Make if visible throughout their learning by displaying it on the board using bright colors. Provide students with time to discuss the learning objective to check for understanding.

- WILT sets out the success criteria. Success criteria are the "I can" statements that specifically outline what the students need to do in order to achieve their learning goal. Success criteria encourage independent learning, provide accurate feedback and enable students to be accountable for their learning.

- Using student friendly language will help students understand the task and provide a clear outline of the expectations. 

- Creating WALT and WILF with the students will help them take ownership of their work.

- Display the learning goal and success criteria on a board that is visually appealing. You may wish to add age-appropriate pictures and visual representations of WALT and WILF.

Other Adaptations/Modifications:

- Provide individual copies of WALT and WILF for students who may have a visual impairment