Define Needs and Solutions Goals
When a goal is set, the parameters of an activity are preferably known and fixed. If I drive to the store, my drive path is known - so I can accurately estimate my time of arrival. Therefore, I can set a goal for my drive time that is usually achievable. However, students are frequently doing types of work that they have not mastered. The tasks are not routine to them, therefore the work quality can vary from one attempt to another as well as from one student to another student. Time spent on each task also varies from one project to another, so time estimates are inaccurate.
Proficiency improves when tasks are familiar and repeated. Therefore, tasks should be defined and constrained for setting achievable goals. In writing an English paper, it is valuable to set the length of the paper and define the components within that paper before a student commits to writing a paper over 2 hours (the work rate).
Starting Steps for Defining Needs and Solutions
(1) Breakdown complex projects into sub-component tasks that can be done within 15 minutes.
(2) Recognize the familiar tasks from the unfamiliar tasks.
(3) Set goals for the familiar tasks first. Next, set goals for the most frequent non-familiar tasks. Do not bother setting goals for unfamiliar tasks that occur once or twice; do your best on these tasks.