Create Your Action Plan

Reflecting? Check.
Creating goals? Check.
Finding resources? Check.

Let’s start putting it all together!

We need to turn your abstract goals into reality through an action plan. Action plans break down the achievement of a goal into specific steps, each tied to an action, task, and timeline.

brutus-1

First, we begin with an example for Brutus Buckeye:

Goal: Earn a 3.0 in my courses this semester. 

Action Step: For my physics course, go to the main library to reread the chapter that was just covered and complete 50% of the homework problems that are due for the next class.
Resources Needed: Textbook, homework assignment, calculator, quiet space in library
Complete By: Immediately after each physics lecture

Action Step: Attend all math review sessions hosted by the Math Stats Learning Center.
Resources Needed: Schedule of sessions from MSLC website, notes from class, sample exam review information from instructor
Complete By: One week prior to each midterm

Action Step: Reduce my work hours at the RPAC from fifteen hours to eight hours a week this semester.
Resources Needed: Meeting with supervisor, schedule of classes
Complete By: First Friday of the semester

Action Step: Review grades from first midterm with academic advisor to measure progress and see if I should drop any classes or adjust my approach.
Resources Needed: Midterm grades, class average (when applicable), schedule appointment with advisor
Complete By: Within three days of the drop deadline

The goal is the endpoint, but the action steps are how Brutus will actually achieve his goal.

Note that Brutus’ action plan includes steps that he can take on his own and steps that utilize resources on campus. For example, Brutus could have studied for his math exams on his own. But, by using the math review sessions offered through the Math Stats Learning Center, he may have better preparation for those topics and be more efficient with his exam preparation time.


Now, let’s work through action steps for you.

STEP 1: Look at the three goals you identified earlier. For each goal, ask yourself: what are actions I can take right now to start making that goal a reality? What routines or habits do I want to try this semester? How can I measure and evaluate my progress?

STEP 2: Write down an action step for each goal. Include a description of the action step you want to take, the resources you will need, and the timeline of when you want to complete it by.

Push yourself to be specific. Set concrete goals for what you want to do and when you want complete them. The more specific they are, the easier they are to implement them and to hold yourself accountable.  Just like fitness, your form is critical to getting the most out of each rep. Complete at least two action steps for your first goal.

Reread your action steps. What is missing? Have you included a way to measure your progress? Would a check-in with someone at a certain point help hold you accountable? Identify two more action steps you can do for each goal. Add as many as you want! At minimum, write at least three action steps.


Once you have your goals and steps to take toward each one completed, submit your Goals and Action Plan for this semester.

In order to access your Goals and Action Plan each semester, you will need to enter the confirmation key as a password. This confirmation key is sent to your OSU email account after you have completed your Academic Obstacles and Resources Identifier. Once you enter your plan you will automatically be taken to the final step of your workshop.

Click here to enter your Goals and Action Plan.