Teaching Goals Inventory

© Thomas A. Angelo and K. Patricia Cross. Reproduced with permission.


Please rate the importance of each of the fifty-two goals listed below to the specific course you have selected.

Assess each goal's importance to what you deliberately aim to have your students accomplish, rather than the goal's general worthiness or overall importance to your institution's mission. There are no"right" or "wrong" answers; only personally more or less accurate ones. For each goal, choose only one response on the 1- to -5 rating scale. You may want to read quickly through all fifty-two goals before rating their relative importance. In relation to the course you are focusing on, indicate whether each goal you rate is:

(1) Not Applicable
A goal you never try to achieve
(2) Unimportant
A goal you rarely try to achieve
(3) Important
A goal you sometimes try to achieve
(4) Very Important
A goal you often try to achieve
(5) Essential
A goal you always/nearly always try to achieve


1. Develop ability to apply principles and generalizations already learned to new problems and situations


2. Develop analytic skills


3. Develop problem-solving skills


4. Develop ability to draw reasonable inferences from observations


5. Develop ability to synthesize and integrate information and ideas


6. Develop ability to think holistically: to see the whole as well as the parts


7. Develop ability to think creatively


8. Develop ability to distinguish between fact and opinion


9. Improve skill at paying attention


10. Develop ability to concentrate


11. Improve memory skills


12. Improve listening skills


13. Improve speaking skills


14. Improve reading skills


15. Improve writing skills


16. Develop appropriate study skills, strategies, and habits


17. Improve mathematical skills


18. Learn terms and facts of this subject


19. Learn concepts and theories in this subject


20. Develop skill in using materials, tools, and/or technology central to this subject


21. Learn to understand perspectives and values of this subject


22. Prepare for transfer or graduate study


23. Learn techniques and methods used to gain new knowledge in this subject


24. Learn to evaluate methods and materials in this subject


25. Learn to appreciate important contributions to this subject


26. Develop an appreciation of the liberal arts and sciences


27. Develop an openness to new ideas


28. Develop an informed concern about contemporary social issues


29. Develop a commitment to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship


30. Develop a lifelong love of learning


31. Develop aesthetic appreciation


32. Develop an informed historical perspective


33. Develop an informed understanding of the role of science and technology


34. Develop an informed appreciation of other cultures


35. Develop capacity to make informed ethical choices


36. Develop ability to work productively with others


37. Develop management skills


38. Develop leadership skills


39. Develop a commitment to accurate work


40. Improve ability to follow directions, instructions, and plans


41. Improve ability to organize and use time effectively


42. Develop a commitment to personal achievement


43. Develop ability to perform skillfully


44. Cultivate a sense of responsibility for ones's own behavior


45. Improve self-esteem/self-confidence


46. Develop a commitment to ones's own values


47. Develop respect for ones's own values


48. Cultivate emotional health and well-being


49. Cultivate physical health and well being


50. Cultivate an active commitment to honesty


51. Develop capacity to think for oneself


52. Develop capacity to make wise decisions


53. In general, how do you see your primary role as a teacher? (Although more than one statement may apply, please choose only one.)