Beyond Goal Setting: Supporting Goal-Directed Persistence
Secondary and post-secondary students often know what they want to achieve, yet struggle to follow through once motivation fades or tasks feel overwhelming. Traditional approaches to goal-setting tend to emphasize intention and accountability, while overlooking the conditions that support sustained effort.
This evening Zoom discussion, facilitated by NEALS Board members Kerrie Husband-McGregor, M.Ed. and Sarah E. Ross, M.Ed., moves beyond goal-setting to explore the factors that shape goal-directed persistence: the ability to initiate tasks, maintain effort over time, and re-engage after interruptions. Drawing on research from executive function and learning science, the session will examine how task clarity, task initiation, cognitive load, and learning conditions influence follow-through, with an emphasis on practical strategies educators can apply with students.
We hope to see you on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, 6:30-7:30 PM (ET) for this important conversation.
