Description of a Subgoal

In the context of learning, a subgoal is an intermediate goal that is reached on the path towards attaining a long-term goal.

Examples of Subgoals

Algebra

If the goal state is to be skilled at algebra, here are some of the associated subgoals as created by ChatGPT.

1. Understanding Basic Arithmetic: Before diving into algebra, one must be comfortable with basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

2. Grasping the Concept of Variables: Understand that letters (or other symbols) can represent numbers and can vary in value.

3. Learning the Order of Operations: Familiarize oneself with the PEDMAS/BODMAS rule (Parentheses/Brackets, Exponents/Orders, Division and Multiplication, Addition and Subtraction).

4. Simplifying Expressions: Learn how to combine like terms and reduce expressions to their simplest form.

5. Mastering Basic Equations: Understand how to solve linear equations in one variable (e.g., (2x + 3 = 7)).

6. Using the Distributive Property: Recognize how to expand expressions like (a(b + c)) and factorize expressions like (ax + ay).

7. Understanding Functions and Relations: Recognize the difference between functions and relations, and learn how to use function notation.

8. Graphing Equations: Graph linear equations and move on to more complex functions. Interpret the meaning of the slope and y-intercept.

9. Working with Polynomials: Understand how to add, subtract, multiply, and factorize polynomials.

10. Solving Quadratic Equations: Master methods like factoring, using the quadratic formula, and completing the square.

Piano

If the long term goal is to play the piano really well, here are some the associated subgoals as written by ChatGPT and edited by me.

1. Music Theory: Understand basic music theory concepts like scales, chords, intervals, and keys.

2. Hand Position and Posture: Develop proper sitting posture, hand shape, and finger position.

3. Scales and Arpeggios: Master major, minor, and other scales along with arpeggios.

4. Pedal Technique: Learn the usage of sustain pedal, soft pedal, and sostenuto pedal.

5. Beginner Pieces: Learn simple melodies and children’s songs.

6. Contemporary and Popular Music: Learn to play modern songs or those from other genres like jazz, blues, or pop.

7. Listening Skills: Develop the ability to hear sounds and then repeat them, compare them, and so on.

8. Managing Performance Anxiety: Acquire techniques to deal with nerves and stage fright.

Rationale for Subgoals

There are many reasons why is it useful to effectively set and then reach subgoals. Here are some of them.

1. Enjoyment: When subgoals are skillfully set, then learning is so enjoyable that it is addictive. This is because the learner is constantly developing abilities to useful things in the real world and then getting the rewards associated with getting results.

2. Effectiveness: When subgoals are skillfully set and reached, then the learner becomes competent. Competence involves three things: good performance, knowing the associated main ideas, and ethical practice.

3. Power: Being able to set and reach subgoals give one the abilities to learn anything.

Quality in a Subgoal

1. The learner can apply the information today in the real world.

2. The learner has something to practice.

3. Right development level as in beginner-intermediate-advanced.

How to Set Subgoals

A subgoal is set only after a long-term goal is set. Here are the associated actions.

1. Goal State: Describe the performance and the knowledge that you want the learner—yourself or your student—to have after they are done learning.

2. Measurement: Make sure this goal state has high quality as described in the next section. If it does not keep improving it does.

Quality in a Subgoal

The present state refers to conditions as they exist today.

The goal state refers to the best possible conditions that can exist in the future, given real-world constraints.

In the context of learning, the goal state refers to the best case conditions as they will exist in the future for the learner after they are done learning.

Sometimes, a goal state is super hard to reach. Nearly unattainable. Nearly impossible. But there is a trick that we use: we break the goal state down into small parts, each of which is called a subgoal. A subgoal is easy to hit and provides a nice reward when the subgoal is reached. This is like climbing a massive mountain by taking one step at a time.

A subgoal is an intermediate goal that is attained on the path to reaching a bigger goal.

Examples of Subgoals

1. Goal State: Be awesome at writing Python code.
   Subgoals: Use lists. Use strings. Follow python. documentation conventions. Use if-then-elif-else logic. Describe procedural, object-oriented, and functional coding paradigms. Know the common methods used with dictionaries.

2. Goal State: Be a great carpenter. Subgoals: Install windows. Frame houses. Hang sheetrock. Measure accurately. Install interior trim. Build forms for concrete. Hang door.

3. Goal State. Be really good at chemistry (college freshman level). Subgoals: Balance equations. Do molarity calculations. Describe atomic structure. Explain the various types of bonding. Understand phases and phase transitions. Use moles and kilograms. Do ideal gas law calculations.

Quality in a Subgoal

A subgoal (SG) for learning has high quality when the following criteria are true.

1. The SG is useful, worthwhile, necessary, or something similar.

2. The SG is easy for the learner to attain.

3. Attainment of the SG can be measured. There is no ambiguity about whether or not a learner has reached the SG.

4. The SG can be applied today in the real world.

5. The SG is properly sequenced in the novice-beginner-intermediate-advance-expert progression.

Rationale for Subgoals

1. When SGs are created skillfully, learning is easy from the point of view of the learner.

2. When SGs are created skillfully, learning is rewarding or super-rewarding for the learner. That is, learning is like an addictive drug.

3. SGs can be measured; thus, the teacher and the student know how well learning is taking place.

How to Create Subgoals:

School Learning (Learner Role)

1. Find Topics. Since I don’t know the subject, I start by skimming syllabi and textbooks. Typically, my professor will provide one syllabus and may specify one textbook or reading materials. I get the other syllabi and textbooks by borrowing, internet search, going to the library, visiting used book stores, and so on. The reason why I use multiple resources is so that I can find patterns. If a topic shows up on most all resources, it must be important.

2. Create Subgoals. Next, I convert topics to subgoals. Here are some examples from the subject called “Controls” that is typically taught to engineering students at the junior level.

   1. Topic: Definition and importance of control systems. Subgoal: Describe control system.

2. Topic: State-space representation Subgoal: Model dynamics systems using state-space representation.

3. Organize Subgoals: Lastly, I sequence the subgoals into a natural order following the novice-beginer-intermediate-advanced-expert sequencing and also paying attention my professor’s order.

Note: I don’t spend much time on creating subgoals. Instead, I get a set to start with and then continually improve them as I go.

Independent Learning

For a traditional school subject, I do the same thing as if I were taking a class in the subject.

For something that is not a traditional school subject, I start by gathering many resources and skimming them and identify topics and organizing them into a natural sequence. Again, I’m

Teacher Role

When I’m in the teacher role, I do the same things as when I’m in the learner role.

Summary

Create subgoals using the same actions whether you are in the learner role or the teacher role. Here are the actions.

1. Resources: Gather many resources that provide information relevant to the thing to be learned.

2. Topics: Identify the topics that are found in most of the resources.

3. Subgoals: Convert each topic into a subgoal that has high quality.

4. Sequencing: Sequence the topics into a natural order following the novice-intermediate-advanced-expert model.

5. Iteration: Repeat the previous steps over and over and over as you go about learning or teaching while continually improving the quality of the subgoals.

Note: Never spend much time on subgoals. Instead, spend just enough time to get started. Then as you progress, the subgoals can naturally be improved.