Summer Teaching Enhancement Academy Opportunity

Writing Learning Objectives
 

Course Objective 

• Compose course objectives and learning objectives based on sound educational concepts as a foundation for teaching and learning. 

Analysis, Design, Implementation, Objective, Course Description, Course Objective, Learning Objectives, Performance, Condition, Criterion, Situation, Learned Capability, Object, Action, Tools and Other Constraints, Audience, Behavior, Condition, Degree, Domains of Learning, Cognitive, Affective, Psychomotor, Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, and Synthesis.

After completing this module, the learner will successfully be able to: 

1. Differentiate between course description, course objectives, and learning objectives. (Analysis)
2. Write specific objectives containing the three elements necessary for effective objectives. (Application)
3. Categorize objectives into one of the six domains of learning. (Analysis)
4. Critique objectives for others based on sound teaching/learning principles. (Evaluation)

• As means of an introduction to this module, read two online articles entitled A Literature Review of Mager (1984), Preparing Instructional Objectives by Cheryl Cottle and another article entitled How to Write Instructional Objectives by Greg Sherman that references Mager's (1997) Preparing Instructional Objectives: A Critical Tool in the Development of Effective Instruction.
• View the PowerPoint Presentation for this module.
• Review three examples for formatting objectives in the online article entitled Techniques & Methods for Writing Objectives & Performance Outcomes that compares the work of Mager, Gagne, and ABCD.  Many of the objectives written in education contain the PERFORMANCE expected but not the CONDITION or the CRITERIA that is required to achieve the objective. It can then be assumed that the CONDITION is normal classroom environment and the CRITERIA is a passing grade.
• To be able to write objectives you will need to review the examples of verbs in the online article entitled Learning Domains or Bloom's Taxonomy. [Handout]
• Review the examples of objectives provided in the online article entitled Bloom et al.'s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain.
• Read the online article entitled Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Behavioral Objectives.

• Evaluate the Learning Objectives for one of the following modules with Mager's three criteria for objectives and categorize them with Bloom's six domains of learning utilizing the Quick Guide to Writing Learning Objectives and Bloom's Taxonomy. Examine the Post-Tests and determine if the test questions match the Learning Objectives.
  • Nursing Care of Adult Clients with HIV
    • Post-Test
  • Palliative Care: Treatment for Cancer Pain
    • Post-Test
    • Post-Test
  • Delegation in Nursing
    • Post-Test
    • Post-Test
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Treatable and Preventable
    • Post-Test

Discuss your evaluations of the Online Assignment with members of the class. Compare your answers regarding the criteria included with the objectives and the domains of learning for each objective.

• Write/rewrite two to four objectives for your course that include Mager's three criteria.
  • To assist with writing/rewriting your objectives, utilize the Quick Guide to Writing Learning Objectives. [Handout]
• Edit your objectives so that each objective falls into at least four of Bloom's domains of learning.
  • To determine which domain and verb is most appropriate for your objectives, utilize the online chart entitled Instructional Strategy Selection Chart. 

References

Sherman, G. (2002). How to Write Instructional Objectives. Available online: http://pt3.nau.edu/resources/toolbox/how-objectives.htm

Mager, R. F. (1984). Preparing Instructional Objectives (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Lake Publishing Company.

Cottle, C. (1996). A Literature Review of Mager (1984), Preparing Instructional Objectives. Available online: http://fcis.oise.utoronto.ca/~ccottle/mager.html

Techniques and Methods for Writing Objectives and Performance Outcomes. Available online: http://classweb.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/Resources2/objective_formats.htm

Learning Domains or Bloom's Taxonomy. Available online: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html

Huitt, W. (June, 2004). Bloom et al.'s Taxonomy of the Cognitive Domain. Available online: http://chiron.valdosta.edu/whuitt/col/cogsys/bloom.html

Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Behavioral Objectives. Available online: http://hs.riverdale.k12.or.us/~dthompso/exhibition/blooms.htm

A Quick Guide to Writing Learning Objectives. Available online: http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/templates/objectivetool.html