Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Tip #103: Learning Objectives

The fifth step in the comprehensive nine step LESSON PLANning Process is:

STEP 5. ORGANIZE THE LEARNING OBJECTIVES.

Learning objectives explain in specific and measurable terms what the learner will do as a result of the class instruction to: (a) learn specific knowledge or skills and (b) demonstrate that they have learned them.

Objectives are behavioral, which means that they involve specific actions or behaviors that can be observed and measured.

The effectiveness of the training will be determined based on whether or not the participants exhibit these behaviors during and after the training session.

When we add an active verb (appropriate for the learning level) to the essential content, we need to be sure that it is specific, observable, and measurable. For example, the following verbs are inappropriate because they are too vague and unclear to be particularly useful: process, care, learn, worry, understand, sense, believe, be aware, empathize, think, remember, feel, perceive, assume, try, focus, see, consider, and be familiar with. A more active verb will better describe the participant behavior and make it easier to measure or validate their performance.

At this step, we:

  1. Select action verbs appropriate for the identified learning levels. *

  2. Convert the essential factors into learner actions which are specific, observable, and measurable, using the learning level-appropriate action verbs. (These learner actions are the learning objectives).

  3. Ensure that there are sufficient learning objectives to accomplish all of the training goals.

  4. Ensure that the sequence of learner actions progresses through the levels of learning, where appropriate.

  5. If safety is a consideration, ensure that there is a learning objective that checks for comprehension prior to a learning objective that provides for application.

  6. Remedy any gaps in the logical sequence of events by adding in the missing learning objectives.

*There is a useful list of active verbs that can be used to signify different learning levels. The list is not exhaustive, so it does not include all possible verbs that might be appropriate.

Knowledge

Comprehension

Application

cite

associate

apply

count

compare

calculate

define

contrast

classify

identify

convert

change

indicate

defend

complete

label

describe

compute

list

differentiate

demonstrate

match

discuss

illustrate

name

distinguish

manipulate

outline

estimate

modify

recognize

explain

operate

record

extend

predict

reproduce

extrapolate

prepare

select

generalize

produce

state

give

relate

tabulate

exemplify

show

trace

infer

solve

write

interpret

tabulate

interpolate

transcribe

paraphrase

use

predict

utilize

translate



Analysis



Synthesis



Evaluation

analyze

arrange

appraise

break down

categorize

assess

detect

combine

compare

diagram

compile

conclude

differentiate

compose

contrast

discriminate

construct

criticize

distinguish

create

critique

group

devise

discriminate

illustrate

design

evaluate

infer

generate

grade

outline

modify

justify

point out

organize

interpret

relate

outline

measure

select

plan

predict

separate

rearrange

prescribe

subdivide

reconstruct

rank

summarize

relate

test

transform

reorganize

recommend

revise

validate

rewrite

verify

summarize

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