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