Writing Objectives

1
Writing Objectives

• Rationale and Strategies

Presented by Dennis Baker, Ph.D., Assistant Dean
for Faculty Development
2
Session Goals

• Appreciate the value of writing clear and
  measurable behavioral objectives.
• Re-evaluate objectives they have written and work
  to enhance them.
• Make additional efforts to enhance the congruency
  of Objectives, Learning Activities, and Test
  Items.

3
Session Objectives

• State the definition of a behavioral objective.
• List the three components of a behavioral
  objective.
• List three purposes which behavioral objectives
  serve.
• State a rationale for writing behavioral
  objectives.
• Describe a strategy for writing behavioral
  objectives.
• Describe how to increase the congruency among
  objectives, learning activities, and evaluation

4
Model for Designing Instruction
Needs Assess
Learner Characteristics
Evaluation Feedback
Goals
Support Logistics

Revise
Objectives
T L Activities
Content
Pre Post Assessment
5
Goals and Objectives
Goals
Objectives

6
Goals

• Definition
• A statement that describes in broad terms what
  the learner will do.
• Example
• Students will gain an appreciation and
  understanding of the value of applying family
  systems theory to the real world of patient care.

7
Objectives

• Definition
• A statement in specific and measurable terms that
  describes what the learner will know or be able
  to do.
• Example
• Students will be able to construct a three
  generation genogram with a patient in the office
  setting within a 5 minute time frame and explain
  how the information potentially impacts on the
  patients care.

8
Comparison

• Goal
• Students will gain an appreciation and
  understanding of the value of applying family
  systems theory to the real world of patient care.
• Objective
• Students will be able to construct a three
  generation genogram with a patient in the office
  setting within a 5 minute time frame and explain
  how the information potentially impacts on the
  patients care.

9
Parts of an Objective

• Measurable verb
• Construct
• Explain
• Criteria
• 3 generation genogram
• Within 5 minutes
• Conditions
• In the office setting with patient

10
Measurable Verbs

• Know the purposes of behavioral Objectives.
• State the purposes of behavioral objectives.
• Understand the difference between goals and
  objectives.
• Describe the difference between goals and
  objectives.

11
Terms Sources of Confusion

• Behavioral Objectives
• Instructional Objectives
• Educational Objectives
• Terminal Objectives
• Outcomes
• Objectives
• Aims
• Intents
• Objections

12
Rationale

• Purposes
• Guide for the teacher
• Guide for learner
• Basis for dialogue
• Basis for evaluation
• Makes curriculum explicit
• Makes curriculum analysis/evaluation possible

13
Domains

• Cognitive (knowing)
• Psychomotor (doing)
• Affective (feeling)

14
Levels of Cognition

• Blooms Taxonomy
• Knowledge (verbal recall)
• Comprehension
• Application
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Evaluation

15
Levels of Objectives

• What is the level of this objective?
• Participants will be able to name the three parts
  of a behavioral objective.
• What is the level of this objective?
• Participants will be able to write a behavioral
  objective that contains a measurable verb,
  condition, and criteria.

16
Specificity and Level

• No So Specific
• The learner will be able to orally present a new
  patient's case
• More Specific
• The learner will be able to orally present a new
  patient's case in a logical sequence (SOAP),
  chronologically developing the present illness,
  summarizing the pertinent positive and negative
  findings as well as the differential diagnosis
  and plans for further testing and treatment.

17
Writing Process

• Start with the bigger goal in mind.
• Write the objective in general but measurable
  terms.
• Think about the learning context.
• Think about how you want to measure it.
• Rewrite to make the objective more specific and
  check it for measurable verb, meaningful
  conditions, and meaningful criteria.
• Share it with a colleague for feedback.
• Rewrite to further clarify.

18
Creating the Magic Triangle
Teaching/Learning Activities
Evaluation
Objectives
19
Not So Magic Triangle
Teaching/Learning Activities
Objectives
Evaluation
20
The End