Writing Objectives

1
Writing Objectives
2
Learning

• Change in a students capacity for performance as
  a result of experience.

3
Goals

• Extremely broad statements that are used to
  describe the purposes of schooling, a course, or
  a unit of instruction.
• Goals are written with covert (broad,
  nonobservable) verbs.

4
Objectives

• Clear and unambiguous descriptions of
  instructional intent.
• Objectives are written with overt (observable
  therefore measurable) verbs.

5
Objectives (2)

• Narrower statements of the intended learning of a
  unit or specific lesson.
• Each statement (objective) focuses on one
  behavior expressed in the verb.

6
Why Objectives?

• Teaching approach will be dictated by objectives.
• Set the framework for evaluation.
• Assist in communication with students Students
  should always know what is expected of them.
• They are required!

7
Specificity

• Educational Goal
• Informational Objective
• Instructional Objective

8
Nomenclature (often used interchangeably within
column)

• Educational goals
• Educational aims
• General objectives

• Specific objectives
• Informational objectives
• Behavioral objectives
• Performance objectives
• Instructional objectives

9
Behavior

• Covert
• Not easily observed
• Internal changes
• Less clearly measurable

10
Behavior

• Overt
• Observable
• Can be tested and measured

11
Components

• Well stated objectives should include
• Found in Commonly used
• the Text but not in Text Audience
• The performance
• A product Behavior
• The conditions Condition
• The criterion (degree) Criterion

12
Behavior

• Behavior is made up of the performance and the
  product.

13
Performance

• What students are expected to do
• Use an indicator or behavior verb to specify
  action
• Indicate exactly what student actions are to be
  observed as a result of instruction

14
Product

• What students will produce by their action
• The product is evaluated to determine whether the
  objective has been mastered
• Planned outcome resulting from the instructional
  process

15
Criterion

• Level of acceptable student performance
• Level of behavior accepted as satisfactory for
  showing mastery

16
Informational and Instructional Objectives

• Informational Objective
• An abbreviation of the instructional objective
  omits the conditions and criterion
• Instructional Objective
• Contain all four components of a well-stated
  objective

17
Blooms Taxonomy

• 3 Domains
• Cognitive (Too often our main focus)
• Affective
• Psychomotor

18
Blooms RevisedTaxonomy

• Cognitive Domain

Creating
Evaluating
Analyzing
Applying
Thinking begins here!
Understanding
Remembering
19
Blooms Taxonomy

• Affective Domain

Commitment
Valuing
Responding
Receiving
20
Blooms Taxonomy

• Psychomotor Domain

Precision
Manipulation
Imitation
21
References
Department of Middle/Secondary Education
Instructional Technology. (1999). Mager's tips
on instructional objectives. Atlanta, GA
Georgia State University. On-line at
http//www2.gsu.edu/mstmbs/CrsTools/Magerobj.htm
lObj ectives20Defined Mamlin, N. (n.d.) The
dreaded behavioral objective! Boone, NC
Appalachian State University. On-line at
http//pm.appstate.edu/mamlinnl/behavior.htm
VanFossen, P. (1999). Overview of instructional
objectives. Lafayette, IN Purdue University.
On-line at http//www.edci.purdue.edu/vanfossen/I
nstructionalObjective s.html
22
Selecting Instruction

• Categories of Learning

Thinking Skills
Concepts and Principles
Facts
23
Teaching Concepts

• Concept a category to which a set of objects,
  conditions, events, or processes can be grouped
  based on some similarities they have in common.
• Look at the following example of a concept.

24
Universal Systems Model
Production Management Action
End Results
People Capital Knowledge Materials Energy Time
Finance
Did it work? How well did it work?
25
Concept Learning

• Observation and association
• Definition and verbal explanation
• Diagrams, mappings, and webbings
• Scaffolding support to the student

26
Teaching Thinking Skills

• Critical Thinking generally requires higher
  levels of thinking (i.e. evaluation and
  synthesis)
• Creative Thinking putting together information
  to come up with a new understanding, concept, or
  idea.

27
Stages of Creative Thinking
Verification
Illumination
Incubation
Creative thinkers climb the ladder.
Preparation
28
Learning Communities

• The goal is to provide a richer range of learning
  experiences to students and to contribute a more
  vibrant and supportive environment for students
  and teachers alike.
• It Takes a Village. Sen. Hillary Clinton

29
Service Learning

• Initiated from the State, District, or school.
• The goal of service learning is for students to
  become less self-centered and more motivated to
  help others.
• Promotes political and moral development
• Help foster civic responsibility
• Improve academic grades
• Increase school attendance