Writing learning objectives
When writing student learning objectives for your course, it is helpful to first create general statements about key concepts, topics, and principles. From those general statements you can then write specific objectives for class sessions and for testing.
Bloom specified different abilities and behaviors that are related to thinking processes (cognitive domain) in his Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. This taxonomy can be helpful in outlining your course learning objectives and for constructing tests. [more]
Student learning objectives should clearly state what the instructor wants students to know. Consider the following guidelines when writing your student learning objectives.
- Focus on what you want students to know or be able to do by the end of the course rather than what you intend to teach
Example
Instructor focused: “Students will be taught Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development and their associated psychosocial crises.”
Student focused: “Students in Psychology 100 will be able to name the 8 stages of Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages of Development in order and describe the psychosocial crises at each stage.”
- Make sure your objectives are precise and measurable.
Example
Imprecise: “Students will have an understanding of Earths ecosystems and an awareness of their interrelationships.”
More Precise: “Students will be able to describe Earth’s atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere and explain how energy flows between the systems with 80% accuracy.”
Additional information
Hellyer, S. (n.d.). A teaching handbook for university faculty. Chapter 1: Course objectives. Retrieved October 1, 1998 from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis Web site: http://www.iupui.edu/~profdev/handbook/chap1.html
