Defining learning objectives
You should define learning objectives in specific terms. Learning objectives usually involve a statement of:
- thetask or knowledge involved, ie: what must the learner be able to do or know? Eg: save data in a spreadsheet
- the condition, ie: how will it be performed? Eg: without reference to the Help facility
- the standard, ie: how well must it be performed? Eg: correctly in 90% of cases
It is generally accepted that all learning objectives should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timebound.) You can find more information about this at http://www.coop.ucf.edu/?go=resources-smart
You can find useful guides to writing learning objectives at the following locations:
A Quick Guide to Writing Learning Objectives:
http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/templates/objectivetool.html
Guidelines for Writing Learning Objectives:
http://apha.confex.com/apha/learningobjectives.htm
Writing Quality Learning Objectives
http://captain.park.edu/facultydevelopment/writing_learning_objectives.htm
(The last one is particularly good and provides links to numerous other resources.)
Let's take a look now at Bloom's Taxonomy ...
