6 Examples of Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes
Learning objectives and outcomes are two critical components of instructional design.
They guide course design and assist instructors in determining what knowledge, skills, and abilities students should possess upon completion of a course.
In this article, we will explore the concept of learning objectives and provide examples of well-written objectives that can be used as a guide to writing your own.
Written by
- Redaction Team
- Professional Career, Professional Development
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Learning Objectives and Outcomes
A learning objective is a statement that identifies what the learner should be able to do upon completion of a learning experience. An outcome, on the other hand, refers to the results or consequences of that learning experience. In many cases, the terms learning objective and outcome are used interchangeably, but it is essential to understand the difference between them.
Writing Learning Objectives
- Student will be able to identify the three major components of a computer system.
- Student will be able to assess the effectiveness of a marketing strategy.
- Student will be able to organize a research paper using APA style.
- Student will be able to define the Pythagorean theorem.
- Student will be able to solve quadratic equations using factoring.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Bloom taxonomy is a classification system used to define and distinguish different levels of human cognition. It is widely used in education to categorize, differentiate and classify learning objectives and outcomes.
The taxonomy consists of six levels of cognitive complexity, ranging from simple recall to complex synthesis and evaluation.
What are the Bloom Six levels of Cognitive Complexity?
The Bloom Six levels of Cognitive Complexity are a hierarchy of learning objectives that have been widely used in education since their development in the 1950s.
The six levels are Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating, and Creating.
Each level builds on the previous one and represents increasingly complex and sophisticated cognitive processes.
Remembering and Understanding involve the ability to recall and comprehend information, while Applying and Analyzing require students to apply their knowledge to solve problems and analyze information.
Evaluating and Creating are the highest levels of the hierarchy and involve the ability to judge the worth or quality of information and to create something new based on that information.
Ultimately, the Bloom Six levels of Cognitive provide a framework for setting achievable goals and objectives for students, and for designing procedures and behaviours to help them reach those goals or objectives.
A complete understanding of the hierarchy can lead to more effective teaching and learning behavior.
Examples of Learning Objectives
To provide a better understanding of how learning objectives are used in course design and what are professional objectives, here are some examples of objectives at each level of Bloom’s taxonomy:
- Remembering: Student will be able to recall the steps in the scientific method.
- Understanding: Student will be able to explain the relationship between supply and demand.
- Applying: Student will be able to apply the principles of physics to solve real-world problems.
- Analyzing: Student will be able to analyze the structure of a literary text.
- Evaluating: Student will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of a persuasive argument.
- Creating: Student will be able to create a thesis statement for a research paper.
Student-Centered Learning
Writing learning objectives that are student-centered is an important part of instructional design.
When objectives are clear and specific, they provide a roadmap for student learning and ensure that students know what is expected of them.
Student-centered objectives also help students stay focused and engaged throughout the learning experience.
Effective Learning
Effective learning occurs when objectives are well-written, measurable, and aligned with course content assignments.
Objectives should be used to guide instruction and assessment, and students should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the objectives upon completion of the course.
Innovation and Excellence
Innovation and excellence in course design require faculty to use learning objectives to guide the curriculum.
Faculty should be able to explain the objectives, evaluate student performance based on specific criteria, and recommend changes to course design based on assessment results.
Writing Effective Learning Objectives
When writing effective learning objectives similar to the SMART objectives examples, it is important to keep the following in mind:
- Use specific, measurable verbs.
- Align objectives with course content.
- Use Bloom's taxonomy to guide the development of objectives.
- Make objectives clear and concise.
- Use objectives to guide instruction and assessment.
Conclusion
Learning objectives and outcomes are an important part of course design and instructional delivery.
They provide a clear understanding of what students should know and be able to do upon completion of a learning experience.
Well-written learning objectives guide instructors in developing instructional strategies and assessments that align with course content and are based on measurable outcomes.
In conclusion, writing effective learning objectives is an essential component of instructional design.
It is important to use action verbs that are measurable and observable, align objectives with course content, and use Bloom’s taxonomy to guide the development of objectives.
When objectives are clear and concise, they help students stay focused and engaged throughout the learning experience and provide a roadmap for effective learning.
By using learning objectives to guide course design and delivery, instructors can ensure that students master course content and achieve their learning goals.
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