Writing Objectives

(Now that summer is here, it is time for me to discuss different educational topics alphabetically. Please join in the conversation and tell me what you think!)

Teachers develop objectives to help them plan their lessons and assess student learning. Well-written objectives are clear, measurable, and achievable. They should also be aligned with the curriculum and the needs of the students.

There are a few different ways that teachers can develop objectives. One common approach is to use the ABCD model:

• Audience: Who is the target audience for this objective?
• Behavior: What is the desired behavior of the learner?
• Condition: Under what conditions will the learner demonstrate the desired behavior?
• Degree: To what degree of mastery must the learner demonstrate the desired behavior?

For example, an objective for a math lesson might be:

• Audience: Students in 2nd grade
• Behavior: Solve addition problems with two-digit numbers
• Condition: Using a number line
• Degree: With 90% accuracy

Another approach to developing objectives is to use Bloom's taxonomy. Bloom's taxonomy is a hierarchical model of cognitive skills, ranging from simple knowledge and comprehension to more complex skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

When using Bloom's taxonomy, teachers can develop objectives that focus on different levels of thinking. For example, an objective for a science lesson might be:

• Knowledge: Identify the different types of clouds
• Comprehension: Explain how clouds form
• Application: Use a cloud chart to predict the weather
• Analysis: Analyze the factors that affect cloud formation
• Synthesis: Create a model of the water cycle
• Evaluation: Evaluate the effectiveness of different methods for predicting the weather

No matter which approach they use, teachers should make sure that their objectives are clear, measurable, and achievable. Well-written objectives can help teachers to plan effective lessons and assess student learning.

Here are some additional tips for teachers when developing objectives:

• Start with the end in mind. What do you want students to be able to do by the end of the lesson?
• Be specific. What exactly do you want students to know or be able to do?
• Use action verbs. What are the specific actions that students will take to demonstrate their learning?
• Be measurable. How will you know if students have achieved the objective?
• Be achievable. The objective should be challenging, but it should also be within reach of the students.
• Align with the curriculum. Make sure that the objective is aligned with the learning standards for the grade level.

By following these tips, teachers can develop objectives that will help them to effectively teach their students. Objectives need to be realistic and attainable in order to help students be successful.