Patricia,
Are you creating the learning objectives for your course or lesson planning?
Tremayne Simpson
I find the the knowledge type learning objectives are easy to write; I am challenged when trying to write application type objectives. Any suggestions?
Learning objectives give my students an understanding of what we are doing and how we are going to get there. There are steps in everything we teach or learn and need to do these steps to reach our end objective without cutting corners to get there and missing crucial information.
Learning objectives can be presented before a class to help students understand what they will be expected to know and understand and why.
Dorothy,
I agree. In addition, it is a good general practice to summarize the course learning objectives and provide additional contexts, for the students. In most cases, learning objectives can be written in a complex manner, which can prove to be confusing for the students.
Tremayne Simpson
I agree as well. i have students that are in Cosmetology and want to know why they have to take A&P and some Chemistry. It is extremely important to structure your lesson plans according to the subject matter being taught and in a sequential order so the students better understand the materail and how it fits together.
An instructional plan is founded on objectives, without them, there is no guiding force for the lesson plan. Objectives are what help teachers know the direction a course should take.
Learning objectives are important when constructing lesson plans because it helps to know as a new instructor that I am teaching according to the standards of what is necesary for students to pass the state exam. I have learning objectives for the course curriculum that are preset by corporate. I use them to make sure I am abiding by the standards. I use the chapter objectives when doing my lesson planning, powerpoints and lecture notes. Coordinating both sets of objectives allow me to be confident that I am aiming the students in the right direction.
Michael,
I also do the same with my class. Later in the course, I present an assignment and ask them to tell me which learning objective it is connected to. This is a great system of reverse learning, which enables them to understand the full context of the presented concept.
Tremayne Simpson
Ernestina,
Students are always focused on"what's in it for me", with each course that they have to take. Therefore, instructors have to constantly remind them about how courses are aligned with programmatic outcomes and how that will lead to them being successful in their desired careers.
Tremayne Simpson
You are right, I am constantly asked why do we have to take this class or why are we learning this for example I am teaching B & P class and they don't understand why they have to learn knife skills for baking
gives the students a direction or focus of content
I like to tell my students what learning objectives we will be covering the day before. At the end of class I let them know what the objectives will be for the next class to help them get a head start on what we will be covering. This allows them to have questions for me when they arrive in class.
Objectives are very important because they help us measure how successful the learning has been. Once you measure your objective, then you make a decision whether more emphasis is needed or you can move on in your lesson plan. Measuring objectives is the part of teaching that tells the student that they are important in the process and helps them measure their own learning and progress.
It provides the students with the information on what will be taught on a particular day. It allows students and the instructor to be prepared.
It gives you as an instructor the "point" essentially in planning your material, based on textbook, class level and what the student should know to advance in the class and onto the next level of learning for that subject. It also helps you plan assesments, tests, projects. And gives you the standard to develop a rubric for the projects because the student will understand what they are trying to achieve and why.
Anita ,
This is a great idea. Generally, students are not packing their bags to be "early" for the next course, instead they are doing it because they do not feel that the end of the session is important. Assigning activities during last few minutes of class, will enable the students to feel that the entire class is important.
Tremayne Simpson
My students have sometimes made the comment that they appreciate the fact that I follow the stated course objectives on a daily basis. I write them on the board on a daily basis, and have begun emphasizing them verbally at the beginning of class. Recently I have spent time at the end of class reviewing key concepts and asking review questions to summarize. This has helped in decreasing the urge for students tostart "packing up" belongings toward the end od class and keep them engaged.
TJ,
I agree, deviation from the lecture can bring more enthusiasm/excitement to the immediate discussion. Instructors should have pre-determined methods for ensuring that they are able to transition back to the actual topic and not continue to "stray away" the lesson.
Tremayne Simpson
Jeffrey,
I make sure to do this with my students as well. For some students, it is important that they are reminded of the sequential, structuring of courses and how they are aligned with their overall, programmatic outcomes.
Tremayne Simpson
