Understanding learning objectives helps the student with having a clear concept of the material they will study.
Learning how to effectively construct learning objectives helps with clarity. If your objectives are written poorly they may be confusing; therefore, will not effectively convey what you intended. Instructional planning is a step-by-step process and writing objectives is an important step. Instructors must be proficient with this step to communicate effectively.
It is important for the students, so that they are aware of what is going to be taught or covered in each class.This enables the student to come prepared to the class. Also it is important for the Instructor helping ensure that they stay focused and cover all topics required for the course.
It is important because this is what we base our class on. By having clear objectives we can insure that our students are clear about what we are covering and that will keep them on task.
Learning how to construct learning objectives is an important part of instructional planning because it's the way we measure successful teaching. Objectives need to be measurable and attainable in order to make progress in learning.
Joseph,
I also use the "check off" method for the dry erase board agenda. Checking off each completed topic can help with time management and is a great tool, for recapping the class session.
Tremayne Simpson
Amanda,
This is a great method for ensuring that your students are aware of the course learning objectives. In many cases, the "verbiage" that is used to create teh learning objectives may be confusing for students and instructors may need to clarify or revise them. Providing them with daily expectations/plans, can provide them with clarity.
Tremayne Simpson
Understanding learning objectives enables instructors to focus on the content for the course. This will ensure the students will receive relevant information throughout the course.
Learning objectives given at the beginning of the class give the students a measurable definition and unofficial contract of what they should be expected to be taught and therefore should learn in the class.
The first thing I do on entering to the classroom is to placed today's objectives on the whiteboard. I then write down the lesson schedule so that I can check off each major objective as I teach. This allows the students to know what is being taught today but also keeps me on schedule.
We as instructors must make sure we are hitting on the key concepts of the chapter/lesson. Therefore; we must make sure we know how to create the necessary lesson objectives so that our students may also understand them. They will not understand them if we do not create them properly.
Students often need to be reminded about why they are learning something.
I give out a thorough course guideline that states what we are going to be doing every day for the entire class (students are informed about any changes), this way the students know what to expect every day they come into class.
Even though I give out this course guideline, I have found that many students lose sight of their class objective, so I give a brief verbal learning objective every day for class, and with every assignment just as a quick reminder.
If an instructor can't construct a learning objective effectively, students get easily confused and lose sight of the class goal, or purpose. Unfortunately I see this every day with other instructors.
Great tool on learning objective. They give a direction to the student and help everyone stay on task.
LE,
I agree and it can be difficult to ensure that these goals are in alignment. What are some methods that you use to design your course, with aligned objectives?
Tremayne Simpson
James,
I agree. In most cases, students perceive that their instructors are "guides" on a learning journey. At times, the students may get discouraged with a particular assignment or assessment, however the instructor must review the "map" and remind their students about how the class will impact their future.
Tremayne Simpson
James,
I agree. In most cases, students perceive that their instructors are "guides" on a learning journey. At times, the students may get discouraged with a particular assignment or assessment, however the instructor must review the "map" and remind their students about how the class will impact their future.
Tremayne Simpson
Balancing the Learning Objectives of the course with the objectives of the students and the knowledge needed by industry will help the Instructor design a relevant and effective course.
It is our contract with the students and helps them to understand how they should exit this course
I had never heard of Bloom's before this course, since I have no formal education for teaching, but it is a great list of verbs to refer back to when writing Learning Objectives.
It provides both you and the students with a clear map of where they are going with this class. They may not see the whole picture yet but they need to have a basis of understanding of how they will get there.
